CBS’ Supergirl pilot has cast a key member of the Superman legacy.
Mehcad Brooks (Necessary Roughness) will play Jimmy Olsen opposite Melissa Benoist (Glee) in the new DC Comics series.
Supergirl follows the story of Kara Zor-El, played by Benoist, Superman’s cousin. “Born on the planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped amid its destruction years ago,” reads the Supergirl series synopsis. “Since arriving on Earth, she’s been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin, Superman.
“Now 24, Kara feels un-empowered, a slave to having repressed her innate abilities. She’s still pretty, but with her face hidden behind glasses and her hair pulled back, she doesn’t know it herself. An unexpected disaster forces her to use her powers in public. Energized by her heroic deed, for the first time in her life, Kara begins embracing her extraordinary abilities. She begins helping the people of her city and they soon take notice — and she’s even given a new moniker: Supergirl.”
In the new series, Jimmy Olsen is “a photographer at CatCo., where Kara works.” A “the salt of the earth” guy, Kara has a crush on him. Jimmy “has recently been living and working in National City, though the reason is still a secret.” The two become closer as Kara becomes Supergirl.
Arrow and The Flash executive producer Greg Berlanti and No Ordinary Family‘s Ali Adler will write the script as well as executive produce alongside Sarah Schecter.
CBS has already given Supergirl a series commitment.
Brooks’ other credits include True Blood, My Generation, Desperate Housewives, and The Game.