Casting has now begun for the Supergirl TV series, and after the descriptions of the title character and her sister found their way online yesterday, we now have details on many of the pilot’s key supporting roles.

Among them are some names which should be very familiar to comic book fans, including James Olsen (a.k.a. Jimmy Olsen, The Daily Planet’s photographer and best friend to Clark Kent), Cat Grant (the busty gossip column writer who sets her sights on Clark when she joins the Planet’s staff), and Hank Henshaw, a man that one day becomes the villain known as Cyborg Superman. However, some big changes have been made…

  • Cat GrantCat Grant – The project is eyeing females in their 40s, open ethnicity, to play the founder of CatCo, a media conglomerate that Cat built from the ground up. Kara (Supergirl’s mild-mannered alter ego) will work as a personal assistant to Cat, who is described as “J.Lo by way of Anna Wintour.”
  • James Olsen – In his late 20s/early 30s, open ethnicity, James is a smart, worldly and (duh) attractive photographer for CatCo. Though an alpha male, his salt-of-the-earth nature elicits a huge ol’ crush from Kara.
  • Winslow “Wynn” Schott – This twentysomething tech whiz/Comic-Con stalwart toils for CatCo as a programmer, unaware of his own (toying?) potential. Unware of her secret, he carries a torch for Kara, whom he lives next door to.
  • Hank Henshaw – As an upstart CIA agent, Hank grew obsessed with intergalactic intel. Now in his 40s and lording over the DEO (Department of Extra-Normal Operations), he is on high alert when Supergirl reveals herself, worried that her otherworldly abilities pose a threat to humankind.

As you can tell, there are some big changes from the comic books here (James Olsen, an alpha male?), but the show looks set to offer up a very different take on Supergirl and her world. That’s something which is sure to upset some comic book fans, but it’s worked for the likes of Gotham, so let’s wait and see!

Of course, if Supergirl is wearing her iconic costume in the show, that will easily put many minds at ease.

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