A few days before the release of her first solo superhero film, actress Milly Alcock is facing a growing backlash over comments she made in a recent interview—and early box office projections for the movie are already raising alarms at Warner Bros. Alcock, best known for playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen in *House of the Dragon*, is the ninth actress to take on the role of Supergirl. Her upcoming film is the second entry in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe, following last year’s *Superman*. According to Gunn, this version of the iconic hero is noticeably darker, described as jaded and damaged.
Alcock has admitted she felt out of her depth stepping into the role. The financial stakes are significant. The film reportedly cost around $245 million to produce and market, and analysts estimate it needs to earn close to $500 million worldwide just to break even. The controversy began when Alcock sat down with Variety before the movie’s release.
In the interview, she discussed the criticism she receives online, noting that many of her detractors hide behind anonymous profiles, joking that some read like “dad of four, Christian. ” She then added a line that quickly became the headline: “If you are upsetting the right kind of people, you are doing okay. ”
Clips of the comment spread rapidly across social media, with many fans interpreting it as a direct attack on Christian audiences and DC loyalists. The backlash grew louder when older remarks resurfaced.
In a March interview with *Vanity Fair*, Alcock had spoken about what she called a “weird ownership over women’s bodies” in pop culture, describing how strangers online feel entitled to comment on her appearance. When asked about that earlier comment months later, Alcock doubled down, saying she had been misread the first time. She clarified she meant “people” rather than “men” and insisted the angry reaction to her statement only proved her original point. She also said she already expects backlash simply for being a woman in the superhero genre.
The early tracking numbers are not encouraging for the studio. Supergirl is projected to open between $47 million and $65 million in the United States, with some analysts still pointing to a $55 million debut. That figure puts the film in the same range as *The Marvels*, widely considered one of the worst box office flops in superhero movie history—a comparison no studio wants attached to a major release. Former Superman actor Dean Cain weighed in on the controversy during a podcast appearance.
He said he had no desire to learn Alcock’s name after hearing about her comments, arguing that Hollywood is ultimately a numbers game and that insulting potential ticket buyers is a strategic mistake. The podcast host, Benny Johnson, went further, predicting the movie was set to flop and blaming the actress for alienating family audiences. The film’s marketing has also drawn criticism. DC’s official poster reveal featured the tagline “Truth, Justice, Whatever,” which many fans read as a dismissive nod to the classic Superman message of hope and doing the right thing.
It was a minor detail, but it added to a growing sense of disconnect between the studio and its audience. This is not the first time recent DC leadership has faced friction with fans. Gunn’s own *Superman* film last year encountered a similar wave of backlash over its messaging, though on a smaller scale. The situation has drawn direct comparisons to Disney’s live-action *Snow White* remake.
Lead actress Rachel Zegler publicly called the original 1937 animated film “dated” and took shots at the Prince character before the movie’s release. She also clashed with fans online during promotion. The film ultimately grossed about $205 million worldwide on a production budget of $269 million, with reports estimating Disney lost between $115 million and $170 million once marketing costs were factored in. A producer’s son publicly blamed Zegler’s comments for hurting the film’s box office performance.
Dean Cain made the same comparison during his podcast appearance, noting the similarities between the two situations. Still, the controversy is not one-sided. DC co-chief Peter Safran has publicly supported Alcock throughout the backlash. Gunn has called her his best casting decision on the project, praising her tape and describing her as having a “pixie-ish, but very attitudinal” presence.
Many fans also defend Alcock, pointing out that a significant portion of the criticism directed at her has little to do with her interviews. Instead, much of it targets her appearance, with detractors calling her not pretty enough or not feminine enough for the role—criticism her supporters argue actually proves her point about scrutiny of women in the industry. The broader context extends beyond a single film. The 2026 Oscars drew just 17.
9 million viewers, down 9% from the previous year and the lowest since 2022. A decade earlier, the ceremony pulled in 34. 5 million in a single night, reflecting a sharp decline in audience trust across Hollywood in a relatively short period.
Supergirl is set to hit theaters, and whether the movie can overcome the controversy and meet expectations remains to be seen.
