The new season of Supergirl will explore more of the Martian Manhunter‘s backstory, bringing in an actor with long-standing ties to the popular DC Comics character.
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Carl Lumbly, who voiced J’onn J’onnz in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series, is joining the cast as M’yrnn J’onnz, the Manhunter’s father. He’ll be featured prominently as the show fleshes out the character’s roots.
“J’onn has always felt like an alien,” said EP Andrew Kreisberg in an interview with EW. “He spent 300 years on Earth and he’s always felt different, and other, and felt people were afraid of him, and has always had to hide who he really was.”
But when M’yrnn cones to Earth, J’onnz will realize how much his adopted planet has changed him.
“The irony is he becomes reconnected with his father and his father thinks, ‘Oh my God, you’ve gone so Earth-man,’” Kreisberg said. “So for J’onn, it’s this realization that he’s not quite the alien that he thought he was, and what that means to him, and if we’re reconnecting with his Martian heritage, how important is that to him?”
J’onnz assumed the identity of Hank Henshaw and served as the Director of the Department of Extra-Normal Operations. Though his identity was found out, the President of the United States pardoned him and reinstated him as the D.E.O.’s chief.
Though its purpose was twisted by the original Henshaw, J’onnz has since turned it into a force for good and protects the Earth’s population from extraterrestrial threats. He has since come to gain many friends and has come to view the planet as his home.
With M’yrnn’s arrival, that notion will likely be challenged as he’s reminded of his birthplace.
Actor David Harewood has portrayed Martian Manhunter for two seasons on Supergirl, and he’ll be joined by Lumbly for Season Three. The show has done well in honoring the legacy of the DC Universe throughout the years, and this season should be a treat for fans of J’onn J’onnz.
Supergirl returns to The CW next Monday, October 9.
