It might be a very lucky day for DC. Though the rollout of their latest superhero flick, The Flash, hasn’t been going so well, the company might still be able to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
See, there was one highlight in the film that could impact the future of the DCU: Sasha Calle’s Kara Zor-El/Supergirl. Though the character’s arc is left unfinished in the final film, Calle did an amazing job bringing the role of a troubled, traumatized, yet still hopeful character to life. Supergirl’s strong in more ways than one: she’s multi-dimensional, and it’s largely thanks to Calle’s performance.
So when Calle mentioned that she still wanted to play the character in a recent USA Today interview, fans were pleased. “I hope to continue playing Supergirl,” Calle said in the interview. “I love her so deeply, and I feel so connected to her.” In fact, Calle clarifies that she’s actually had discussions with co-CEO Peter Safran about continuing to play the Woman of Tomorrow.
A Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow film was listed in James Gunn’s Chapter One slate, but little has been revealed about the project thus far. On paper, it seems like an idea that’s too good to be true: comic book audiences love a good comeback story; for the most part, they can’t get enough of an actor who starred in a poorly-received superhero film getting the chance to shine in a better project.
Should Calle choose to return for the role, however, that does raise questions about the connectivity between the DCU and the DCEU. While some fans want strong continuity between the two – and, spoilers: DC has set up a multiversal reset at the end of The Flash – others would like a clean break from the old regime. Still, I view Calle’s potential addition to the DCU as a major win. She’s proven herself in the role, and she deserves a second crack at it.
It also cuts down on the wait time for Supergirl’s debut into the DCU. If you’re going to release a film, why not go for the young, talented actress who pretty much carried promotion for The Flash on her own shoulders? Frankly, at this point, Calle deserves a little bit of trust from DC. The Flash might not have succeeded in spite of it all, but Calle worked hard to mitigate what could’ve been a far worse result for the company.