Supergirl TV Series Flies At CBS

CBS is jumping into the comic book game, giving a series based on Supergirl a series commitment this week.

The show will follow Kara Zor-El, Clark Kent’s Kryptonian cousin who finds her way to Earth and has the same powers as Superman. She has been hiding her powers, but now at age 24 Kara decides to embrace her powers and her superhero destiny.

The show comes from Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) and Ali Adler (No Ordinary Family). It marks Berlanti’s third sale of the current development season (and his second to CBS), and his third active show in the DC Comics universe. Arrow begins its third season, and The Flash makes its series debut, next month on The CW.

It seems a little off-brand for the older-skewing broadcast network, which has recently dabbled in science fiction with its limited summer series Extant and Under the Dome.

A series commitment does not require CBS to actually air the show, which does not yet have a pilot episode or even a finished script. But it is a big vote of confidence. DC’s new Batman prequel Gotham received the same commitment from FOX, and will make its high-profile premiere this Monday.

Meanwhile NBC is prepping Hellblazer comic book adaptation Constantine, and ABC is sticking with the Marvel universe with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (returning September 23) and the new bridge series Agent Carter (starting in January). And Netflix is building its own Marvel mini-verse with Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist.

Cable network TNT is also considering a show for DC’s Titans.

Supergirl was adapted as a feature film starring Helen Slater in 1984. The character also recurred on The CW’s Smallville, where she was played by Laura Vandervoort (V, Bitten).

Via The Hollywood Reporter