David Harewood and Chyler Leigh have been added as series regulars to CBS’ “Supergirl” pilot, based on DC Comics, Variety has learned.
Harewood (“Homeland”) will play supervillain Hank Henshaw, a former CIA agent who now runs the Department of Extra-Normal Operation, which tracks extraterrestrial threats on the planet Earth. In the DC Comics world, Henshaw is known as Cyborg Superman.
Leigh has been cast as the foster sister of Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), Alex Danvers. Fascinated by the powers of Kara — aka Supergirl — from a young age, Alex developed a lifelong obsession with science, which inspired her to become a doctor.
Also rounding out the ensemble are previously announced cast members Calista Flockhart, who will play Kara’s tough boss at CatCo, Cat Grant; Mehcad Brooks as Kara’s love interest, Jimmy Olsen; Laura Benanti as Kara’s birth mother, Alura Zor-El; and Benoist as the title character.
The series follows Kara, Superman’s cousin, at age 24, when she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be, after leaving Krypton and hiding her powers.
The project hails from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television and is exec produced by Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Arrow”) and Ali Adler (“Glee,” “The New Normal”), who wrote the pilot together.
Harewood is repped by APA, Conway van Gelder Grant and Authentic Talent & Literary Management. Leigh is repped by UTA and manager Joannie Burstein.
