Fans have polarizing views on "Supergirl" TV series cast.
Some commend the upcoming DC Comics-based CBS show for calling up former Supergirl Helen Slater and former Superman Dean Cain.
Melissa Benoist also passed to play the title role among solid fans of the female Kryptonian. One thing they are not happy though is the casting of James Olsen. The usually ginger and gawky best friend of Clark Kent will be played in "Supergirl" TV series by Mehcad Brooks, a beefy African-American.
While comic book fans are blasting the studios for such "Supergirl" TV series casting, Mehcad Brooks, of course, has different take. For him, DC, Warner Bros, and CBS should be applauded for their courage to embrace such changes.
"A lot of times, you go into a role and think, They're being nice by allowing everybody to come in for it, but it's not a realistic thing," the "Supergirl" TV series cast said in an interview with Buzzfeed.
"Callback after callback, I was part of the running and I was kind of astounded by that. I was like, You guys do know this is Jimmy Olsen, right? I think DC, Warner Bros., and CBS deserve a round of applause. It's a testament to our society. I think it shows the country is headed in the right direction."
Executive producer Greg Berlanti said they are aware of how James Olsen looks like in the comics. For "Supergirl" TV series casting, they just decided to go for the best available talent.
"One of the blessings of what we get to do is to introduce it to a new generation and that means changing key elements of the character but still keeping true to the core about the DNA of the character," Berlanti said during the Supergirl panel. "For James Olsen, we were looking for someone that could be best friends with Superman, that had the heart and soul of a well-liked boy who had grown up. Mehcad came in and, in addition to his acting talents, best demonstrated that. Then it's really easy to go to the network or the studio and say, 'We found him.'
"Supergirl" TV series release date is on Oct. 26.
