Supergirl Could Set up Superman's Most Dangerous Enemy - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Look out–Supergirl is finally landing in theaters on June 30, marking Milly Alcock’s first leading role as the Girl of Steel. The film loosely adapts the events of Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book run, following Kara Zor-El’s tragic origin and struggle to cope in the years that follow.

Supergirl not only sets up one of the DCU’s most important new heroes but also the next era of James Gunn’s burgeoning superhero cinematic universe. While its story will primarily focus on Kara’s intergalactic travels, one key element of Supergirl suggests that the film could set up a future Superman villain.

Supergirl Could Set Up the DCU’s General Zod

While Supergirl‘s main antagonist will be Matthias Schoenaerts’ Krem of the Yellow Hills, the film could also set up a much more dangerous villain for future DCU projects. It will be the first time that audiences see the DCU’s version of Krypton, Superman and Supergirl’s home planet. The film will feature Krypton’s destruction, with Kara forced to watch as everything she ever knew and loved is wiped from existence.

Before Krypton’s destruction, however, Supergirl has the opportunity to introduce the DCU’s iteration of General Zod, one of the most powerful and dangerous Kryptonian villains in the DC universe. Zod and his followers will stop at nothing to restore Krypton, even if it means eliminating another species entirely.

By visiting Krypton, Supergirl leaves the door wide open to introduce Zod and his acolytes, even if it is just for a moment at the beginning of the film. Perhaps it could even call back the beginning of the 1978 Superman movie, which opens with Zod’s trial and subsequent banishment to the Phantom Zone, setting up his return in the sequel. A similar scenario would be an excellent way to set up the Kryptonian general before a more substantial appearance in future DCU movies.

General Zod is one of the most iconic Superman villains of all time. Besides Lex Luthor, he is often thought of as the Man of Steel’s most dangerous enemy, and for good reason. While many other supervillains have to come up with inventive ways to fight Superman, Zod has no such weaknesses. As a fellow Kryptonian, he has all the same powers as Kal-El, plus decades of military training. Often aided by a legion of followers, Zod is one of the greatest threats in any DC universe.

Zod has appeared in two of the four live-action Superman film franchises. He made his big-screen debut in 1978’s Superman: The Movie, played by Terence Stamp, who later returned as the main antagonist of Superman II. While Brandon Routh’s Superman never faced a variant of Zod, the Kryptonian villain returned in the DCEU, played by Michael Shannon. This iteration of Zod starred in two films as well, first in 2013’s Man of Steel and again in 2023’s The Flash.

The DCU May Have Already Hinted at General Zod’s Debut

Image via Warner Bros. / Courtesy the Everett Collection

The DCU may have already hinted at General Zod’s arrival in its very first movie. Much of Superman revolves around Kal-El coming to grips with the truth about his parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. After spending years with just a fragment of their message, he later discovers the rest of their words to him: take over Earth and rule over humanity.

This was a dynamic shift in the characterization of Superman’s Kryptonian parents, who are usually portrayed as benevolent and pacifistic. In fact, this motivation more strongly resembles General Zod’s ambitions in most iterations. Jor-El and Lara’s darker tendencies could hint at a more violent and imperialistic Krypton in the DCU, which would be the perfect breeding ground for conquerors like General Zod to emerge.

While James Gunn has yet to officially confirm plans to introduce Zod to the DCU, he has hinted that this could be the case. In a recent social media interaction, the DC Studios head was asked about a litany of characters fans want to see in the franchise. From a list that included General Zod, Doomsday, Doctor Fate, Black Adam, and Darkseid, he responded that “two of them in not too long.”

Although Gunn did not confirm which two he was referring to, General Zod seems like a safe bet as one of them. Black Adam almost certainly won’t appear in the DCU anytime soon after the 2022 DCEU film flopped. Doomsday and Darkseid seem more likely, but would usher in much bigger storylines that the DCU may not be ready for yet. There have also been indications that Doctor Fate would show up in future projects.

Zod seems to be the least problematic addition to this list. His introduction wouldn’t kickstart massive storylines that encompass the entire DCU, like Darkseid and Doomsday would. Audiences are also more ready to see a new iteration of Zod than they are Black Adam or Doctor Fate. Thus, while it is impossible to say for sure, it seems highly likely that General Zod will show up in the DCU sooner rather than later, even if it doesn’t happen in Supergirl.

Is General Zod Coming to the DCU?

Superman villain General Zod looking imposing with a lightning background.

General Zod will almost certainly show up in the DC Cinematic Universe eventually. If James Gunn’s superhero franchise continues for many more years to come, as is everyone’s hope, Superman will inevitably come to blows with his most dangerous enemy. Even if Zod doesn’t show up in Supergirl, fans can still count on his return in a future DCU project.

The one thing standing in Zod’s way is his recent appearance in the DCEU. Michael Shannon last played the iconic villain in 2023’s The Flash, just three short years ago. DC Studios may still feel that it’s too soon to introduce a new iteration of the character. Even so, with a few more years, no one would bat an eye at seeing a third big-screen version of Zod.

In the meantime, the Superman Family has plenty of other threats to occupy their time. Supergirl faces off against the likes of Krem of the Yellow Hills in her upcoming solo film, while also meeting intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, an unruly friend who may cause just as much damage as he does help.

Meanwhile, Supergirl and Superman will join forces to take on Brainiac in next year’s Man of Tomorrow. To do so, they’ll team up with Superman’s old nemesis, Lex Luthor, who gets a dramatic upgrade in the form of his new Battlesuit. While Luthor will be instrumental in staving off Brainiac’s invasion, his enhanced abilities now make him an even bigger threat than he was before.

With all this in the works, the last thing that Clark and Kara need is an invasion of bloodthirsty Kryptonians. That makes it the perfect time for the DCU to begin setting up Zod and his followers, who may yet be the most dangerous threat the Super Family has ever faced. They may even need more heroes to help take them down.

As Supergirl nears its release, fans need to keep their eyes and ears open for any mention of a certain Kryptonian general whose DCU debut remains on the horizon. General Zod will forever change Superman and Supergirl’s life, whether he arrives sooner or later.

Supergirl hits theaters on June 30, 2026.