As the latest DC superhero to hit the small screen – both via streaming on DC Universe and linear TV on The CW – Stargirl has already been a breath of fresh and inspirational air. Having designed and crafted her superhero suit in the second episode (at the expense of several sewing machines), Blue Valley teenager Courtney Whitmore will be dressed for success as she re-establishes the Justice Society of America. But while star Brec Bassinger definitely loves the Stargirl suit, she revealed that the costume didn't always stay together while filming.
Brec Bassinger recently spoke with CinemaBlend about the first half of Stargirl's first season, from that deadly twist to Icicle's connection to Courtney to more that we can't get into just yet. I definitely wanted to hear about her experiences with the hero's signature costume, which was created both for the comics and the TV show by Geoff Johns. When I asked about whether the Stargirl costume was restrictive during filming, here's what she told me:
Interesting question. Honestly, it wasn't too restrictive. Well, you know what? I didn't let it be restrictive. It was very tight. Like, that thing was custom-made to my body. It fit me to the millimeter. But I didn't let it like prohibit me from doing anything. There was even one day – it was the fifth episode – I bent down and I ripped a pair of shorts. So we went and put on a brand new pair of shorts. I walked out and I ripped those, too. I definitely went through my fair share of tops and shorts just from ripping them, like in a scene or strictly just bending down. But they never wanted me to prohibit my acting or my fight scenes because of that.
One can only presume that a real-world superhero would need to use highly durable fabrics when crafting a costume meant to be worn while battling villains and flying around above the city on a magical staff. Granted, Stargirl's gymnastics-tethered athleticism almost necessarily requires thin, breathable materials to be used for ease of motion. And the shorts (and tops, apparently) used for the series were obviously too thin to avoid wardrobe malfunctions during production, even when Brec Bassinger was just bending down outside of super-powered brawls. Not exactly something that Luke Wilson's Pat Dugan has to worry about with the S.T.R.I.P.E. suit.
Seeing as how Stargirl is partially rooted in everything happening at Courtney's high school, it's rather fitting that the titular superhero would constantly face the threat of splitting her pants. If only her stepbrother Mike also dealt with splitting his pants on a potentially daily basis.
Brec Bassinger didn't let any of that get in the way of how much she enjoyed donning the Stargirl costume, however, which definitely comes across on screen. I asked the actress if she remained excited about wearing it throughout filming the entire season, and here's how Bassinger answered:
I think it's so interesting, because the very first time I put it on, I was so tired. It was like 2 a.m. We were filming the scene with Brainwave, and as much as it was like a special moment – because that's one of the first times I truly felt like a superhero and felt like Stargirl – I was so tired, that moment was kind of blurry for me. But there are these times throughout the whole season that I kind of got to relive that superhero moment where I put the super-suit on, look in the mirror, and my posture would change. Because it's really tight – [Laughs] – but also, it's just really awesome, and I would just kind of sit in that moment and be present and feel so grateful.
Starring in a project as high-profile as Stargirl obviously isn't a tireless feat for anyone involved, but it's almost a shame that the production schedule was such that Brec Bassinger felt so exhausted the first time she got to film in the Stargirl costume. That said, the silver lining there is that this possibly subdued first experience made her that much more aware and appreciative of each successive sequence where she got back into costume, so she never ended up taking her super-role for granted.
As an extended branch of the Arrowverse, Stargirl could very well follow suit (no pun intended) behind those shows by giving its heroine's costume a few changes for Season 2 and beyond. Possibly to make it easier on Brec Bassinger, or even to incorporate some elements from the Justice Society of America. Or maybe it'll stay exactly the same. The point is, we just want more Stargirl, regardless of who wears what.
New episodes of Stargirl hit DC Universe on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. ET, and then air on The CW on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET. Check out all the other new shows hitting streaming and broadcast TV with our Summer 2020 TV premiere schedule.
