DC Stargirl Cast, Trailer, Release Date, Story, and News

Stargirl is coming to the DC Universe streaming service and The CW. On DC Universe, the Stargirl TV show joins live-action series Titans and Doom Patrol, and animated series Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders. Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter serve as executive producers, and Johns himself wrote 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 in 2018, 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!

Stargirl Release Date

Stargirl will premiere on DC Universe on Monday, May 18 on DC Universe, and Tuesday, May 19 on The CW. That’s a slight, one week delay from when it was first expected to premiere. New episodes will air each Monday on DC Universe, and be repeated on The CW on Tuesday nights at 8 pm. DC Universe members will have access to bonus features and exclusives that won’t be available to those watching on the CW, “including extended versions of select episodes, behind-the-scenes footage of cast and crew” and more.

Stargirl Trailer

Check out all the trailers for the Stargirl TV series, complete with plenty of JSA easter eggs!

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. STARGIRL is lovingly inspired by Johns’ late sister, who was killed in a plane accident.

The fact that we’ll get to see the Justice Society prominently featured on this show makes us very excited. We have more info about the world’s first superhero team right here. The cast list reveals even more about which classic DC characters we’ll get to meet on the show…

Christopher James Baker (True Detective) and Yvette Monreal (Matador) have undisclosed, but DC Comics based roles (via Deadline).

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.

“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 assembled quite 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. One thing we know for sure, though, he’ll be training Yolanda Montez, played by Yvette Monreal (Matador, Faking It).

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. However, he won’t be the only Hourman on the show, as Cameron Gellman (Heathers) will play Rick Tyler, who takes up his father’s superheroic mantle.

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.”

He’ll be joined by Anjelika Washington (The Legend of Master Legend, Shameless) as Beth Chapel, another version of Dr. Mid-Nite. “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.

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 still don’t 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(Welcome to Marwen, Absentia) is Jordan Mahkent, the villainous Icicle. Hunter Sansone has an undisclosed DC Comics related role.

Stargirl Episodes

We’re compiling all the information on Stargirl episodes out there right now. As episodes get released, we’ll drop links to our reviews, too! We’ll keep updating this throughout the season, which will consist of 13 episodes.

Stargirl Episode 1: Pilot

airdate: 5/18/20 (DC Universe) 5/19/20 (The CW)

SERIES PREMIERE — When Courtney’s (Brec Bassinger) seemingly perfect life in Los Angeles gets upended with a move to Blue Valley, Nebraska with her mother Barbara (Amy Smart), stepfather Pat (Luke Wilson) and stepbrother Mike (Trae Romano), she finds herself struggling to adapt to her new town and high school.  But when Courtney discovers that Pat is harboring a major secret about his past, she ultimately becomes the unlikely inspiration for a new generation of superheroes.  Yvette Monreal, Cameron Gellman, Anjelika Washington, Jake Austin Walker, Meg DeLacy, Hunter Sansone and Christopher James Baker also star.  Glen Winter directed the episode written by Geoff Johns (#101.)

Stargirl Episode 2: S.T.R.I.P.E

airdate: 5/25/20 (DC Universe) 5/26/20 (The CW)

LIFE IS ABOUT LEGACY — After Courtney (Brec Bassinger) has an unexpected run-in with a member of the Injustice Society of America, Pat (Luke Wilson) reveals the truth to her about their history.  Meanwhile, Barbara (Amy Smart) is elated when she sees Courtney making an attempt to get along with Pat, not knowing the secret they’ve been keeping.  Finally, things take a dangerous turn at Blue Valley High’s open house night when Courtney becomes the target of a dangerous foe.  Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Trae Romano, Jake Austin Walker, Meg DeLacy, Hunter Sansone, Neil Jackson and Christopher James Baker also star.  Greg Beeman directed the episode written by Geoff Johns (#102). 

Stargirl Episode 3: Icicle

airdate: 6/1/20 (DC Universe) 6/2/20 (The CW)

THIS IS OUR DESTINY — After a dangerous confrontation with a member of the Injustice Society of America, Pat (Luke Wilson) warns Courtney (Brec Bassinger) to back down from her attempts to go after them.  But when she encounters what she believes to be a message from one of them, she urges Pat to help her.  Meanwhile, Barbara (Amy Smart) makes strides at work, which impresses her new boss Jordan (Neil Jackson).  Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Trae Romano, Christopher James Baker, Meg DeLacy and Hunter Sansone also star.  Michael Nankin directed the episode written by Colleen McGuinness (#103).

Stargirl Episode 4: Wildcat

airdate: 6/8/20 (DC Universe) 6/9/20 (The CW)

THE FIRST RECRUIT — After realizing that she needs the extra help, Courtney (Brec Bassinger) sets out to recruit new members to the Justice Society of America – starting with Yolanda (Yvette Monreal).  Elsewhere, Pat’s (Luke Wilson) suspicion is piqued after a bizarre conversation with one of the town’s residents.  Amy Smart, Anjelika Washington, Trae Romano, Jake Austin Walker, Meg DeLacy, Neil Jackson, Christopher James Baker also star.  Rob Hardy directed the episode written by James Dale Robinson (#104).

Stargirl Episode 5: Hourman and Dr. Mid-Nite

airdate: 6/15/20 (DC Universe) 6/16/20 (The CW)

HALLOWEEN IN BLUE VALLEY — As Courtney (Brec Bassinger) sets her sights on recruiting more members to the Justice Society of America, Pat (Luke Wilson) finds himself one step closer to learning which ISA members may be in Blue Valley.  Meanwhile, a search for Rick (Cameron Gellman) leads Courtney, Yolanda (Yvette Monreal) and Beth (Anjelika Washington) to Cindy Burman’s (Meg DeLacy) Halloween party.  David Straiton directed the episode written by Melissa Carter (#105).  Amy Smart, Trae Romano, Jake Austin Walker, Hunter Sansone and Christopher James Baker also star. 

We’ll update this with more information on Stargirl as it becomes available.