Supergirl Casts Laura Benanti as Supergirl's Kryptonian Mother

Nashville's Laura Benanti has been cast in key recurring role in the CBS pilot Supergirl, Deadline reports. 

Benanti will play Alura Zor-El, Supergirl's Kryptonian birth mother. Described as "a strong noblewoman, Alura sends Kara to Earth to escape Krypton's destruction. Her wisdom and guidance echoes across space and time, proving invaluable on Kara's journey toward becoming Supergirl."

Certainly it sounds like Alura will play the role of Jor-El from the original Superman movies and Smallville, providing some post-mortem commentary through technology. Jor-El did so in Man of Steel as well, although it's been hinted that sequels won't use that device.

That Benanti is cast as recurring lends itself to that interpretation as well.

The series is expected to premiere on CBS in the fall. Melissa Benoist plays the lead.