DC Studios boss addresses Supergirl's box office flop after Milly Alcock's emotional admission

The head of DC Studios has weighed in after Supergirl failed to take off at the box office following its release last week (26 June).

Despite strong pre-release buzz fuelled by the success of James Gunn’s Superman last year, the new superhero blockbuster opened to underwhelming numbers.

Starring House of the Dragon breakout Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Supergirl made just $38 million (£28m) in North America and $68 million (£50m) globally in its opening weekend. This fell short of Warner Bros.’ reported $55 million domestic target.

After the film had its rocky start, Peter Safran, co-chairman and co-chief executive of DC Studios shared his take on the box office results.

“While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in,” he told the New York Times.

The film, which reportedly cost around $170 million to make before marketing costs, now faces an uphill battle to recoup its budget.

Supergirl has had a rough start at the box office (Warner Bros.)

The comments from the DC boss come after Alcock opened up about the enormous pressure she felt taking on one of DC's biggest roles.

Speaking to Variety before the film's release, the 26-year-old Australian actress admitted she was terrified during the audition process because of what landing the part would mean for her career.

"It's the stakes, you know?" she said.

After eventually being cast, the reality of leading her own superhero film quickly set in.

Alcock continued: "I was like, 'I have to do all that?! No!' Because she's in, like, every scene."

Alcock also admitted she nearly talked herself out of accepting the opportunity altogether before giving herself a pep talk.

Alcock is known for House of the Dragon (HBO)

"I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was like, 'Who am I to turn down this opportunity?'" she said, before adding: "I knew that it was what I needed to do, because it scared me. And I thought, 'Well, I get one big, bad, beautiful life. Why not f*cking go for it?'"

The film has also had a mixed reception from critics, earning 55% on Rotten Tomatoes.

James Gunn has described this version of Kara Zor-El as a more complex and troubled take on the character compared with earlier portrayals.

The role is played by Milly Alcock, who portrays Kara as someone who spent the first fourteen years of her life on a drifting fragment of Krypton without superpowers, surrounded by death and instability.

She only gains her abilities after leaving, meaning there was a brief period in her life when something as ordinary as getting her ears pierced would have been entirely possible.

"She's a total mess," Gunn told Screenrant of the character when speaking to Screenrant. "A much more difficult background than Superman.

"He's had this wonderful upbringing by two parents that loved him and were very healthy. Her background was much different."