DC’s upcoming “Stargirl” series is getting a major dose of star power: Luke Wilson has joined the ensemble.
Deadline reports that Wilson has been tapped to play Pat Dugan, a mechanic-turned-superhero who pilots Stripe, a 15-foot robot he built himself. And according to showrunner Geoff Johns — who just happens to be the person who created the character of Stargirl while writing for DC Comics back in the 1990s — Wilson’s casting was meant to be.
Johns said in a statement:
“When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and saw ‘Bottle Rocket,’ I became a huge fan and admirer of Luke’s. And I literally wrote this part for Luke, hoping that someday and somehow he’d play Pat Dugan. I only envisioned him. And now I feel like I won the lottery! Luke’s talent, humor, compassion — his presence and professionalism — and his creative collaboration, his ideas — we’re so lucky to have him alongside Brec in ‘Stargirl.’”
Wilson’s role is crucial to the plot of “Stargirl,” essentially setting in motion the titular heroine’s origin story. Here’s his official character description from the series:
“Pat Dugan once went by the less-than-inspired superhero name of Stripesy, sidekick to a young hero known as the Star-Spangled-Kid and later Starman of the legendary Justice Society of America. Today, Pat has left his sidekick life behind him. But when his new step-daughter, Courtney Whitmore, discovers Pat’s secret past and takes on Starman’s legacy to become Stargirl, Pat is forced to come out of retirement and once again become a sidekick — to his step-daughter — this time piloting a 15-foot robot called Stripe.”
Brec Bassinger is playing Courtney/Stargirl, and Joel McHale will recur as Starman. The rest of the cast includes Lou Ferrigno Jr. as Rex Tyler/Hourman, Brian Stapf as Ted Grant/Wildcat, Henry Thomas as Charles McNider/Dr Mid-Nite, and Anjelika Washington (playing an undisclosed role).
“Stargirl” is set to debut on DC’s streaming service sometime in 2019.
[via: Deadline]
