Free Republic

Box office numbers for “Supergirl” look bleak after lead star Milly Alcock sparked backlash for mocking Christian dads. According to Box Office Theory, the DC superhero movie — which comes out June 26 — is expected to make between $47 million and $65 million in its opening weekend and between $107 million and $181 million in its full domestic run. The budget for the James Gunn-directed film was reportedly around $170 million, while the marketing spend is estimated to exceed $75 million, bringing the total to around $245 million. To break even, “Supergirl” needs to make around $425 million worldwide

Lupita Nyong'o is not the only actress discovering how brutal modern franchise fandom can become after a major casting announcement. From fantasy epics to superhero reboots, Hollywood’s newest leading women are increasingly being forced to survive online backlash before their films even reach production. Now Milly Alcock has found herself at the center of that same cycle following her casting in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Alcock has spent the last several months absorbing waves of online hostility despite reportedly being one of James Gunn’s top choices for Kara Zor El. Industry insiders following the DC reboot process noted early that...