CBS ‘Supergirl’ Adds Calista Flockhart and Laura Benanti

CBS’ forthcoming Supergirl series boasts a number of DC figures among its primary cast, and while Kara Zor-El and Jimmy Olsen have already been found, two new figures from DC lore have joined the party. Calista Flockhart will return to television to portray Superman media mogul Cat Grant, while Nashville star Laura Benanti will play Kara’s Kryptonian mother.

Envisioned as an Anna Wintour-esque boss for Kara, Supergirl‘s Cat Grant is described as “a self-made media magnate and founder of CatCo who started her career as a reporter and has built her company into a global powerhouse.” Meanwhile, Benanti will appear in a guest capacity as Alura Zor-El, a “strong noblewoman whose wisdom and guidance echoes across space and time, proving invaluable on her daughter’s super journey.”

Most recently adding True Blood star Mehcad Brooks as an older rendition of Jimmy Olsen, and potential love interest to Glee star Melissa Benoist’s titular Supergirl, here’s how CBS formally describes the new series:

Based on the DC Comics character, the drama tells the story of Kara Zor-El, who was born on the planet Krypton, but escaped amid its destruction years ago. Since arriving on Earth, she’s been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin Superman. But now, at age 24, she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be.

CBS’ Supergirl is also looking to cast from Superman lore CatCo programmer (and Kara-crushing future Toyman) Winslow Schott, as well as upstart CIA agent (and future Cyborg Superman) Hank Henshaw. Not to mention, there’s also Kara’s adopted family the Danvers, among them Kara’s envious science-minded sister Alex (cough, Lex).

Arrow producer Greg Berlanti and No Ordinary Family‘s Ali Adler will write the script and executive produce the hourlong drama through Berlanti Productions’ Warner Bros. Television-based banner, with Sarah Schecter also executive producing. As with DC’s approach to movies and TV thus far, the new Supergirl series will likely establish its own independent continuity, outside of Arrow and The Flash, or the inevitable Justice League movie, as CBS boss Nina Tassler recently downplayed the possibility of any CW crossover.

CBS’ Supergirl still lacks a formal series order, but remains very likely to appear on our fall schedules. Who next might join the super-cast, we wonder?