‘Supergirl’ Trailer Gets Nearly 11M Views On YouTube, Watch ‘Glee’ Alum Melissa Benoist As Superman’s Cousin (Spoilers)

RTR4QK0J — Actress Melissa Benoist arriives at the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California February 21, 2015. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

“Supergirl” is set to premiere on CBS in the 2015-2016 television season, which kicks off toward the last quarter of the year. An upfront video a.k.a. “first look” (some viewers consider it a trailer) of the series on YouTube has so far drawn nearly 11 million views after a week. “Glee” alum Melissa Benoist plays Kara Zor-el, Superman’s cousin and fellow Kryptonian.

“Supergirl” on CBS involves other DC Comics characters. Superman gets mentioned too, as the cousin. It was developed by “Arrow” and “The Flash” showrunner Greg Berlanti, as well as Ali Adler (“Glee”) and Andrew Kreisberg, who is also part of “Arrow” and “The Flash.”

Asked whether Supergirl could appear in a crossover episodes on other shows also produced by Berlanti Productions, Benoist expressed optimism. However, both “Arrow” and “The Flash” are on The CW. This could be more difficult if not impossible with network arrangements.

Here are the cast members of “Supergirl” on CBS, in the order of their appearance in the upfront video: the young Kara Zor-El (Malina Weissman), Alura Zor-el (Laura Benanti), Fred Danvers (Dean Cain), Sylvia Danvers (Helen Slater), Supergirl, Winslow "Winn" Schott (Jeremy Jordan), Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart), James "Jimmy" Olsen (Mehcad Brooks), Alexandra “Alex” Danvers (Chyler Leigh) and Hank Henshaw (David Harewood).

In DC Comics, Kara Zor-el is known as Kara Danvers on Earth. Berlanti Productions picks this up and gives the Earth guardian roles to “Superman” (television) actor Dean Cain and “Supergirl” (movie) actress Helen Slater. Kara also explains to her CatCo. colleague Winn that the “S” in her costume is the coat of arms for the House of El, not “super.”

The pilot episode of “Supergirl” will feature the Department of Extra Normal Operations, headed by Henshaw. He does not like the idea of working with Supergirl, but it appears the planet needs this alien’s help.

“Supergirl” is the only comic superhero series on CBS. ABC has “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Agent Carter.” FOX has “Gotham,” also from DC Comics. NBC has cancelled DC Comics’ “Constantine” after a one-year run, but it is expected to premiere “Lucifer” (also from DC) by the last quarter of the year.

“It's kind of impossible not to feel strength and empowerment and positivity and hope. It really is pretty surreal,” Benoist told Kristin Dos Santos of E Online in describing how she felt upon wearing Supergirl’s costume for the first time.