Looks like Supergirl is going to be getting a “super” scene-stealer moving in on her primetime appeal next fall.
As if the news that The CW had decidedly adopted Supergirl the fourth in a series of hour-long dramas produced by Greg Berlanti after CBS dropped the Maid of Metal from their 2016 fall line-up, and guaranteeing a DC Comics sweep of primetime on a single network, news has just begun to circulate that her famous cousin Superman will be joining Kara in National City next season!
Of course, this is all still rather speculative. Warner Brothers had insuniated that there was a mandate on not utilizing any members of the publishing imprint’s “big three” — including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman — concerned that the small screen appearances of these characters might impact their big screen appeal. What might have incited the change of heart? Could it have something to do with the lukewarm reception that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice pulled in at the box office?
The film that finally introduced the DC Comics Trinity wasn’t all that well received by reviewers, who have deemed the cinematic world created by its director Zack Snyder is desolate and bleak in comparison to the television universe that Berlanti and his team have continued to evolve. Now that Supergirl is joining her other super-siblings on the more properly situated CW network, with The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow next winter’s crossover event is sure to power-up in the ratings.
Producer Greg Berlanti carries the battle for truth, justice and primetime dominance with his television adaptations of the DC Comics properties The Flash starring Grant Gustin and Supergirl featuring Melissa Benoist.
When Supergirl which stars Melissa Benoist as the Last Daughter of Krypton, featured a guest-starring turn from Grunt Gustin who portrays the lead Scarlet Speedter on The Flash the joint-network stunt, landed Supergirl her biggest ratings since her series debut. With her move to The CW imminent, it’s only fitting that when Kara returns this fall, after a heart-stopping cliffhanger (exactly who is inside that rocket that crash lands on earth?) the Girl of Steel is joined by the Man of Steel!
Casting notices have gone out for an actor to play Superman, a role that is currently in the hands of Henry Cavill on the big screen, and was last vacated by Tom Welling who played Clark Kent as a young man growing up into the legend on Smallville. Fans are hoping that the producers will bring Welling in to (once again) fill the boots and fly the cape as Superman. Another former TV “Superman” Dean Cain, actually plays Kara Danvers Earth-born father on Supergirl.
Historically, Berlanti and his fellow producers including Andrew Kreisberg have cast actors in roles on their shows whom have a connectivity to DC Comics or have played pivotal roles in previous superhero incarnations. Namely, The Flash guest-star John Wesley Shipp who played the role of Barry Allen in the “original” CBS series The Flash, returned to the reboot as Henry Allen — Barry father. After a fatal confrontation with the villain ZOOM! this season, Henry was murdered — but it appears perhaps has been “reincarnated” as none-other than Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash!
Now that the stakes are so high, and that DC Entertainment has a lot to prove — no pressure having to dominate an entire network’s primetime line-up next fall — bringing in the big guy back to the television landsape may be exactly what Supergirl needs to make an impact next season. Superman’s storyline is expected to have the character appear over the course of the two premiere episodes of the show’s second season. And who’s to say that the occupant of the space ship that crashes isn’t maybe a young Kal-El…
With the multiverse having played such a significant part of The Flash story arc this last season, the possibilities are (dare I say) infinite!