Milly Alcock Claps Back at Martin Scorsese’s Remarks as ‘Supergirl’ Pressure Builds

Milly Alcock is preparing for her lead role as Supergirl in the upcoming DC film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The House of the Dragon star recently addressed ongoing criticism of superhero movies, including Martin Scorsese's infamous "theme park" comparison.

In 2019, Martin Scorsese compared superhero movies to theme parks, arguing they fall short of true cinema. In an Empire magazine interview, he said, "I tried, you know? But that's not cinema."

He elaborated, "Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well-made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn't the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being."

Scorsese's remarks ignited debate over what constitutes cinema, with many defending Marvel's popular superhero franchises.

Six years later, Alcock addressed Scorsese's comments in a recent Vanity Fair interview while preparing for her Supergirl role. "I get it," the 25-year-old actress said. "They've been around for f**king ever making phenomenal films. Not every film is for everyone. The beauty of art is that you can be selective."

She added, "Whenever a new wave comes along, there's going to be criticism towards it."

Last year, Alcock made a cameo as Kara Zor-El in Superman. This year, she leads Warner Bros.' Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, based on the DC comic where Kara witnesses her home planet's destruction before reaching Earth.

"She's not trying to save the world, she's just trying to save her own," Alcock said of the character. "She's given this incredible responsibility and doesn't know how to deal with it," she added. "So she kind of suffocates herself and goes on a journey of self-discovery."

Alcock revealed she did not seek advice from previous Supergirl actors like Melissa Benoist and Sasha Calle. "They're just people living their lives," she said, emphasizing they share no "blood bond."

When asked if her role as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon prepared her for potential backlash after Supergirl's release, Alcock replied, "It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on. We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women's bodies." She added, "I can't really stop them. I can only be myself."

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, hits theaters on June 26, 2026.