Meg Donnelly Details Her SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW Audition And Future DCU Hopes (Exclusive)

Meg Donnelly Details Her SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW Audition And Future DCU Hopes (Exclusive)

Talking to us about her role in Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three, Supergirl actress Meg Donnelly (The Winchesters) breaks down her Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow audition and other potential DCU roles.

By JoshWilding - Jul 19, 2024 08:07 AM EST

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn wasted no time casting the DCU's Supergirl. While the character is expected to debut in next year's Superman, we won't have long to wait until she swoops into her own solo adventure with 2026's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock is set to play the Maiden of Might, but the casting hunt came down to her and The Winchesters star Meg Donnelly before the Australian actress won the coveted role.

Donnelly is no stranger to the hero after voicing her in Warner Bros. Animation's Legion of Super-Heroes and Crisis on Infinite Earths. So, when we caught up with Donnelly to discuss the final chapter of the latter trilogy this week, we asked about her Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow experience.

"It was something that I really had to fight for to get an audition because I wanted to be a part of [it] and be Supergirl in any way. That was a dream of mine, to be a superhero on screen as well," she explained. "So, I really fought for the audition and the fact that I got one and they liked it and I was then able to go and screen test."

"I was able to do stunts and do scenes on camera as Supergirl," Donnelly adds, revealing how close she came to being cast. "That was really all I could ask for; the fact I was able to do that. I still don't really feel like it was real, so it was just an honour. I think they're just going in a different direction and that's totally great but everyone there was so nice and incredible. It was surreal how nice they were [Laughs]."

"It was cool to get so close and hopefully be in the DCU in any way, that would be really cool. It was a great experience."

We then wondered whether there are any other DC roles Donnelly now has her eye on, and it sounds like she's open to anything that may come her way after her near-miss with Supergirl. 

"I think, yeah, it's a case of waiting and seeing who ends up coming into the DC Universe and the cinematic universe," she said. "I'm definitely keeping an eye out on that because just being a part of James Gunn's team in any way was really cool and felt really great."

"Hopefully, there is a space for that so, honestly, it would be really cool to play any superhero on screen. There are just so many to choose from!"

In Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the hero travels across the galaxy to celebrate her 21st birthday with Krypto the Superdog. Along the way, she meets a young woman named Ruthye and winds up on a murderous quest for revenge.

The movie arrives in theaters on June 26, 2026. As for Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three, that's now on sale and hits 4K UHD in limited edition SteelBook packaging and Blu-ray on July 23. We'll be sharing more coverage from our interviews soon!

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Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 7/19/2024, 8:29 AM
Tbh I got way more Supergirl vibes from her than I ever did from Milly Alcock imo, but I do think it was the case of the more experienced and/or known actress getting the role tbf.

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Nate212
Nate212 - 7/19/2024, 9:08 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy - I agree. They've both got the look, but Meg more so than Milly. But like you say it's probably a case of the more known actress getting the role. I wouldn't be surprised if they cast her as an alternate version of Kara at some point. Power Girl or something.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/19/2024, 8:31 AM
I hope she can get something too. Seems legit excited to be part of the DCU and would be open to committing to it long term.
Nate212
Nate212 - 7/19/2024, 9:06 AM
@lazlodaytona - I think she'd make a good Spoiler / Stephanie Brown. Seems like she has that fun, playful energy about her that Spoiler has.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/19/2024, 2:51 PM
@Nate212 - I agree. Was trying to think of characters she could be but that's good. Could also be Black Canary, Barbara Gordan, Catwoman, Raven, Hawk Girl, Talia Al Ghul, and so on.
Imprtracr1
Imprtracr1 - 7/19/2024, 9:38 AM
It should have been Meg. She's the superior choice to Milly Alcock in every way. It's a shame this is who was selected, but it doesn't look like this new DC is shaping up to be any good anyway. Well, at least not based on the aesthetic.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/19/2024, 9:47 AM
I haven’t seen Meg’s live action work (never saw the Winchesters) but she seems to have done well as the voice of Supergirl from what I’ve seen in the “Tomorrowverse”.

However if it got down to her and Milly for the role then it shows that they were quite impressed by her but just felt Milly was the better fit for their take on the character which is fine.

I’m looking forward to Milly Alcock in the role and I do hope Meg gets the chance to be in the DCU in another role in the future!!.

Perhaps as the new Mary Marvel?.

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CoHost
CoHost - 7/19/2024, 10:01 AM
I'm sure they'll think of something. Not only was she close. She was at the Suicide Squad premiere so she's def on Gunn's radar.

DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/19/2024, 11:36 AM

She would have been a much better Supergirl.

Ah well, them's the breaks.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/19/2024, 11:58 AM
She was my choice out those shortlisted. But Gunn's got a vision and I think his heart was set on the House of the Dragon lady from the beginning.

I woulda gone with Meg but I'm willing to see how it shakes out.

She seems like a class act though. I'd love to see the screentests at some point in the future.
MilestoneKnight
MilestoneKnight - 7/19/2024, 1:09 PM
Yeah, I agree with what everyone else is saying in the comments. Realistically, Meg Donnelly should've gotten the role and I was of this opinion before she released this statement. Unlike Milly Alcock, she's actually an American, has played Supergirl before, resembles the prime version of Kara in personality and appearance and she was already a massive fan of superheroes even before her audition. Does Alcock check ANY of those boxes? *Sigh* I don't know, this just seems like a case of clear bias from the start. James Gunn just cast the actress who fits his personal tastes and Warner Bros. wanted the more established actress from House of the Dragon. It's supremely unfair for Donnelly, but it is what it is. She's being a class act about it, though, so that's great to see. I really hope she gets another DC or Marvel role down the line.
MilestoneKnight
MilestoneKnight - 7/19/2024, 2:05 PM
Also, it's great to see that so many people agree with me about Donnelly in the comments section...especially seeing every other post completely gloss over Meg and mindlessly praise Alcock as the "unquestionably better" choice.
Astroman
Astroman - 7/19/2024, 6:03 PM
Definitely think Donnelly had a more traditional look down, but I think this came back to Gunn’s comments captured below:

When Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was initially announced, Gunn said of the project, “We see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore; she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”

He also saw Alcock as having the “edge” they were looking for. Alcock definite looks more like she can take a punch and probably reads as more world-weary and tough. Not an insult and no disrespect for Donnelly. Whether this approach for Super Girl is a good idea, we shall see.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 7/20/2024, 12:41 AM
Gunn's mind was already made up since way before he was even shaking hands with Zaslav when House of the Dragon aired and the whole freaking tax-write offs fiascos started in August. I sympahtize with Meg.

She's apparently also up to play Gwen Stacy in the MCU, I say give her a shot at it.
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