The upcoming Supergirl reboot is beginning to take shape as more details emerge about its creative direction. While DC’s new cinematic universe continues to expand its roster of heroes, the film’s tonal approach is already generating interest for how it will reimagine Kara Zor-El’s journey in a fresh light. Behind the scenes, the filmmakers are drawing from unexpected influences to shape the emotional backbone of the story.

That blend of grounded storytelling and mythic scale becomes even more intriguing when the creative team starts revealing what helped inspire the film’s narrative structure and character dynamics.

Director Craig Gillespie and lead star Milly Alcock have pointed to a surprising source shaping the tone of the reboot: True Grit. The 2010 Western, known for its rugged journey and emotionally complex mentor-protege dynamic, served as a key reference point for the film’s narrative approach.

“That road trip and the cantankerous hero that is resilient and reluctant, but grows through the journey because of this younger individual, which in our case is Ruthye.” said Director Craig Gillespie in an interview with Discussing Film.

The comparison highlights how Supergirl is leaning into a character-driven journey rather than purely spectacle-driven storytelling. By focusing on emotional transformation through companionship and hardship, the film aims to ground its cosmic narrative in something more human and relatable.

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This emphasis on travel, survival, and evolving relationships also ties directly into how the film was physically brought to life, with production spanning multiple real-world and studio locations.

Most of Supergirl was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire, where the DC Universe traded familiar skylines for distant galaxies. Production ran from January to May 2025, with the studio serving as the film's creative backbone. Practical sets worked alongside advanced virtual production technology, allowing the crew to craft an expansive cosmic adventure without relying on a single filmmaking approach.

One of the production's standout achievements was the construction of Evely, a war-ravaged town on the planet Bilquis. Rather than a polished science-fiction city, the set featured crumbling buildings, scattered rubble, and burned-out vehicles, reflecting a world left vulnerable to pirate raids. The detailed environment gave the cast a tangible setting that matched the story's darker tone.

Beyond the studio, filming also took place in London, Scotland, and Iceland. Scotland's rugged landscapes provided convincing stand-ins for remote alien worlds, while Iceland's striking volcanic terrain expanded the film's otherworldly scale during the final stretch of production. London also hosted on-location filming, complementing the extensive work completed at Leavesden.

With influences rooted in classic storytelling and production spanning both controlled studio environments and vast natural landscapes, Supergirl is shaping up to be a grounded yet expansive reimagining of the iconic heroine. The creative team’s focus on emotional journeys suggests a film that balances spectacle with character depth in equal measure.

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Do you think a True Grit-style road journey is the right approach for a Supergirl reboot? Let us know in the comments!