Reports from The Hollywood Reporter indicate that the recent *Supergirl* film, which has faced box office struggles and mixed reviews, was the subject of an internal creative dispute between director Craig Gillespie and DC Studios.

This disagreement reportedly led to the creation and test screening of two different cuts of the movie.

According to sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter, Gillespie and James Gunn, a key figure in the DC Universe, were not creatively aligned.

While some sources downplayed this as merely "healthy friction," the differing visions resulted in separate versions of the film being presented to test audiences.

Both cuts reportedly scored in the 60-70 range on a 100-point scale, suggesting neither version fully resonated with viewers.

Filming for *Supergirl* concluded in May 2025.

Following a December screen test that did not perform well, DC Studios reportedly took over post-production.

They also brought in Jeremy Slater, known for his work on *Mortal Kombat II*, for revisions, though the extent of his involvement remains unclear.

Notable changes included adjustments to the climactic battle between Supergirl and the villain Krem's forces, as well as the film's use of music.

One specific point of contention involved the film's needle drops.

The final movie's inclusion of an acoustic cover of Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" by Kelty Greye and KidMotel has been widely criticized.

Interestingly, Gunn reportedly favored a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," which was ultimately not used.

Ultimately, DC Studios orchestrated a "bakeoff" between Gillespie's director's cut, which was approximately 11 minutes longer and featured more of Krem, and their own studio cut.

The studio's version of *Supergirl* reportedly achieved a score two points higher in test screenings, leading to its theatrical release.

This behind-the-scenes struggle offers insight into the creative process and challenges faced during the production of major studio films.