Stargirl is coming to the DC Universe streaming service. The Stargirl TV show will join live-action series Titans, Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing, Metropolis, and animated series Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders. Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter serve as executive producers, and Johns himself will write the first episode.
The series will follow the character created by Geoff Johns and artist Lee Moder in 1999. Speaking to the crowd at the DC Universe panel at New York Comic Con, Johns compared the expected tone of the show to movies like Back to the Future and The Karate Kid. He also revealed that legendary Starman writer James Robinson is part of the writers room for the show, and that they’re building a 15 foot tall STRIPE robot for Courtney to go on adventures with!
Here’s everything else we already know about the Stargirl TV show…
Stargirl First Look
DC Universal saved the best for last at its 2019 Wonder Con panel. That “best” is this fully-rendered first look at Brec Bassinger in her Stargirl attire.
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Those stars and stripes are looking good. This appears to be a very faithful adaptation of Courtney Whitmore’s comic book look. And what exactly is that behind her? Stripesy!
Stargirl Cast
Brec Bassinger (Bella & The Bulldogs) will play Courtney Whitmore, the young woman who becomes Stargirl. Stargirl is a personal story for Johns with the character being based on his sister who died in the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800.
further reading: DC Universe Streaming Service Review
“There is no other character in comic books more special to me than Stargirl, and after searching far and wide I can say there is no other actor on the planet that embodies her more than Brec Bassinger,” Johns said. “Brec’s warmth, strength, humor and positive energy are core to who Courtney Whitmore is. I’m so grateful she’s signed on for the role.”
Here’s the official character description, which reveals a bit more about the direction of the series:
“Courtney Whitmore (aka Stargirl) is smart, athletic and above all else kind. This high school teenager’s seemingly perfect life hits a major speedbump when her mother gets married and her new family moves from Los Angeles, California to Blue Valley, Nebraska. Struggling to adapt to a new school, make new friends and deal with a new step-family, Courtney discovers her step-father has a secret; he used to be the sidekick to a superhero. “Borrowing” the long-lost hero’s cosmic staff, Courtney becomes the unlikely inspiration for an entirely new generation of superheroes.”
Luke Wilson will play Courtney’s stepfather, crimefighting partner, and former superhero sidekick Pat Dugan, the pilot of the STRIPE robot. Here’s the official character description…
“Pat Dugan once went by the less-than-inspired superhero name of Stripesy, sidekick to a young hero known as the Star-Spangled-Kid and later Starman of the legendary Justice Society of America. Today, Pat has left his sidekick life behind him. But when his new step-daughter, Courtney Whitmore, discovers Pat’s secret past and takes on Starman’s legacy to become Stargirl, Pat is forced to come out of retirement and once again become a sidekick — to his step-daughter — this time piloting a 15-foot robot called Stripe.”
We have more info on the Pat Dugan character right here.
Courtney will be searching for the Justice Society of America, and Stargirl has begun assembling the team. Joel McHale will play Sylvester Pemberton, known as Starman. Yes, that’s not his codename from the comics. We have some more details on that right here.
Amy Smart will play Barbara Whitmore, Courtney’s mother. Here’s the official character description:
“Now that her teenage daughter Courtney (Brec Bassinger) is older, Barbara is jumping back into the workforce and striving to be the best mother and provider she can be to her daughter, her new husband (Luke Wilson), and her new stepson.”
That “new stepson” is Mike Dugan, who will be played by Trae Romano. Mike is “Pat’s overly-charming teenage son and Courtney’s new stepbrother.”
Brian Stapf (USA’s The Purge) will play Ted “Wildcat” Grant, the former heavyweight champion who became a cat-themed superhero (via TV Insider). Don’t be surprised if he ends up training Stargirl, much like the Arrow version of the character trained Laurel Lance for her brief vigilante career.
Lou Ferrigno, Jr. will play Rex Tyler, the Golden Age Hourman, described by TV Line as “a master chemist and adrenaline junkie who as Hourman is a thrill-seeking superhero with the ability to manifest super-strength… for one hour a day. A founding member of the Justice Society of America, Rex/Hourman struggles with balancing his life as a hero and father.” The role is expected to be a recurring one.
Henry Thomas (The Haunting of Hill House) will play Dr. Charles McNider, better known by his superhero name of Dr. Mid-Nite. EW describes the character as “Also known as the introspective surgeon Dr. Charles McNider, Dr. Mid-Nite is a brilliant and forward-thinking medical pioneer, and a founding member of the JSA. With his trusty owl, he acts as the team’s resident doctor and detective.”
“Anjelika Washington is a bright, funny and unbelievably talented actor and I’m thrilled to have her join the cast alongside Brec,” Geoff Johns said in a statement. “We’re withholding the character she’s playing for now, but it’ll be one familiar to DC Comics fans!”
In addition to all the Justice Society members, we’re also going to meet the Injustice Society!
Joy Osmanski is Tigress, “Protecting and providing for her family, Paula Brooks hunts the world’s most dangerous game – humans – as the Tigress.”
Neil Hopkins is Lawrence “Sportsmaster” Crock. “He sees his criminal pursuits as a game to win — and his competitors as targets to kill. The only thing more important to Crock than ‘the game’ is his family.”
Nelson Lee will play the Dragon King, “a deadly and mysterious hooded man…this controversial scientist has been experimenting on himself and his victims since the 1940s.”
Meg DeLacy (The Fosters) and Jake Austin Walker (Rectify) both have roles, as well. While we don’t yet know who Walker will play, Deadline reports that DeLacy has been cast in the role of Cindy Burman, “Blue Valley High’s most popular student… and its most feared. Secretly the daughter of Dragon King (played by Nelson Lee), a longtime enemy of the Justice Society of America, Cindy is determined to follow in her father’s footsteps.”
Neil Jackson and Hunter Sansone both have undisclosed DC Comics related roles.
Christopher James Baker (True Detective) and Yvette Monreal (Matador) have undisclosed, but DC Comics based roles (via Deadline).
Anjelika Washington (The Legend of Master Legend, Shameless) also has an undisclosed DC Comics role. You may start your speculation engines…now!
Stargirl Story
The official logline for the show reveals a few more details, too…
STARGIRL follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series.
The possibility that we’ll get to see the Justice Society prominently featured on this show is an exciting one. We have more info about the world’s first superhero team right here.
Stargirl Release Date
Stargirl will premiere in 2020 on DC Universe. Don’t be surprised if a trailer and release date drops during the big DC Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con!