When Milly Alcock makes her standalone debut as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl later this month, she’ll do so while wearing portions of the material used to make the cape Christopher Reeve wore in Superman.
The star of the second feature-length DCU movie confirmed the touching tribute during an interview with the Raiders of the Lost Podcast. When asked if she had any favorite costume details from her upcoming superhero movie, Alcock revealed that part of her red cape had been crafted using material from one of the most important pieces of comic book movie memorabilia in history.
“My cape in this film was remade using material from the original Superman cape,” Alcock said. When asked if it was specifically pulled from the fabric for Reeve’s suit in the 1978 Richard Donner-directed original film, she said, “Yeah, I think that they found there was like 16 meters of that material, so yeah, that’s in the back of my cape now.”
Clark Kent’s history in movies and TV pre-dates the four-part series that premiered through the ’70s and ’80s, but it’s Reeve’s version of the character that has remained in audiences’ minds as the first real incarnation of Superman on the big screen. The actor, who passed away at 52 in 2004, clearly helped lay the groundwork for super men going forward. That includes Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, and David Corenswet, who portrayed their own versions of the hero in Superman Returns, Man of Steel, and last year’s Superman, respectively.
Now, Supergirl will carry some of Reeve’s bright reds to modern moviegoers when it premieres in a few weeks. The way her cape incorporates the 1978 movie’s fabric may not be something noticed by the average fan who sees the film, but it’s the latest in a series of ways the new DCU has commemorated one of the genre’s most significant releases.
The 2025 Superman movie, for example, is backed by a score inspired by the original main theme composed by John Williams. It also features a cameo from Reeve’s son and real-life journalist, Will Reeve, who appears as a reporter. It’s a bit unclear if the cape worn by Alcock’s Supergirl specifically used fabric worn by Reeve, but it sounds like the material’s connection to DC’s history in film is still there.
Supergirl swoops into theaters June 26, 2026. For more while we wait to see how Alcock and the DC Studios team has done its best to live up to the legacy of Superman, you can read about what co-CEO Peter Safran had to say about the recent discussion surrounding “superhero fatigue.” You can also see Jason Momoa talk about the one thing he needs to sign on for a Lobo movie.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
