A Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie adaptation is currently in the works for the new DCU, serving as the perfect story to help distinguish Kara Zor-El's Supergirl from her Kryptonian cousin Superman. While the original DC Comics story from Tom King and Bilquis Evely takes place away from Earth with an adventure of epically cosmic proportions, it's unknown how much will be adapted for the new DC film. However, there are 4 key ways in which Kara can be set apart from Clark Kent as Earth's Man of Steel.
In 2021's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow miniseries from King and Evely, Kara meets an alien girl named Ruthye whose father was killed by an assassin. Pursuing the powerful and resourceful villain across the galaxy, Supergirl hoped to teach Ruthye and guide her away from darker motivations such as revenge. Along the way, several aspects of Supergirl herself are confirmed, proving her core differences from Kal-El and his upbringing as Clark Kent.
Supergirl Had History On Krypton (More Than Superman)
Unlike Kal-El who was sent to Earth in a rocket by his parents from Krypton as a baby, Supergirl had an entire childhood with her parents before Krypton was destroyed. Likewise, a massive hunk of the world on which Argo City stood survived the initial blast, though radiation poisoning saw thousands of Kryptonians gradually dying around Kara (including her mother). As such, Kara Zor-El endured intense tragedy and loss as a 14-year-old before her father built a similar rocket for his daughter, allowing Kara to similarly find refuge on Earth just like her cousin.
Although Superman would eventually come to learn about his parents and Kryptonian heritage, Supergirl actually had a life with friends, family, and loved ones she can vividly remember, making their loss that much more of a burden she's had to carry as one of DC's few Kryptonian survivors. Assuming the same events will occur in the upcoming DCU movie, it could certainly be argued that Kara's origins are even more harrowing and tragic than Superman's, even though they were both born on the same world which no longer exists.
Supergirl Has Her Own Family On Earth (Not The Kents)
As seen in the original DC Comics, Superman helps Kara get acclimated to life on Earth, eventually helping her control her powers which leads to her public hero debut as Supergirl. However, she doesn't live with Superman's parents Jonathan and Martha Kent on their farm in Smallville, Kansas. Instead, Kara Zor-El takes on the identity of Kara Danvers after she is adopted by the Danvers Family, subsequently becoming the protector of National City and mirroring her cousin who's based in the city of Metropolis.
The fact that Kara has her own family and city is important, granting her independence from Superman while still being connected as a loved one and one of Clark Kent's strongest allies when needed. However, it also means she has her own unique perspectives on Earth and humanity. As seen in King's Woman of Tomorrow miniseries, Kara is less judgmental and at times more flexible than Clark would be. Her experiences on Krypton have also made her more jaded as a hero in comparison, something new DC head James Gunn spoke to when first announcing the DCU adaptation.
Supergirl Can Be More Cosmic-Based (Woman Of Tomorrow)
In the comics' Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Kara never returns to Earth in the dynamic miniseries. Instead, she's seen traveling the cosmos during her search for the assassin who killed Ruthye's father, the girl she befriends and attempts to guide as a mentor. Facing foes far stronger than herself or Kal-El could ever hope to be as well as worlds with Kryptonite-infused suns, Supergirl faces a gauntlet of threats that would never be found on Earth. Ultimately, the extraterrestrial locales and scenarios serve as compelling background as Supergirl ends up facing her own traumatic past while attempting to help Ruthye face her own darkness.
A similarly cosmic tone as seen in Woman of Tomorrow would make a lot of sense for Supergirl's upcoming DCU movie, especially if it's indeed going to be a true adaptation of King's work. It would certainly set it apart from Gunn's Superman: Legacy which will likely keep a younger Kal-El on Earth, protecting Metropolis as he reportedly figures out how to be the kind of hero who honors both his Kryptonian heritage and upbringing on Earth. Additionally, Superman can provide more classic adventures as the Man of Steel while Supergirl can test the limits of what a Kryptonian can do and be out in the far reaches of space.
Supergirl May Hit Harder Than Superman
It's possible that the DCU's Supergirl will hit harder and unleash her Kryptonian powers to a greater level than has ever been seen from an on-screen Superman. A common theme across mediums is the true power that comes from Kal-El's ability to exercise restraint on Earth. However, one of the most brilliant elements in Woman of Tomorrow is the idea that all the rules are different out in the cosmos. The same limitations don't apply. As such, there could be plenty of scenarios in which Kara is able to let loose and/or employ new abilities based on the kinds of sun and/or atmospheres she finds herself in.
At any rate, the fact that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has been referenced as a foundational inspiration for the upcoming DCU movie is very exciting. There's clearly potential where the core elements that make Supergirl a unique DC hero can be highlighted just as much as her connections to her Kryptonian cousin. Likewise, Tom King himself is reportedly an instrumental creative who's been helping James Gunn and Peter Safran shape the overarching story of DCU's first chapter entitled Gods and Monsters. As such, the odds are strong that the DCU's Supergirl move is in good hands in whatever form it ends up taking.
