Supergirl makes its long-awaited debut Monday at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Global TV, with Melissa Benoist starring as Kara, the super-powered cousin of the Man of Steel.
“I auditioned the day after Halloween last year and it was a Saturday morning. And I think the second that I saw in my email inbox the title ‘Supergirl’, I just knew automatically that it was something important and it was something exciting and rare and that I wanted to be a part of,” Benoist said of how she landed the role.
The audition process was a long one, but Benoist, 27, best known for her role as Marley Rose on Glee, was a standout.
“We were like, ‘We have to get a diamond ring for that girl,’ but then we still needed to date the nation,” said producer Ali Adler. “We had to see maybe a thousand more women, and we never stopped being in love with Melissa.”
WATCH BELOW: Melissa Benoist tells ET Canada all about being “Supergirl” in a modern world.
In this version of Supergirl, Kara doesn’t arrive on Earth until she is 13, so she remembers planet Krypton. Viewers will see flashbacks of Kara’s mother, Alura, played by Laura Benanti.
Kara has known all along that she has superpowers, but she’s been afraid to use them. Now, 10 years later, she’s ready to embrace her abilities and help fight crime.
Benoist says putting on the “Supergirl” boots and cape for the first time was exciting. (She showed photos of her dressed as Supergirl to family members, including her mother and husband, actor Blake Jenner.)
“I put on the cape and see that ‘S’ and something transforms,” she said.
FROM ET CANADA: Melissa Benoist, the cast and producers on Supergirl
Former Ali McBeal star Calista Flockhart plays Kara’s boss, media mogul Cat Grant, and she describes the show as “a real celebration of girl power.”
“I was really attracted to this show because I think it’s a great show for moms and daughters to watch together. I think there’s a real family aspect to it for me, and I just think that Cat knows that already. She’s like, ‘I’m a girl and I’m awesome, and I’m not going to apologize for that,’ and I love that about the character,” Flockhart said.
Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said fans of the original comics are in for a treat as well.
“We’re going to be introducing a bunch of characters from the DC Comics world in the first nine episodes, some of which have already been announced. We’re having Lucy Lane, but we’re also going to be having her father, General Sam Lane, who will be coming to town with an agenda. We’re also going to have the Red Tornado, who’s another DC Comics iconic character. And then we’re also going to be introducing Non, a Kryptonian villain.”
Supergirl premieres Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Global TV. For exclusive videos and photos from the show, visit globaltv.com.
-with files from ET Canada and The Associated Press
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