An actor who has not yet appeared in a major DC film has become the center of a public controversy that is already affecting the movie’s box office outlook before its release. Milly Alcock, who plays Supergirl in the upcoming DC film, came under fire following a May 2026 interview with Variety. In it, she suggested that provoking certain critics is a sign you are doing something right. She specifically pointed to critics whose online bios describe them as Christian fathers, calling that detail “hilarious.

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The comment sparked immediate backlash, building on an earlier interview Alcock gave to Vanity Fair in late March 2026. In that conversation, she discussed the scrutiny actresses face from fandoms, saying, “Just existing as a woman in a fandom space gets you comments,” and describing a “weird ownership of women’s bodies” online. Former Superman actor Dean Cain entered the fray on June 3, 2026, during an appearance on The Benny Show. When host Benny Johnson raised Alcock’s comments, Cain said he had no prior knowledge of the actress and, after learning about the Christian dads remark, stated he had no desire to learn her name.
Cain, who identifies as a Christian dad himself, took the comment personally. Cain went on to predict the film would “tank monumentally,” called Alcock’s stance “suicidal empathy,” and suggested her approach would alienate audiences. He also criticized DC heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, implying they were mismanaging the franchise, and drew a direct comparison to the recent live-action Snow White film, which lost the studio an estimated $170 million. The drama escalated days later when Cain reposted Supergirl artwork with a joke questioning how the character could have ear piercings if her skin is bulletproof.
When another user posted a side-by-side comparison of Alcock to a character from the 1970s show Land of the Lost, Cain replied that he laughed. Fans accused him of punching down at a younger actress. Cain later clarified he never called her ugly, noting he is half-Japanese and has faced racist nicknames himself. The financial impact is becoming visible.
Supergirl is currently tracking for a domestic opening weekend of $50 to $65 million, a significant drop from last year’s Superman film, which opened to $125 million and grossed over $600 million worldwide. Industry observers note that the movie faces stiff competition from Toy Story 5, the live-action Moana, and new Minions content in a crowded summer release window. James Gunn addressed the earring joke on Threads, explaining that Kara loses her powers under a red sun and was raised without powers on a piece of Krypton. He did not directly engage with the broader controversy.
Studio head Peter Safran reportedly called Alcock personally after the first wave of backlash to tell her she was handling the situation beautifully. This is not the first clash between Cain and Gunn. In July 2025, Cain called Gunn’s portrayal of Superman as an immigrant “woke” and predicted it would hurt the box office.
That prediction proved incorrect, as Superman went on to become the only profitable DC movie from the last five theatrical releases.


