DC Studios faced internal creative disagreements and competing edits during the troubled production of Supergirl, according to industry sources.
Reports say the studio held a “bakeoff” in March to compare two versions of the film. Director Craig Gillespie submitted one cut, while DC Studios, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, prepared another. Test scores for both versions reportedly fell instead of improving, raising concerns within the studio, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film carried high expectations as DC Studios’ key project outside Gunn’s direct writing and directing work. The studio aimed to prove it could expand beyond Gunn-led titles following Superman.
However, Supergirl failed to meet expectations. The film, starring Milly Alcock in the lead role, carried a reported budget of $170–180 million but earned only $37.1 million on its opening weekend. That result fell below Joker: Folie à Deux, which opened to $37.6 million.
Sources said Gunn and Gillespie disagreed on key creative decisions during production. They said the film struggled to settle on a clear direction during post-production. Test screenings reportedly never moved beyond the 60s on a 100-point scale, with one early high reaching around 70.
Other sources, however, described the situation as normal studio-filmmaker discussion rather than serious conflict. They said DC Studios maintained respect for Gillespie, who previously directed I, Tonya and earned acclaim for Cruella.
Filming ended in May 2025. By late 2025, studio executives and the director recognised issues with the final cut. A December test screening delivered average results. DC Studios then took control of post-production and developed its own version of the film.
Writer Jeremy Slater joined the process to assist with revisions. Original screenwriter Ana Nogueira also remained involved. The team reworked several sections, including the final battle sequence. The studio also used additional photography over nine days to adjust key scenes.
Music choices created further disagreement. Gunn, known for his soundtrack-driven filmmaking style in Guardians of the Galaxy, proposed a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun for a major sequence. That version later changed to a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s The Middle in the final cut.
The production used two editors: Tatiana S. Riegel, who regularly collaborates with Gillespie, and Fred Raskin, a longtime Gunn collaborator who also worked on the Guardians of the Galaxy films and Peacemaker. Raskin joined later and played a major role in shaping the studio’s final version.
Sources said the film underwent at least four test screenings between December 2025 and March this year. Scores reportedly improved at one stage to the low 70s before falling again after competing cuts were tested. The studio selected its version for theatrical release after it scored slightly higher than Gillespie’s cut by a small margin.
One version of the film reportedly ran 11 minutes longer and included more focus on villain Krem, played by Matthias Schoenaerts. Test scores for both versions dropped again during the final comparison.
Industry insiders described the process as unusual but not unheard of. One filmmaker said such bakeoffs occur occasionally when studios want stronger control over final edits.
Warner Bros. Discovery executive Peter Safran acknowledged the film’s box office result but said it forms part of a broader long-term strategy at DC Studios, which remains in place despite the setback.
DC Studios continues work on upcoming projects, including Clayface, Man of Tomorrow directed by Gunn, and The Batman: Part II under Matt Reeves. The studio also develops spin-off projects featuring characters such as Jimmy Olsen and Mr Terrific.
Industry observers say the outcome places renewed focus on Gunn’s dual role as filmmaker and studio leader. They note that superhero films now face declining audience certainty, adding pressure on future DC releases.
