As the DC Universe prepares to introduce a new chapter with Supergirl, director Craig Gillespie is approaching the iconic superhero not as an untouchable symbol of strength, but as a deeply flawed and emotionally layered individual. The filmmaker, whose previous works such as I, Tonya and Cruella have explored protagonists operating on the fringes of societal expectations, believes the character’s imperfections are central to her appeal. Supergirl director Craig Gillespie and actor Milly Alcock For Gillespie, one of the most significant aspects of Supergirl is the opportunity to present a female superhero outside the conventions that have often shaped women in comic-book stories. “One of the things that excited me about this film is that you don’t get to see a lot of really complicated, flawed female superheroes. They tend to be put on a pedestal,” he says, adding: “She’s not sexualised. That’s another thing that’s happened a lot in the comic-book world. To be able to have her be who she is and unapologetic about it, and to take that at face value, I …