According to Deadline, the superhero drama Supergirl has been given an early series order by CBS for the 2015-16 television season. As part of the deal for the project between CBS and Warner Bros. TV, the network had an early deadline to make a decision on the pilot. CBS, which presents next Wednesday, typically doesn’t start making orders until Friday or Saturday of pre-upfront week.
Back in September, CBS landed the Supergirl pitch with a series commitment. The article claims that the size of the commitment was trimmed during the pilot pickup stage, something the producers sacrificed so the project could go to production on time with their choices for director Glen Winter, and star Melissa Benoist. The finished pilot had received good reviews, including solid feedback for Winter and Benoist’s work.
Written by Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler and Andrew Kreisberg, Supergirl centers on DC Comics character Kara Zor-El (Benoist). Born on the planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El 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. Co-starring as regulars are Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant, Chyler Leigh as Alexandra “Alex” Danvers, Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen and David Harewood as Hank Henshaw. Laura Benanti will play Kara’s birth mother, Alura Zor-El, in a major recurring arc.
The television adaptation will also bring back Helen Slater, who starred in the 1984 Supergirl film, and Dean Cain from Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Both were cast in undisclosed roles, rumored to be Superman's parents, Jor-El and Lara.
Berlanti, Adler and Sarah Schechter will executive produce the series. This will be the fourth DC Comics superhero series from Berlanti, after Arrow, The Flash, and the spinoff of both programs, rumored to be called Legends.