Sharon Leal
“Supergirl” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg opened up about Sharon Leal’s casting as Miss Martian in Season 2 of the CW series. Pictured: Leal attends the “Puss In Boots” Los Angeles Premiere at Regency Village Theatre on Oct. 23, 2011 in Westwood, Calif. Getty Images/Jason Merritt

“Supergirl” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg revealed why they picked Sharon Leal to play the role of Miss Martian in the upcoming Season 2 of the CW series.

In an interview with Moviefone, Kreisberg said that Leal actually auditioned for the role of “Arrow’s” Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) before she was finally chosen to play Miss Martian.

“She actually auditioned for us, I think it was to play Amanda Waller,” Kreisberg recalled. Although the 43-year-old actress didn’t get the role, the exec producer said that they’ve “always still wanted to work with her” since her audition, so they called her back for the “Supergirl” role.

When asked why Leal was the right choice for Miss Martian, Kreisberg said that Leal is “just amazing.” “She’s just smart and beautiful and tough,” the exec producer added of the actress. “And when we meet Miss Martian, she’s in a rather tough predicament. So we needed somebody who could fight, who could be physical, but also had a soulfulness because of all the tragic backstory that they have. So we were excited that Sharon wanted to do it.”

Miss Martian’s debut episode has not been announced yet, but her addition to the list of “Supergirl” characters is integral to Hank Henshaw’s (David Harewood) storyline next installment.

According to Kreisberg, Miss Martian will help J’onn J’onzz — Hank’s alter ego — embrace himself more as the Martian Manhunter.

“J’onn is suddenly going to have this connection to Mars that he’s been lacking for the last 300 years,” Kreisberg told Entertainment Weekly. “He’s dealing with survivor’s guilt, and he’s spent the last few hundred years burying that. It’s only because of his interactions with Kara [Melissa Benoist] and his deepening relationship with Alex [Chyler Leigh] that he gets to start to tap back into that. The arrival of Miss Martian is really going to open the flood gates.”

Are you excited to see Miss Martian and Hank’s dynamic? Sound off in the comments!

“Supergirl” Season 2, episode 1, titled “The Adventures of “Supergirl,” airs on Monday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. Check out the synopsis for the episode below:

“When a new threat emerges in National City, Kara / Supergirl teams up with her cousin, Clark Kent / Superman (Tyler Hoechlin), to stop it. Kara is thrilled to have family in town but it leaves Alex feeling a bit left out. Meanwhile, Hank and Supergirl are stunned by the pod that came crashing to Earth.”

RELATED STORIES