“It’s a space fantasy”: James Gunn addresses Guardians of the Galaxy comparisons to Supergirl

James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, isn’t dodging the talk about how Supergirl is a lot like his old Marvel hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. He is actually leaning into it.

On the Variety Awards Circuit podcast, Gunn talked about the upcoming movie starring Milly Alcock and called it a “space fantasy.” He admitted it shares some DNA with Guardians, but he also pointed out that director Craig Gillespie is bringing his own style to the film.

As soon as the first Supergirl trailer dropped, people jumped on the comparisons. Fans and critics both pointed out the movie’s cosmic backdrop, the snarky vibe, and visuals that felt a lot like Guardians of the Galaxy. Gunn didn’t shy away from it; he actually embraced the talk.

He explained that Superman usually sticks to saving Earth, but Supergirl’s story goes way beyond that. She is out there in the universe. That’s the big difference.

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James Gunn addresses Guardians of the Galaxy comparisons to Supergirl

Speaking on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast, Gunn said:

“And I love Millie Alcock in the movie, and I think it’s a space fantasy, which is like ‘Guardians’ in a way, but it’s based on the Tom King book, but it doesn’t follow it religiously, but it has a lot of the core of that there. And I’m really excited for people to see it and to see Millie. It’s going to be awesome.”

The description of Supergirl as a “space fantasy” offered by Gunn gives a valuable background to the creative direction of the film. As the name space fantasy implies, the film is a combination of fantasy, cosmic adventure, and emotional narrative, that does not focus on hard science-fiction themes but on character development and mythic journeys.

The analogy to Guardians of the Galaxy is not superficial. The two movies include characters who have to traverse the depths of space and cope with personal trauma while carrying out missions of vengeance and righteousness. Nevertheless, Gunn made sure to stress that Supergirl retains the vision of director Craig Gillespie, who has worked on such movies as I, Tonya and Cruella. Such recognition is essential, as it answers the concerns that the film may merely repeat the formula of the Guardians instead of making its mark in the DCU.

The movie is based on the acclaimed 2021 miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, written by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, although Gunn himself stated that the film will not be a direct adaptation of the comic book. This practice is similar to the way Gunn has reinterpreted Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he takes the central themes and characters but reformats the story to fit the movie form of storytelling.

The first comic series introduces Kara Zor-El to the crossroads of her life as she struggles with her traumatic experience of having seen Krypton destroyed and with being overshadowed by the popularity of Superman. It is an account of her unconventional alliance with a young alien girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll, whose father was killed by a villain named Krem of the Yellow Hills. Together, they set off on an interstellar mission of justice and revenge, together with Krypto the Superdog.

Gunn acknowledges that Supergirl and Guardians of the Galaxy have certain vibes and settings, but that is all. Kara Zor-El is not a new person; she has years of comic book history behind her. As for The Guardians, Gunn took them out of the shadows and brought them into the limelight.

CBR notes that Supergirl takes up much of her time flying around the universe, dispensing justice (and occasionally revenge) by being both violent and humorous at the same time. However, she is not just cracking jokes; her pain is deeper than what the Guardians usually carry.

ScreenRant discusses the King’s comic, in which Kara finds herself in a bar at the farthest part of the universe, in a system that has no yellow sun. She is drinking to forget the pain, attempting to cope with all she experienced. That makes her story darker in contrast to Star-Lord and his crew. Both stories play with laughs and seriousness, but the journey of Supergirl explores actual loss and how to continue after everything unravels.

Gunn’s vision about Supergirl connects to his even greater plan of structuring the DC Universe, which he has been shaping with co-CEO Peter Safran. According to ThePlaylist, Gunn explained that the key similarity between him and Safran is the degree to which they have adored these characters since childhood. To them, it is not merely a job to see these heroes off to their next chapters on screen, but it is actually a privilege.

This movie does something very major to the DCU: it moves the action off Earth. Superman may be our man on the ground, but Supergirl will take off into the alien worlds and threats that are far larger than anything we have ever witnessed. These new cosmic threads determine the way the DCU will travel next.

And, according to GamesRadar, all such DCU stories are interrelated. In some cases, they combine in the plot, and in some cases, you only get a glimpse of a new piece of the universe. Either way, it all adds up.