What a “gleeful” surprise!
Although a number of blonde-haired actresses were rumoured to play Supergirl in the TV Universe, a brunette-haired actress has been cast to play the blonde-haired superhero instead. In fact, this superhero role has been snagged by another cast member of Fox’s musical-comedy drama “Glee“.
That’s right, everyone! Melissa Benoist, who is known for role as Marley Rose in “Glee”, is set to portray the title role of CBS’s upcoming superhero TV series, “Supergirl.”
Produced by Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions, “Supergirl” is an hour-long drama that centres on Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, who arrives on Earth after escaping the destruction of Krypton. Just like her cousin, she was taken in by a foster family, the Danvers, who taught her to repress her superhuman abilities. However, after many years of repressing her abilities, an unexpected disaster forces her to embrace her power to help the people in the city. At the age of 24, she becomes the hero she was meant to be: Supergirl.
The pilot episode of the series will be written by producer of “Arrow” and “The Flash” Greg Berlanti and producer of “No Ordinary Family” Ali Adler. They will also executive produce the series alongside Sarah Schechter and Warner Bros. TV.
Kara Zor-El was previously portrayed by Laura Vandervoort on the CW’s Superman origin story “Smallville”. “The Vampire Diaries” star Claire Holt, Elizabeth Lail (“Once Upon a Time”), and Gemma Atkinson were among the actresses to test for the lead role but Benoist’s outstanding performance in “Glee” and Academy Award-nominated film “Whiplash” won her the superhero role. She is the 2nd “Glee” star to play a superhero role since her co-star, Grant Gustin, is currently playing the title role in CW’s superhero TV series “The Flash”. It was rumoured “Supergirl” could be sharing the same universe as “Arrow” and “The Flash.”
Ironically, this is the not the first time Benoist has played a superhero role as the actress has previously donned a Wonder Woman-inspired costume in “Dynamic Duets”, the 7th episode of the 4th season of “Glee”.
The premiere date of the series has not been announced yet but what do you think of the casting news? Do you think “Supergirl” will eventually meet up with “The Flash” in a shared universe? Let us know in the comments box below 
(Source)