One of the most intriguing announcements on the DCU slate was the Supergirl movie. James Gunn confirmed Warner Bros. would be tackling an adaption of Tom King and Bilquis Evley's Woman of Tomorrow, which ran from 2021 to 2022. And that's in addition to Superman: Legacy, which will feature a younger Kal-El exploring his humanity on Earth.
It's an exciting prospect, given fans aren't sure what'll happen to Sasha Calle's Kara Zor-El after The Flash. But it also proves that DC is still invested in the House of El, even after Henry Cavill's Clark Kent got put on ice. Interestingly, given what the source comic's about, Gunn and Co. actually have a chance to correct an error the Snyderverse made with Jimmy Olsen using another key player.
Zack Snyder Used Jimmy Olsen as a Prop
A huge part of Superman lore has been Jimmy Olsen. Since being created in the '40s, he's been Clark's best friend on the job, became a superhero and freedom fighter and tethered Clark to humanity in a big way. Despite whatever changes writers make, he's always there for Lois and the Daily Planet, coming off as a true blue and someone who inspires Superman.
Sadly, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice had him as a CIA plant investigating a terrorist cell, resulting in villains killing him after just a few minutes of screen time. It shocked viewers, who thought maybe a Man of Steel follow-up would have Jimmy working with Clark. Instead, the "photojournalist" got murdered to scare Lois, leaving critics wondering why Snyder would remove a massive humanizing element of Kal-El's life.
Supergirl Had Her Own Version of Jimmy Olsen
In World of Tomorrow, Kara got marooned after the destruction of Krypton, with a red sun taking her powers away. The book took influence from True Grit as she ended up mentoring Ruthye, a young girl whose dad got viciously murdered. It was left to Kara to fight enemies and her own inner demons, quell the beast within and show Ruthye that revenge wouldn't cleanse her soul. In the process, Kara learned about her limits and what she needed to do to become a hero.
So, the movie can focus on this bond, how Kara's rage is reflected in Ruthye and why both have to let go. It'd be akin to Clark and Jimmy teaming up, but it'd come off as a more self-contained learning story with both isolated on this rock. This way, it's more nuanced because Kara learns about maturity and her rugged mentality, not just victory in some physical rebellion.
Such a relationship would also remind both not to kill -- something Cavill's Superman didn't understand on his own. It's the kind of journey Superman would have loved as he came into his own. And ultimately, Ruthye ends up growing old and discarding the notion of retribution, which is why when Kara returns as Supergirl, she thanks Ruthye for helping expand her mind. That would be a solid way of making up for no Jimmy and Clark under Snyder and evolving all the bonds from the older Superman films, giving Kara not a sidekick but a true sister.