Since Supergirl announced that it would be introducing Kara’s cousin in the show’s second season, there’s been an overwhelming sense of excitement to accompany the show’s move to The CW. Then following the casting of Tyler Hoechlin as Superman, the hype has increased tenfold. So how does it feel to portray the Man of Steel?
“Surreal. It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Tyler Hoechlin told us during a roundtable interview at SDCC. “It’ll be fun to get on the sets. It’s one thing to think about it. But to be in the environment where you’re surrounded by the sets, everyone else around you is treating you like Superman. That’ll be the whole, ‘This is happening.’”
When it comes down to it this isn’t just any character that Hoechlin is portraying. This is Superman. That’s about as big as it gets. But despite the tall order that awaits Hoechlin, he said that he’s approaching this role as he would any other character.
“Thinking about Superman. Superman is a symbol; the suit represents that and what he stands for,” he said. “For me I’m trying to treat it like, ‘That’s the suit he wears to work.’ It’s what anyone else does. He does what he does. Trying to find out who the guy is, what makes him tick, the way he responds to people, that’s more the focus for me.”
Hoechlin also admires the tone of Supergirl during a time where there’s so much darkness in the world.
“This [show] is so full of light and hope and optimism,” he said. “Especially with things that have been going on lately. I’m really excited over the fact that this show takes that tone and offers that kind of outlet…It’s nice to be a part of something that’s uplifting and hopeful.”
Watch our interview with Hoechlin below where he discusses other Supermen, the process of getting the role, his childhood memories of Superman, and more.
Supergirl season two premieres Monday, Oct. 10 at 8/7c on The CW.
