Stargirl (TV series)

• Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl:
  A high school sophomore from Los Angeles who finds a powerful weapon, the Cosmic Staff, and becomes the teenage superheroine Stargirl.[1] As Stargirl, she also becomes the leader of the second incarnation of the Justice Society of America (JSA).[2] In preparation for the role, Bassinger did not look at the character's previous portrayals by Britt Irvin on Smallville and Sarah Grey on Legends of Tomorrow because they were depicted as "older, more mature version[s]" of Stargirl. Bassinger added that the series follows the comic Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. more "in that she's young, high school, naive, which I wanted to bring that into this version of Stargirl."[2] Maizie Smith portrays a 5-year-old Courtney.
• Yvette Monreal as Yolanda Montez / Wildcat II:
  A once popular kid at Blue Valley High until a scandal made her an outcast and a disgrace to her Catholic parents. A skilled boxer, she becomes one of Courtney's friends and a member of the new JSA as the new Wildcat.[3]
• Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel / Doctor Mid-Nite II: A social reject and nerd who becomes one of Courtney's friends and a member of the new JSA as the new Doctor Mid-Nite.[3]
• Cameron Gellman as Rick Tyler / Hourman II:
  A high school delinquent and the son of the original Hourman, Rex Tyler, whose parents were killed in a staged car accident when he was seven. He becomes one of Courtney's friends and a member of the new JSA as the new Hourman.[3] Boston Pierce portrays a 7-year-old Rick.
• Trae Romano as Mike Dugan: Pat Dugan's son and Courtney's stepbrother.[4]
• Jake Austin Walker as Henry King Jr.: A student at Blue Valley High as well as its star football player. He later develops psionic powers after experiencing emotional distress following his father becoming comatose.[5][6]
• Meg DeLacy as Cindy Burman:
  The daughter of Dragon King, girlfriend of Henry King Jr., and the most popular student at Blue Valley High. While she is the school's cheerleading captain, she is determined to follow in her father's footsteps.[5]
• Neil Jackson as Jordan Mahkent / Icicle:
  The leader of the Injustice Society of America (ISA), an "astute" businessman with the power of cryokinesis, and founder of The American Dream, a firm responsible for the revitalization of Blue Valley.[4][2][3] Jackson initially thought "Icicle" was "a silly name" and made the character sound "like a My Little Pony", but Johns' pitch helped make the character credible for Jackson.[7]
• Christopher James Baker as Henry King Sr. / Brainwave: A member of the ISA with psionic abilities, the father of Henry King Jr., and a successful neurosurgeon at Blue Valley Medical Center.[8] Baker stated that Henry King Sr. was the "mask" of Brainwave, as opposed to the other way around, believing Brainwave "is the true being."[8]
• Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore:
  Courtney's mother and Pat Dugan's wife who strives to balance her work and home life.[4] Barbara takes a job at The American Dream, where she attracts the attention of Jordan Mahkent.
• Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan / S.T.R.I.P.E.:
  Courtney's stepfather, the former sidekick to Starman, and a mechanic who owns a repair garage where he stores a 15-foot robotic vehicle of his own creation made from spare car parts.[9] Pat serves as a reluctant mentor and father figure to Courtney and her JSA teammates. Despite his superheroics, Pat wants to provide a normal life for his family.[2]
• Hunter Sansone as Cameron Mahkent: A student at Blue Valley High, aspiring artist, and the son of Jordan Mahkent who takes a liking to Courtney.[4][10] He later develops cryokinetic powers like his father. Roger Dale Floyd portrays a younger Cameron.

• Eric Goins as Steven Sharpe / Gambler: A member of the ISA who is a master in the art of deception.[3] Sharpe is the CFO of The American Dream with an egocentric and cut-off personality.
• Hina Khan as Anaya Bowin: The principal of Blue Valley High School, a skilled violinist, mother of Isaac Bowin, and secretly a member of the ISA.[11][12]
• Stella Smith as Artemis Crock: The daughter of "Crusher" Crock and Paula Brooks and a star athlete at Blue Valley High School.[3]
• Ashley Winfrey as Jenny Williams: A student at Blue Valley High School, the best friend of Cindy Burman, and the co-captain of the school's cheerleading squad.

• Henry Thomas as Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite: A member of the original JSA who was a detective and a brilliant and forward-thinking medical pioneer with special goggles equipped with an A.I., later named "Chuck" by Beth, patterned on his personality to aid him in fighting crime.[13] Thomas also provides the voice of "Chuck".
• Joel McHale as Sylvester Pemberton / Starman: A member of the original JSA who used an anti-gravity Cosmic Staff invented by scientist Ted Knight that Courtney later finds.[14]
• Neil Hopkins as Lawrence "Crusher" Crock / Sportsmaster:
  A member of the ISA who wields sports-themed weapons and believes that all of his targets are just part of a game to win.[15] Crusher is the owner of a gym in Blue Valley, married to Paula Brooks, and father of Artemis Crock.[3]
• Joy Osmanski as Paula Brooks / Tigress:
  A member of the ISA who hunts the world's most dangerous humans.[15] She is a gym teacher at Blue Valley High, married to "Crusher" Crock, and mother of Artemis Crock.[3]
• Joe Knezevich as William Zarick / Wizard: A member of the ISA who uses magic.[16] He is a councilman in Blue Valley.
• Mark Ashworth as Justin: A mysterious janitor at Blue Valley High School.[17]
• Lou Ferrigno, Jr. as Rex Tyler / Hourman:
  A member of the original JSA and the father of Rick Tyler who was "a master chemist and adrenaline junkie" with the ability to acquire super-strength for one hour a day using a substance of his own invention in his hourglass amulet.[18]
• Brian Stapf as Ted Grant / Wildcat: A member of the original JSA who was a former heavyweight boxer and skilled street fighter that wore an exosuit that artificially enhanced his natural athletic prowess.[19]
• Cynthia Evans as Denise Zarick: The wife of William Zarick and the mother of Joey Zarick.
• Nelson Lee as Dr. Ito / Dragon King: A member of the ISA, the father of Cindy Burman, and a controversial scientist who hides his face and experiments on himself and his patients.[15][2]
• Adam Aalderis as Matt Harris: The brother of Rex Tyler's wife Wendi and Rick Tyler's maternal uncle. He assumes guardianship of Rick after Rex and Wendi are killed by the ISA, and has an abusive relationship with him.

Additionally, Solomon Grundy, a towering zombie and member of the ISA, appears through CGI.[20]

• Wil Deusner as Joey Zarick: The son of William Zarick and an aspiring magician.
• Max Frantz as Isaac Bowin: A student at Blue Valley High School and the son of Anaya Bowin who is a savant musician.
• Jasun Jabbar as Brian Tanner Balloid: A jock at Blue Valley High School who is one of Henry King Jr.'s friends.
• Sam Brooks as Travis Thomas
• Christian Adam as Joshua Hamman: A geek at Blue Valley High and frequent target of bullies.
• Kron Moore as Bridget Chapel: The mother of Beth Chapel who works as a doctor at the Blue Valley Medical Center.
• Gilbert Glenn Brown as James Chapel: The father of Beth Chapel and the husband of Bridget Chapel who works as a businessman at The American Dream.
• Jim France as Sofus Mahkent: The father of Jordan and grandfather of Cameron who supports Jordan's campaign.
• Kay Galvin as Lily Mahkent: The mother of Jordan and grandmother of Cameron who supports Jordan's campaign.
• Amanda Lavassani as Christine Mahkent: Jordan's wife who died prior to the series, fueling Jordan's campaign.
• King Obra as Zeek
• Jonathan Blanco as Alex Montez: Yolanda's younger brother who does not consider her a disgrace.
• Kikey Castillo as Maria Montez: Yolanda's Catholic mother.
• Wilmer Calderon as Juan Montez: Yolanda's father.
• Norma Alvarez as Yolanda's grandmother.
• Kristin Brock as Wendi Tyler: The mother of Rick Tyler, wife of Rex Tyler, and sister of Matt Harris.

On July 19, 2018, it was announced that DC Universe had given a series order to Stargirl, consisting of thirteen episodes. The pilot is set to be written by Geoff Johns who will executive produce alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Melissa Carter (who is co-showrunner with Johns).[27][28] Production companies involved with the series are Mad Ghost Productions, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. The series was said to be a "reimagining" of Stargirl.[27]

Johns described Stargirl as having a similar tone to 1980s films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Back to the Future. The start of the series sees the deaths of the original members of the Justice Society of America (JSA). With the younger generation taking up their mantle, Johns said their "paths aren't complete. They don't know where they're going to be or what they're going to be. And so, there's all sorts of mistakes they can make and choices they can make, and who knows what their ultimate destiny will be?... It makes for a lot of fun and a lot of unpredictability." The members of the Injustice Society mirrors those on the JSA team, with Johns teasing that just about everyone who has been a member of the Injustice Society in the comics would appear in the series. Speaking to classic JSA members such as Alan Scott and Jay Garrick, Johns called them the "elderly statesmen" and that they "are spoken of and they exist in the JSA" with "their legacies... felt throughout the show". There were also "plans in the future for things". For the first season, star Brec Bassinger felt the original Doctor Mid-Nite, Charles McNider would have "a significant role to play", while Johns added the season would establish the Seven Soldiers of Victory as the first superhero team before the JSA and explore the history of the Cosmic Staff.[2]

In September 2018, it was announced that Brec Bassinger had been cast as Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl.[1] Johns called the casting of Stargirl a difficult process, auditioning hundreds of actresses for the role. On why Bassinger was perfect for the role, Johns said, "Immediately... I knew she was Courtney. She has the humor, she has the enthusiasm, the energy, the innate optimism, and Brec really embodies who Stargirl is".[2] In November 2018, the following roles were cast: Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel / Doctor Mid-Nite,[29][2] Yvette Monreal as Yolanda Montez / Wildcat, and Christopher James Baker as Henry King / Brainwave.[30][2] In January 2019, Luke Wilson was cast as Pat Dugan / S.T.R.I.P.E.[9] Amy Smart joined the cast as Barbara Whitmore the next month,[4] along with Neil Jackson as Jordan Mahkent / Icicle,[4][2] Trae Romano as Mike Dugan,[4] Hunter Sansone as Cameron,[4][10] and Cameron Gellman as Rick Tyler / Hourman,[31][2] with Jake Austin Walker cast as Henry King Jr. and Meg Delacy cast as Cindy Burman, rounding out the cast.[5][6]

In December 2018, the following members of the Justice Society of America were cast, all recurring roles: Joel McHale as Sylvester Pemberton / Starman,[14] Lou Ferrigno, Jr. as Rex Tyler / Hourman,[18] Brian Stapf as Ted Grant / Wildcat,[19] and Henry Thomas as Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite.[13] As well, Joy Osmanski was cast as Paula Brooks / Tigress, Neil Hopkins was cast as Lawrence "Crusher" Crock / Sportsmaster, and Nelson Lee was cast as Dr. Ito / Dragon King, members of the Injustice Society.[15][2] In April, Hina Khan was cast as Anaya Bowin.[11][12]

Costume designer LJ Shannon "tried to stay as true to the [comics] lore as possible" in her designs. Each of the costumes are "utilitarian" with individual looks. Johns described Doctor Mid-Nite's as "[a] little steampunky" with canvas and leather and Hourman's as "a little more slick".[32] Legacy Effects created a practical S.T.R.I.P.E. for use during filming.[33]

Filming had begun by March 14, 2019,[34] with Glen Winter directing the pilot.[35] Christopher Manley and Scott Peck were directors of photography on the series.[36][26] Filming occurs throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, including: Marietta, Virginia–Highland, Duluth, Lithia Springs, Dallas,[34] Marietta Square, West End, Westlake High School, the Atlanta Center for Medical Research,[37] Campbell Middle School, Paulding County, Smyrna, Arbor Place Mall, Vinings,[38] Mableton, and Douglas County High School.[39]

Walter Garcia serves as the series' stunt coordinator and second-unit director. He was hired to help Stargirl's staff "have a personality and be alive when she fights with it".[33]

Zoic Studios provided visual effects for the series.[20] According to Johns, Stargirl was the first Warner Bros. Television series to utilize previsualization (a process most commonly utilized by feature films) for their effects scenes.[33] Previsualization was handled by The Third Floor, Inc.[36] Johns brought his experience working on the films Wonder Woman (2017), Aquaman (2018), and Shazam! (2019) to help the series have visuals not "seen in superhero shows before".[33]

In June 2019, Pinar Toprak revealed she would be composing for the series.[40]

On December 7, 2019, a teaser trailer was released.[46]