'Smallville' Alum Erica Durance Joins 'Supergirl' Season 3 as Alura

Prepare for a Supergirl recast of shocking proportions.
Supergirl has tapped Smallville alum Erica Durance to replace Laura Benanti as Kara’s biological mother, Alura Zor-El, in Supergirl‘s upcoming season, reports TVLine.
Benanti played Alura, as well as her twin sister Astra, over the past two seasons. According to executive producer Andrew Kreisberg, it was Benanti’s scheduling conflicts that prompted the recasting.
“Unfortunately Laura, who Greg [Berlanti] and I have worked with for years going back to Eli Stone, was unable to continue in the role due to work commitments in [New York],” said Kreisberg. “But we are so blessed that Erica has come aboard to offer her own interpretation of Kara’s mother. We had tremendous success with a former Lois Lane last season with Teri Hatcher. We know Erica will continue the proud tradition of legacy actors joining our shows and creating new and exciting takes on classic DC characters.”
Durance, who played Lois Lane on Smallville, joins several other stars to join Supergirl that have a “super” resume, including Smallville’s Laura Vandervoort, Lois & Clark‘s Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher, as well as Supergirl‘s Helen Slater.
Supergirl season 3 premieres Monday, Oct. 9 at 8/7c on The CW.