‘Supergirl’ Melissa Benoist revealed in first CBS photos

The Hollywood Reporter
By Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter
2 minute read
Updated 9:44 AM EST, Sat March 7, 2015
Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, was vampires' worst nightmare in the beloved TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, was vampires' worst nightmare in the beloved TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
From 20th century fox television
Brie Larson is set to star as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in the forthcoming "Captain Marvel" film due in theaters in 2019. She will join a group of kick ass women in superhero and sci-fi films which include....
Brie Larson is set to star as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in the forthcoming "Captain Marvel" film due in theaters in 2019. She will join a group of kick ass women in superhero and sci-fi films which include....
Marvel
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman first made an appearance in the 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Her 2017 solo movie broke a box-office record for most money made by a film directed by a woman on its opening weekend.
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman first made an appearance in the 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Her 2017 solo movie broke a box-office record for most money made by a film directed by a woman on its opening weekend.
Clay Enos/Warner Bros.
Charlize Theron kicked butt and looked fabulous while doing it as an undercover MI6 agent in "Atomic Blonde." She was strong, smart and beyond fierce in the role.
Charlize Theron kicked butt and looked fabulous while doing it as an undercover MI6 agent in "Atomic Blonde." She was strong, smart and beyond fierce in the role.
Focus Features
Daisy Ridley portrays Rey, a young scavenger on the desert planet of Jakku in "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."
Daisy Ridley portrays Rey, a young scavenger on the desert planet of Jakku in "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."
Lucasfilm
Former <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84411374&v=Ogu9q3wGb9I&x-yt-ts=1421828030" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Glee" </a>star Melissa Benoist (also seen in the Oscar-nominated "Whiplash") plays <a href="http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2015/01/22/breaking-news-supergirl-is-cast" target="_blank" target="_blank">Supergirl</a> in the CBS series of the same name.
Former "Glee" star Melissa Benoist (also seen in the Oscar-nominated "Whiplash") plays Supergirl in the CBS series of the same name.
CBS
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Blasting her way out of the Death Star, we knew fairly quickly that Leia was not one to be trifled with in the "Star Wars" films. Carrie Fisher played the role.
Lucasfilm Ltd
Krysten Ritter stars as "Jessica Jones" in the Netflix series based on Marvel Comics' "Alias," about a semi-retired superhero-turned-private eye.
Krysten Ritter stars as "Jessica Jones" in the Netflix series based on Marvel Comics' "Alias," about a semi-retired superhero-turned-private eye.
Myles Aronowitz/Netflix/marvel
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Jennifer Lawrence is back as archer and freedom fighter Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1" and coming soon, the final film, "Part 2."
Lionsgate Films
Zoe Saldana stars in not one but three major sci-fi movie franchises. She's Lt. Nyota Uhura in the rebooted "Star Trek" movies, stars as former assassin Gamora in the Marvel hit "Guardians of the Galaxy" and is Neytiri in "Avatar" and its planned sequels.
Zoe Saldana stars in not one but three major sci-fi movie franchises. She's Lt. Nyota Uhura in the rebooted "Star Trek" movies, stars as former assassin Gamora in the Marvel hit "Guardians of the Galaxy" and is Neytiri in "Avatar" and its planned sequels.
Marvel/Twentieth Century Fox
Nichelle Nichols played Lt. Uhura, the communications officer on the Starship Enterprise, in the original "Star Trek" TV series and films. In the recent movie reboots, her role was played by Zoe Saldana.
Nichelle Nichols played Lt. Uhura, the communications officer on the Starship Enterprise, in the original "Star Trek" TV series and films. In the recent movie reboots, her role was played by Zoe Saldana.
CBS/Paramount Television/getty images
Margot Robbie portrayed Batman villain (and the Joker's paramour) Harley Quinn in the eagerly awaited film "Suicide Squad."
Margot Robbie portrayed Batman villain (and the Joker's paramour) Harley Quinn in the eagerly awaited film "Suicide Squad."
Warner Bros.
Set in the post-World War II years, the new series "Marvel's Agent Carter" follows the continuing adventures of Peggy Carter, after the presumed death of her boyfriend Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America).
Set in the post-World War II years, the new series "Marvel's Agent Carter" follows the continuing adventures of Peggy Carter, after the presumed death of her boyfriend Steve Rogers (a.k.a. Captain America).
Kelsey McNeal/abc
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Scarlett Johansson stole the movie in her first scene in "The Avengers" -- not an easy thing to do. Black Widow was pretty kickass in the film.
Marvel Studios
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"Lucy" seems to have boosted Johansson's action movie cred. The actress is reportedly starring in the live-action remake of "Ghost In The Shell."
Courtesy Universal Pictures
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Lucy Lawless found fame on TV as the force of nature that was "Xena, Warrior Princess."
YouTube/ Renaissance Pictures
Sigourney Weaver faced off with aliens not once, but four times in the "Alien" films and became the very model of the modern sci-fi heroine.
Sigourney Weaver faced off with aliens not once, but four times in the "Alien" films and became the very model of the modern sci-fi heroine.
From Twentieth Century Fox
Linda Hamilton (pictured) was the best known Sarah, but Emilia Clarke took on the Terminator in the 2015 reboot.
Linda Hamilton (pictured) was the best known Sarah, but Emilia Clarke took on the Terminator in the 2015 reboot.
TriStar Pictures/Lightstorm Entertainmen
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Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity was the first main character we saw in the "Matrix" and immediately, we were hooked.
Warner Bros.
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Tatiana Maslany's "clone club" brings new meaning to the term "girl power" on the critically-acclaimed BBC America series "Orphan Black." Maslany plays Sarah Manning on the show.
Steve Wilkie for BBC America
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She may not have "wanted to believe" like her partner Fox Mulder, but Gillian Anderson as Scully on "The X-Files" was one of the best sci-fi characters of the past 20 years.
20th Century Fox /Everett Collection
It's hard to choose a favorite Lois as there's been so many over the years, but we'll go with Margot Kidder's tough as nails reporter from the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movie series.
It's hard to choose a favorite Lois as there's been so many over the years, but we'll go with Margot Kidder's tough as nails reporter from the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movie series.
From Warner Bros.
They switched genders on us with this character in the 2000s reboot, and casting Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck in "Battlestar Galactica" was a stroke of genius.
They switched genders on us with this character in the 2000s reboot, and casting Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck in "Battlestar Galactica" was a stroke of genius.
From Sci-Fi Channel
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We didn't even see her face but when she used her katana to slice through zombies at the end of season two, we knew we really liked Michonne, actress Danai Gurira, from "The Walking Dead" right away.
Frank Ockenfels/AMC
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Emma Watson's Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" movies always knew just the right spell to get out of any situation.
Jaap Buitendijk/WARNER BROS.
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We'd rather not remember Halle Berry's take on the seductive thief, Catwoman, but Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, Lee Meriwether and Anne Hathaway were all splendid in the role. But for our money, Michelle Pfeiffer (pictured) in "Batman Returns" is the Catwoman to beat.
Warner Bros.
Leela, the pilot of the Planet Express ship, often acts as the voice of reason between Fry, Professor Farnsworth and the others in her crew on "Futurama." Katey Sagal is the voice of Leela.
Leela, the pilot of the Planet Express ship, often acts as the voice of reason between Fry, Professor Farnsworth and the others in her crew on "Futurama." Katey Sagal is the voice of Leela.
Twentieth Century Fox
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Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen from "Game of Thrones" is so tough that she will literally walk through fire.
Macall B. Polay/HBO
Mal trusts no one more than his right-hand woman Zoe, played by Gina Torres, in the beloved, short-lived series "Firefly."
Mal trusts no one more than his right-hand woman Zoe, played by Gina Torres, in the beloved, short-lived series "Firefly."
From Universal Pictures
Badass women on screen

Story highlights

Photo of Melissa Benoist as Supergirl released

New show about character currently in production for CBS

The Hollywood Reporter  — 

Melissa Benoist is suited up and ready to fly in CBS’ “Supergirl.”

Producer Warner Bros. Television has released the first-look photos of the “Glee” and “Whiplash” breakout in the official costume as DC Comics character Supergirl.

See more: The Faces of Pilot Season 2015

The costume was designed by three-time Oscar-winner Colleen Atwood, who also served in the same capacity for WBTV/The CW’s DC takes ‘Arrow” and “The Flash.”

“In designing Supergirl, I wanted to embrace the past but more importantly, thrust her into the street-style action hero of today,” said Atwood, who earned Oscars for “Into the Woods,” “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Sweeney Todd.”

Production on the pilot started this week in Los Angeles.

Read more: TV Pilots 2015: The Complete Guide

The drama centers on Kara Zor-El (Benoist), Superman’s cousin, who was born on the planet Krypton and escaped amid its destruction years ago. After arriving on Earth, Kara was taken in by a foster family, the Danverses, who taught her to be careful with her extraordinary powers (which she shares with her famous cousin).

“Brothers & Sisters” and “Ally McBeal” alum Calista Flockhart co-stars as DC Comics character Cat Grant, “True Blood’s” Mehcad Brooks is set as Jimmy Olsen; “Homeland’s” David Harewood is DC Comics character Hank Henshaw; and “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Chyler Leigh plays Alexandra “Alex” Danvers, the confident foster sister of Kara. Laura Benanti will recur, while former Supergirl Helen Slater and former Superman Dean Cain will guest-star in the pilot.

“Arrow” and “Flash’s” Greg Berlanti and his “No Ordinary Family” cohort Ali Adler (“The New Normal”) as well as “Arrow” and “Flash” EP Andrew Kreisberg will pen the script and executive produce the drama via Berlanti Productions’ Warner Bros. Television-based banner. Berlanti Productions’ topper Sarah Schechter also is on board to executive produce.

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