On 31st January, James Gunn released his new DCU slate. Out of the five TV shows and five films released, one movie caught the attention of many. It was “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.” Once the excitement from the announcement of the film slate died down, many fans started asking: will Sasha Calle reprise her role in the film, or will the character be recast like Superman is going to be? Let us explore what James Gunn says about it.
James Gunn Clarifies Sasha Calle’s Future in the DCU
In February 2021, actress Sasha Calle was cast as Supergirl in “The Flash” film with too much fanfare. Warner Brothers released a video of “The Flash” film director Andrés Muschietti informing Sasha Calle of her future role. However, her future as a character is now in turmoil since the previous Warner Bros. executives who signed off on her casting are no longer in power.
Instead, now Warner Bros has become Warner Brothers Discovery post the merger with Discovery, and under them, DC Studios is an independent studio. Peter Safran and James Gunn are the two CEOs of DC Studios, and they are all set to start things afresh with “Superman: Legacy,” which will premiere in 2025. We already know that Henry Cavill won’t be reprising his role as Superman in the movie and that it also won’t be another origin story.
So since the DCU will have a new Superman, what about his cousin? Is Sasha Lane staying as Supergirl in the new universe, or will she get recast? In the press gathering, when Gunn announced his new slate, he was asked the same question. He answered that he didn’t know that yet since he was figuring it all out. After all, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” will probably be released in 2027.
“Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is based on the Tom King-written and Bilquis Evely-illustrated comic of the same name. In the book, Kara Zor-El/Supergirl goes on an intergalactic space adventure with her dog Krypto and an alien girl. It’s “true grit,” but in space. James Gunn explained that they understand that Superman and Supergirl are different characters. The co-CEO said that the former was raised by good and loving parents, while the latter watched everyone around her die. Also, to make matters worse, she was raised on a piece of rock that drifted away from Krypton during its destruction, while Superman had a stable home.
Gunn further said DCU’s Kara would be a different version of Supergirl. She will be harsher and more screwed up. Now, it’s not yet known which version of Supergirl he’s comparing with DCU’s Kara. Is it Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl in the CW “Supergirl” show who was pretty much a female Superman? The comic book character? Or Sasha Calle’s Supergirl in “The Flash” film? After all, James Gunn has seen “The Flash” and described it as one of the best superhero films he has ever seen. No one knows.
Will Sasha Lane Keep Her Role As Supergirl?
After James Gunn announced the slate, the 8-issue “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” comic book sold out on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms in the USA. So there’s plenty of excitement among DC fans about the upcoming movie. Many of them think James Gunn should recast the role since it might be too confusing for the general audience to understand why a version of Supergirl, who isn’t Superman’s cousin in the new DC Universe, is in the film. But that’s not the main issue.
Her Supergirl symbol in the film is quite similar to Cavill’s in the “Man of Steel,” “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and “Justice League” films. So unless and until they reboot her entire backstory and change her suit, it will be a headache to explain the similarity since Cavill isn’t Superman anymore. However, others think that the actress should be given a chance to show off her acting prowess. Many fans think James Gunn should decide after “The Flash” film releases. If audiences love her, they should keep her, but if not, they can recast her.
Also, as per Gunn, even though “The Flash” film will reboot the DC universe, he will still keep some actors in the same roles they played. After all, we know that Viola Davis is returning as Amanda Waller in the “Waller” TV show, and John Cena, too, will reprise his role as the Peacemaker. As for the futures of Zachary Levi, Jason Momoa, and Gal Gadot, that’s still up in the air. Although the general consensus among fans is that Gunn will recast the characters, they play. After all, when asked at the press conference, he gave a non-committal reply about including Shazam and Aquaman in the DCU when they had solid plans for the characters.
Now, coming back to Calle, there’s yet another section of the fans who think that Gunn has already made a decision and he will recast her. After all, the prolific director didn’t shy away from giving Henry Cavill the boot when legions of fans wanted him back as the man of steel. In the press meeting, he clarified that he hadn’t technically fired Cavill since he had never hired him. So logically, it doesn’t make sense for him to mess up continuity when he is trying so hard to establish a new one. When the time comes, Gunn can use the same excuse when recasting Calle as well. As for what Sasha Calle’s ultimate fate will be in the new DCU, that remains to be seen.
See more: James Gunn Hits Out At The MCU, Defines What DC Studios Is Doing Different
