(Image source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
"Supergirl" opened globally last week to disappointing box office numbers, virtually guaranteeing a financial loss. Critical reception has also been largely unfavorable, with many viewers panning the film for its bland plot and underdeveloped characters. As is often the case with films deemed failures by the industry, whispers of creative clashes behind the scenes have emerged. True to form, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) published a special report on "Supergirl" this morning, detailing such conflicts.
(Image source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
According to sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, who also served as a co-producer on the film, and director Craig Gillespie indeed experienced creative divergences behind the scenes. While some insiders characterized their disagreements as healthy creative friction, others suggested that "differences" was a polite understatement of the true extent of the conflict.
As early as last fall during post-production, both Gunn and Gillespie reportedly recognized that "Supergirl" required significant improvements. The film's initial internal test screening in December yielded only lukewarm reactions, prompting DC Studios to exert greater control over the project. Gunn then enlisted trusted writers and editors to develop a new script for reshoots and create a fresh cut of the film, though the additional photography period was relatively brief, lasting only about nine days.
(Image source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ultimately, Gunn and Gillespie each enlisted their own preferred editors to assemble new cuts of the film. Instead of collaborating on a single version, they independently produced separate edits, which were then screened to determine which received the highest test scores. Reportedly, Gunn's version is the one that eventually hit theaters, while Gillespie's cut was 11 minutes longer, featuring additional development for the film's villain. Although Gunn's edit scored marginally higher, leading by only two points, both versions received significantly lower scores than previous iterations.
Gillespie's cut reportedly garnered the most praise for its song selection, pacing, and villain portrayal. However, according to DC Studios insiders, the overall differences between the two versions were ultimately minor.