Superman is officially coming to “Supergirl” in Season 2, with casting currently underway for the role of Clark Kent/Kal-El, the cousin of titular heroine Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist).
Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg released a statement on behalf of the show’s producing team, which includes EPs Greg Berlanti and Ali Adler. “Greg, Ali and I are beyond thrilled to welcome Clark Kent and his slightly-more-famous alter ego to the world of ‘Supergirl,'” Kreisberg said. “Superman will be appearing in the first two episodes of the new season and we cannot wait to see who next dons the red cape!”
The iconic DC Comics hero was often mentioned in Season 1 of “Supergirl,” but was only ever shown from afar or backlit to obscure his face, with the show’s producers frequently stating their desire to establish Kara as a hero in her own right without relying on her more famous cousin. A younger version of Kal-El (played by Daniel DiMaggio) was seen in a dream sequence, and the adult version of the hero played a small role in the Season 1 finale, but Season 2 will mark the first occasion that the character has been cast for a major appearance.
The series has already utilized one actor who previously played Superman — Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), who now plays Kara’s adoptive father Jeremiah Danvers.
Now that the show has shifted from CBS to sister network The CW, “Supergirl” also has the potential to cross over with another Super-alum, Brandon Routh, who portrayed the Man of Steel in the 2006 film “Superman Returns,” and currently appears as Ray Palmer (aka The Atom) on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.” Superman is currently played by Henry Cavill on the big screen; Cavill has starred in “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and can next be seen in the upcoming “Justice League.”
“Supergirl” Season 2 will air Mondays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
