Supergirl has always been a show about representation. It’s never shied away from introducing characters that are representative of the society we live in – even when those characters are human or alien.
Supergirl is making history in its fourth season by introducing television’s first trans superhero – Nia Nal – and showrunners Jessica Queller and Robert Rovener couldn’t be more thrilled.
“Nia is going to be introduced as a cub reporter who Cat Grant sends to CatCo because she was Cat’s intern at the White House,” Queller told us during a roundtable interview at San Diego Comic-Con. “What we’re going to discover is that she, in fact, has superpowers.”
In the comics, there is a famous DC character named Nora Nal, also known as Dreamgirl, who is a member of the Legion of Superheroes. On Supergirl, Nia is Nora’s great great great great great grandmother. Nia’s superpower is seeing the future, which should surely raise the stakes on Supergirl.
But perhaps even the most important is that a trans actress will be playing the role, which isn’t just preaching representation, it’s acting upon it. Queller and Robert Rovner did a worldwide search of trans actresses before finding Maines.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Nicole Maines in the role,” Queller said. “She’s not only a gorgeous actress, she is a real-life hero. She’s been a trans activist since she was 14. She’s beloved in the community. She brings so much authenticity and heart and experience.
“Our show is all about inclusion and we can’t imagine anything better than having the opportunity to represent in this way.”
Watch our interview with Queller and Rovner below, where they also talk about Brainiac-5 adjusting in this new season:
Supergirl season 4 premieres Sunday, Oct. 14 at 8/7c on The CW.
