Just last week, CBS entertainment chairman Nina Tassler was describing their ideal Supergirl as “a very strong, independent young woman,” saying, “She’s got to be an every woman. She’s got to be specific.” Now, the network has found its independent fledgling superhero Kara Zor-El, in Glee alum and Whiplash star Melissa Benoist.
Until recently, Benoist was testing against actresses including Claire Holt (The Vampire Diaries and The Originals) and Elizabeth Lail (Once Upon a Time). Benoist tweeted about the news, first joking that she wished there were a superhero emoji and then adding:
But seriously, sans emoji… I AM SO EXCITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #Supergirl
— Melissa Benoist (@itsmmbenoist) January 22, 2015
In Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) and Ali Adler’s (No Ordinary Family) series, Kara Zor-El escaped the destruction of Krypton and has been laying low on Earth. Now, at 24, she decides to finally embrace her superpowers as well as her extraordinary destiny. The show will be part crime procedural, part female empowerment story.
With their lead cast, CBS has plenty of other characters to nail down: Kara’s brainy foster-sister, Alex; various employees of CatCo (the media conglomerate Kara works for) including its CEO Cat Grant, Jimmy Olsen, and Wynn Schott; and Hank Henshaw, who runs the Department of Extra-Normal Operations and who is obsessed with Supergirl.
