For the past two seasons of Supergirl, Laura Benanti has played the mother of Kara, appearing mostly in flashbacks and holographic form to give her daughter whatever advice she needs- while also portraying villain Astra. However, Benanti will be leaving the show and Smallville alum Erica Durance will replace her as Alura. The executive producers already released a statement saying that it was an amicable split that was caused due to scheduling conflicts, and Benanti backed it by confirming that she's already pretty busy in New York. Not only does she have a play to perform, but she has as one other important thing to take care of.
All of the CW's DC superhero shows film in Vancouver, which has caused Supergirl some scheduling conflicts with actors in the past. Those same conflicts rear their ugly head once again as Laura Benanti will not be reprising her role as Supergirl's mother, Alura. Benanti is needed in New York City for an unspecified play, and the actress also revealed that she needed the extra time to be a "supermom" to her own child. Benanti first joined the show in Season 1 and played an integral part in those earlier stories. Alura was a frequent source of wisdom for Supergirl to turn to, though, she did not appear as much in Season 2. Benanti also played Alura's twin sister Astra, one of the main villains of Season 1.
Laura Benanti will surely be missed, but there's no time to waste in the fast-paced world of basic cable television. Benanti will be replaced in Season 3 of Supergirl with Erica Durance, who's no stranger to superhero shows. She's notable for being a former Lois Lane, having played the character for 6 seasons on Smallville. She's continually praised for her portrayal of Lois Lane, making her warm, independent, and sharp as a nail. She can no doubt fill in the big shoes that she'll be stepping into over on Supergirl.
Not much is known about Supergirl Season 3, but it will explore the cliffhanger reveal of a third Kryptonian baby escaping the destruction of Krypton. That baby just might be Reign, a Supergirl villain from the comics. The role was recently cast too, with Odette Annable announced to be playing the character and will be the main villain of Season 3.
Supergirl Season 3 is set to premiere on October 9, 2017, at 8 p.m. EST on the CW. To plan the rest of your summer make sure to check out our summer TV premiere schedule. Stay up to date on the fate of all your favorite shows with our network and cable/streaming cancelled and renewed guide. For all the latest TV news, make sure to keep it right here at CinemaBlend.
