The search for CBS's "Supergirl" is over- the network has just cast "Glee" actress Melissa Benoist as the lead in the upcoming superhero series. In the series, which is an hourlong action/drama show, Benoist will play Kara Zor-El (aka Kara Danvers, her secret identity), an alient from Krypton who crash-lands on Earth and is raised in secret by a loving pair of human foster parents.
If that sounds exactly like Superman's backstory, it should- the two share similar heritages in DC Comics and are cousins, as well. The Hollywood Reporter adds that the series will begin with Kara feeling shy and unable to use her powers out of fear, but must use them to stop a life-threatening disaster, and then comes into her own as a new superhero.
Greg Berlanti, head honcho for the popular superhero shows "Arrow" and "The Flash," will executive produce the series, and write the first script along with "No Ordinary Family" exec Ali Adler.
Enstarz has more about Adler, post-"Supergirl" casting. First, from what she's been doing on Twitter- that is, celebrating like crazy. And even getting a shout-out from "Arrow" star Stephen Amell. Says Amell, "You're in good hands with the DCU & all the fantastic people making your pilot."
As well, Enstarz reports that Benoist beat out a healthy number of other actresses for the part of Supergirl- including "The Originals" star Claire Holt.
It's a good day for comic book TV shows. But... not a great one. Because for all the "Supergirl" fanfare, there's a catch- the series might not crossover with its two sister series, "The Flash" and "Arrow." Said CBS President Nina Tattler, via IGN: "Well, those two shows [The Flash and Arrow] are on a different network. So I think we'll keep Supergirl to ourselves for awhile."
Frankly, that seems like a pretty sizable mistake. "The Flash" and "Arrow" are both huge hits, and you'd think CBS would want to give their own show an instant boost by tying it to those two. We'll see what happens once "Supergirl" makes it onto CBS.
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