Sasha Calle Shares Her Honest Feelings About Not Being Supergirl

Landing a role like Supergirl would be a dream of a lifetime, and it was for actress Sasha Calle, who debuted as the character in 2023’s The Flash. It was meant to be the first of several appearances for Calle as the character, but a series of circumstances changed all of that when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios as co-CEOs, which led to a whole new revamp. With them, the DCU was born, and Calle’s journey as Supergirl ended. Now, the acclaimed actress is detailing how “heartbreaking” it was to see it all go away.

During a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Calle reveals that she signed a multi-film deal to portray Supergirl, with her first appearance already established in The Flash. While the actress was disappointed they went in another direction when Gunn and Safran took over, she believes she did her best and was happy she got to play the character.

“I was so deeply in love with that role. I had a conversation about her future many times. When I signed onto that, it was for a multiple picture deal. That’s a common thing when you sign onto a franchise. So it was very heartbreaking for me, and it was very confusing. Ultimately, I know that I did my best.”

Calle’s Supergirl tenure was made even more confusing and awkward because she had to go on a press tour for The Flash after the news that a new DC Universe was being explored. Moreover, several of the current characters were in limbo until Gunn and Safran made it official regarding who would play the DC heroes. Their tentative plan had already been revealed for future films, but exact casting news was still up in the air. There was also the added pressure of what was going on with star Ezra Miller, who had his fair share of external issues leading up to the film’s premiere. Calle recalls what it was like maneuvering that press tour, as she didn’t know where she stood with the franchise given its new direction.

“It was very hard, I have to say. I had bittersweet feelings as I was maneuvering everything. I was very excited, but there were a lot of unanswered questions for me, so it was very bittersweet…So I had to remind myself that I got to do this incredible movie and that I put my heart and soul into it, and that no matter where it was going to go, I did that. No one could take that away from me, and I had to own it.”

Sasha Calle Broke Ground Playing Supergirl

Gunn ultimately recast Supergirl for the upcoming film, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, with House of the Dragon actress Milly Alcock. Before Alcock’s casting, a lot of people really wanted to see Calle continue in the role because she garnered solid reviews for her turn as the character in a movie that received its fair share of mixed reactions. Despite all the confusion, Calle knows she broke ground playing the role as a queer Latina actress in Hollywood, something she doesn’t take for granted. Calle said:

“I look back at it as something super beautiful. It’s been said that a queer Latina girl like me couldn’t be Supergirl. But I was, and no one can take that away from me. That is the most important thing for me; I did something that mattered. And whether you saw yourself represented in me or not, a lot of people really connected with her and loved her.”

The good thing that came out of all of this was a close friendship with Leslie Grace, who had her DC dreams come to an end when Batgirl was used as a tax write-off and never released. The two became close due to their shared experiences, and Calle admits that something beautiful came out of all the disappointment.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done without Leslie, to be honest with you. I feel like she got it even worse, and yet, she was just this divine light of love and warmth. And even though it came from a really confusing and painful situation, we got to have this beautiful friendship that is true and honest and sincere and kind. We were there for each other, and I am really happy that we had each other then.”

Release Date

June 16, 2023