Last fall, CBS ordered a “Supergirl” TV series and began casting for the title character. Today, the search for the new Girl of Steel is over.
TVLine is reporting that Melissa Benoist has been cast as Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl in the upcoming “Supergirl” TV show. Benoist is the third actress to play Kara Zor-El in live action, following Helen Slater in the 1984 Supergirl film and Laura Vandervoort in “Smallville.”
The “Supergirl” TV series features Kara as one of the survivors of Krypton who shares the powers of her more famous cousin, Superman. According to the official description from CBS, “Kara has decided that she’s over being normal and wants to embrace her superhuman abilities to become the hero she was always meant to be.”
Benoist is best known for playing Marley on “Glee’ and for her turn in the movie Whiplash. Although Benoist is a natural brunette, she may have to dye her hair blonde for the Supergirl role. Supergirl’s civilian ID, Kara Danvers has previously been depicted as a brunette in the comics, so it’s possible that Benoist will only have to wear a blonde wig in her Supergirl scenes.
Related: CBS Downplays Potential ‘Supergirl’ Crossovers With ‘Arrow’ & ‘The Flash’
“Supergirl” is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, who serves in the same role on “Arrow” and “The Flash” on The CW. Berlanti also cast Benoist’s fellow “Glee” co-star, Grant Gustin as The Flash.
CBS is expected to announce its plans for the “Supergirl” premiere in May at the network upfronts. More “Supergirl” casting announcements are expected to be made soon.
