Supergirl Casts Bollywood Star Amy Jackson as Saturn Girl
09/25/2017 05:53 pm EDT
Amy Jackson, a British-born actress who has established herself as a Bollywood star, has been cast in the role of Imra Ardeen -- the superhero known as Saturn Girl -- on The CW's Supergirl.
The CW has confirmed the casting, which indicates the Legion of Super-Heroes is coming soon to the series. Imra, whose previous live-action appearance came in an episode of Smallville, was one of the founding members of the super-team, a group of teenagers from the future who were inspired by Superman's example and sought to help the world and the universe.
On Supergirl, Saturn Girl, aka Imra Ardeen, is a kind, smart, and strong-willed hero who uses her telekinetic ability to help those in need. She was born on Titan, one of Saturn's moons, and arrives on Earth to help Supergirl battle one of her biggest threats.
There is no specific mention of the Legion of Super-Heroes in Imra's bio, but it would be difficult to imagine introducing her without touching on that aspect of her character.
In the comics, Imra has been stranded in the present day (and committed to Arkham Asylum) since DC Universe: Rebirth was released last May. Her presence is the only indication that the Legion of Super-Heroes still exist that fans have seen in a while; the team appeared during Justice League United but have scarcely been referenced since.
On Supergirl, the Legion have yet to appear, or even be named -- although Superman has a Legion of Super-Heroes flight ring on a dais in his Fortress of Solitude.
That ring briefly appeared in the timestream during an episode of The Flash, as well.
Interlac -- a universal written language used so that Earth's many extra-terrestrial cultures can all communicate in Legion comics -- appears in graffiti on the walls of the alien dive bar in Supergirl.
When The New 52 relaunch started in 2011, the Legion had two monthly titles for the first time in nearly two decades. Both titles failed, though, leaving the publisher without an ongoing Legion book for the first time in about twice that.
Imra first appeared in 1958's Adventure Comics #247, and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
"Saturn Girl is the heart and soul of the Legion of Super-Heroes. When everybody's saying, 'Legion doesn't work anymore. There's too much xenophobia. You can't change people.' Saturn Girl says, 'Yes, you can,'" said DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns of the character. "Then suddenly, you realize she can read people's minds. She knows everyone's deepest darkest secrets. If she has faith, then at the base level, human beings and aliens and everybody can reach that goal, can reach achievement and have that goodness inside them. I believe her. I'm with her. And that's why Saturn Girl is so important to the Legion. She's at the epicention of truth for the entire universe for me."
Supergirl will premiere its third season on Monday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
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