Heroic New Images from Supergirl and Heroes Reborn

Variety has posted their annual “10 TV Actors to Watch” piece, which includes fresh looks at two hotly-anticipated superhero shows, “Supergirl” and “Heroes Reborn,” both of which you can check out below! 

First up is “Supergirl” actress Melissa Benoist (Whiplash), standing proudly in the wake of the pilot episode being recently pirated.

“I never imagined myself getting a role like this,” Benoist says. “There are moments when I step back and look at the bigger picture and I’m on the set with fire and explosions and I’m in the suit — and I’ll have to do a double-take.”

Benoist leads a cast that includes Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen, Laura Benanti as Alura Zor-El, Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant, Chyler Leigh as Alexandra “Alex” Danvers, Jeremy Jordan as Winslow “Winn” Schott, David Harewood as Hank Henshaw and, in mystery roles, Dean Cain and Helen Slater.

Hailing from Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions (who also produce the hit DC Comics series “Arrow” and “The Flash” for The CW), “Supergirl” is based on the characters from DC Comics and centers on Kara Zor-El, who comes to Earth after escaping the destruction of Krypton. After many years hiding her abilities, she joins the ranks of her cousin Superman to become the hero she was meant to be.

The pilot episode of “Supergirl” was written by Ali Adler (“No Ordinary Family”) and Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash”). They will also executive produce along with Sarah Schechter and Warner Bros. TV. The show has a series commitment at CBS, and is expected to debut in November.

Then we have The Boy Next Door actor Ryan Guzman, who snagged one of the big leads in NBC’s “Heroes” follow-up, “Heroes Reborn.”

“I couldn’t help but smile for a while,” Guzman says of the role, which is “secretive at the moment, but I can say I’m living out a childhood dream in the character I play on TV.”

Returning cast members include Jack Coleman as H.R.G., Jimmy Jean-Louis as The Haitian, Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura, and Greg Grunberg as Matt Parkman. The cast also includes Zachary Levi (of NBC’s “Chuck” and Thor: The Dark World) along with Robbie Kay (“Once Upon a Time”), Danika Yarosh (“Shameless”), Judith Shekoni (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2), Kiki Sukezane (Death Yankee 3), Henry Zebrowski (NBC’s “A to Z”) and Gatlin Green (“Criminal Minds”).

The supernatural phenomenon begins again with a fresh crop of inspiring heroes who take on the ultimate struggle between those with extraordinary abilities and those with nefarious motives to hunt and harness their powers. Epic adventures await these newly empowered allies as they cross paths with some of the original characters, unlocking the mysterious fate of the universe and their place within it.

Tim Kring serves as writer and executive producer. Peter Elkoff and James Middleton also executive produce. “Heroes Reborn” is produced by Universal Television, Imperative Entertainment and Tailwind Productions.

“Heroes Reborn” will air on Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST this fall.