Why Sasha Calle's Supergirl deserves to survive The Flash's box-office flop
The Flash spoilers follow.
The Flash is underperforming at the box office amidst bad reviews and the shadow of Ezra Miller’s scandals, but there is one key piece of the movie that deserves recognition: even with very limited screen time, Sasha Calle’s Supergirl is a standout, and could be a much-needed shake-up for DC’s next chapter.
After Helen Slater’s iconic take on the superhero in Supergirl (1984) and Melissa Benoist’s wildly popular version in CBS/The CW’s TV show, the character was more than ready for a rebirth on the big screen. The possibilities were endless, since she has a long and deep history in the comics as one of DC's most interesting superheroes.
The Flash went for an unexpected departure from her usual look. No more classic blonde long hair or red miniskirt: this new Kara Zor-El feels different, more modern and, according to Calle, also blessed with a fabulous (and comfy) androgynous suit. She's more in sync with Across the Spider-Verse’s Spider-Gwen than with her predecessors, and there is immense potential for her journey within the DC universe.
Related: The Flash's shocking ending and credit scene explained
That's why Supergirl definitely deserved more than what she got in Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, and that’s why we fear this might be the first and last time we see her. After all, her introduction belongs to the old DCEU, and, though there is a Supergirl movie in the works among James Gunn’s plans as DC Studios's co-CEO (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow), there is still no confirmation regarding Calle’s continuance.
And, honestly, she should continue. Just with a better script.
We first meet Kara halfway through The Flash, when the two versions of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) and alternate universe Batman (Michael Keaton) travel to a Siberian prison to free Superman. Instead they find his cousin, who made it to Earth after the destruction of Krypton only to be caged for 20 years. Understandably, she is quite angry.
This is quite a smart swap, since this storyline was originally centred on Kal-El in the comics. What's interesting about this origin is how it changes the classic American Dream narrative, and it focus instead on how society irrationally fears otherness. It's a far bitterer take on the character, evoking the current brutality towards refugees and immigrants.
Choosing an American actress of Colombian descent for this type of origin story feels meaningful, and Calle's performance is top-notch. Even with the limited possibilities and time she is given, her performance is full of raw anger, pain and deep sadness for her shattered sense of hope.
But let's carry on with what happens in the movie. Despite her terrible experience on Earth so far, Kara’s journey in The Flash entails understanding not all humans are bad, and that they’re actually worth saving. So she faces General Zod (Michael Shannon), but as Barry realises a tad too late, she will never win. That alternate reality is doomed, so she dies multiple times as the speedster tries unsuccessfully to fix things.
Does that mean we will never see this version of Supergirl again?
Related: The Flash movie's delays and many, many controversies explained
Director Andy Muchietti has clarified that won't necessarily be the case. "Well, the great thing about the multiverse is that Supergirl lives in a million other timelines, right?,” he said in Deadline’s Crew Call podcast.
“So, nobody should– I mean, I don’t wanna spoil it, but whatever happens to Supergirl in this movie should not be taken as the absolute truth. We can see Supergirl, this Supergirl, Sasha Calle, in future projects. We might, because that’s how the multiverse works."
Sure, the multiverse allows countless possibilities for the character, but that also means DC can dispose of this version of her rather easily. Therefore, Calle’s continuance is not confirmed, and James Gunn might have other plans in his brand-new DC saga. We wouldn’t be surprised if The Flash’s bad box office performance tanks her chances to keep the role.
Calle would love to stay, of course. "Absolutely, are you kidding me? I love her so much and I feel her very deeply. I think this movie was a runway to a better story for her," she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
The actress also revealed to USA Today she's already had conversations with Peter Safran, DC Studios' co-CEO, about taking part in the future of the franchise. "I hope to continue playing Supergirl. I love her so deeply and I feel so connected to her," she said.
In terms of where her story could go, if you ask Calle (as ET did), she would love to bring the character back to Earth. So to speak.
"I just want to dive deeper into Kara and her feelings into her day-to-day. I would just love to see her in regular clothes, in human clothes. As a fan, the whole time that I was filming, I kept thinking, 'What would she wear? What glasses would she wear?'."
"[In The Flash], we don't meet her human, realised self, so as a fan, that would be something very cool."
With fan-favourites Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn probably not coming back to the DC universe, Supergirl might be the next big female superhero in DC movies. Hopefully, Sasha Calle will be able to continue the captivating journey she already started.
The Flash is in cinemas now.
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