Supergirl Casts Cyborg Superman; Flash Showrunner Joins Series

The supporting cast of CBS upcomingSupergirl series has swelled by two, with the roles of star Kara Zor-Els (Melissa Benoist) older sister, and the former CIA operative-turned-superhuman watchdog Hank Henshaw now filled.

For the part of Alexandra Danvers, Karas foster sister, the producers have tapped Chyler Keigh (Greys Anatomy). In the case of Hank Henshaw, it seems David Harewood (Homeland) will be playing the brilliant man who, in the comics, would eventually go on to become the tragic figure/half-robotic supervillain aptly named Cyborg Superman.

The casting news comes courtesy of THR, with Chyler Leigh likely best known to audiences for playing Lexie Grey, half-sister toGreys Anatomysmain character. Leigh was more recently seen in the unofficially-cancelledTaxi Brooklyn on NBC, playing a police officer who joins forces with a New York cab driver.

Adding the character of Alex Danvers to theSupergirl story marks one of the most significant changes to the comic book origin and likely one way which the show will seek to tap into the family drama thats proven so successful inThe Flash. However, Alex wont just be helping to humanize the Supergirl story, as the previous character details implied that her brilliance and familiarity with superhuman activity could end up leading her to a (highly secretive) government job.

The casting that will surely fuel even more conversation among comic book fans, though, will be that of Harewood. Previously seen onHomeland and the recently-cancelledSelfie, Harewoods casting as another high-ranking government agent who plays things close to his vest isnt surprising in the least. InSupergirl, hell by playing Hank Henshaw: a former CIA Agent now overseeing the Department of Extra-Normal Operations, and fulfilling the need to have some shadowy government figure who feels a superpowered vigilante is a threat to national security.

Thats not the mostoriginal character description, but its what lies in Henshaws future that will be getting fans excited. Originally introduced in the comics as a doomed astronaut, Henshaw was able to preserve his consciousness in digital form, eventually viewing Superman as his enemy, and constructing a robotic body including residual DNA of the Man of Steel. Ever since, the hard-to-kill Henshaw has kept a tenuous grip on his sanity, meaning an overall paranoia toward Kryptonians is well-founded.

Its unlikely that such a story will be pursued in the short term, but then again, executive producer Greg Berlantis team didnt delay too many twists inThe Flashs first season. Weve known for some time thatSupergirl would augment its own character pool with established Superman foes (and even include appearances from Superman himself), so add Henshaw to the villains-in-waiting category.