Irish actor Diarmaid Murtagh is heading into deep space and he’s bringing trouble with him. The Outlander, The Tourist, and Vikings standout has landed a villain role in DC Studios’ upcoming Supergirl, which hits theaters this June.
Murtagh will play Drom Baxton, the second-in-command of a brutal crew known as The Brigands. They’re space pirates and human traffickers, and they serve as the main antagonistic force in the film.
The gang is led by Krem of the Yellow Hills, the primary villain portrayed by Matthias Schoenaerts, setting Murtagh up as a key threat in Kara Zor-El’s path.
The film tells an origin story centered on Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, played by Milly Alcock. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the project continues DC’s push into more character-driven storytelling.
The cast also includes Eve Ridley, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, David Krumholtz, and Jason Momoa.
Supergirl draws its inspiration from the acclaimed 2022 comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King, with artwork by Bilquis Evely. The screenplay was adapted by Ana Nogueira.
The story follows Supergirl and a young alien girl named Knolle as they journey across the galaxy to hunt down Krem of the Yellow Hills after he murders Knolle’s father in cold blood.
Fans of the book often compare its tone and structure to the classic True Grit, and that gritty, space-western energy looks to be a major influence on the film.
Murtagh continues to build a solid resume packed with genre projects. Alongside his ongoing work as William Buck Mackenzie on Outlander, he’s appeared as Donal McDonnell on The Tourist and as Leif on Vikings. He’ll also be seen soon in the action thriller The Butler, starring Jean Reno.
With a ruthless space pirate role added to his growing list of intense characters, Murtagh feels like a perfect fit for the darker edge Supergirl is aiming for.
Source: Deadline
