There was recently a shake-up at Warner Bros./DC, one of the results of which has apparently been the discarding of the corporate rule that none of DC's big three (Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman) could appear on the small screen. No doubt executive producer Greg Berlanti was able to leverage his television success with a number of comics characters to work out an exception: Superman is coming to Supergirl this fall, and actor Tyler Hoechlin has been cast in the role.
Enthuses executive producer Andrew Kreisberg, "Greg [Berlanti] and I have wanted to work with Tyler for ages, so this worked out perfectly because Tyler is Superman. We are so thrilled and humbled to add another amazing actor to the legacy of this iconic character.”
For his part, in talking to the Daily Mail Hoechlin notes of his approach, "I never try to compare and contrast performances because it's such an iconic character already. Superman is Superman, so I'm just going to try to carry on the tradition of that and play that part. I think the fun is going to be finding where Clark Kent is in this world. I'm just excited to find out Clark's sense of humour."
Prior to that he had tweeted, "Could not be more honored & humbled to be given the opportunity to play this incredible & beloved character. Can’t wait to get to work!"
Hoechlin's credits include Everybody Wants Some!, Road To Perdition, Hall Pass, Solstice, Teen Wolf and the forthcoming Stratton.
Previous actors who have played Superman include Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Bob Holiday, Christopher Reeve, John Haymes Newton, Gerard Christopher, Dean Cain, Tom Welling, Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill.