Lost Souls (Supergirl)

The sixth and final season of the American television series '' Supergirl'', which is based on the DC Comics character Kara Zor-El / Supergirl and premiered on The CW on March 30, 2021, and consisted of 20 episodes. It is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with the other television series of the universe. The season is produced by Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment, with Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner serving as showrunners.

The season was ordered in January 2020, with filming beginning that October. Melissa Benoist stars as Kara, with principal cast members Chyler Leigh, Katie McGrath, Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines, Azie Tesfai, Julie Gonzalo, Staz Nair and David Harewood also returning from previous seasons. They are joined by new cast member Peta Sergeant. Former series regulars Andrea Brooks, Mehcad Brooks, Calista Flockhart, Jeremy Jordan, and Chris Wood all return for guest appearances, with the latter four returning in the series finale.

Episodes

Cast and characters

Main

* Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers / Kara Zor-El / Supergirl
* Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers / Sentinel
* Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor and Elizabeth Walsh
* Jesse Rath as Querl Dox / Brainiac 5
* Nicole Maines as Nia Nal / Dreamer
* Azie Tesfai as Kelly Olsen / Golden Guardian
* Julie Gonzalo as Andrea Rojas / Acrata
* Staz Nair as William Dey
* David Harewood as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter
* Peta Sergeant as Nyxlygsptlnz "Nyxly" and Nyxlygsptlnz A.I.

Recurring

* Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor
* Brenda Strong as Lillian Luthor
* Sharon Leal as M'gann M'orzz / Miss Martian
* Claude Knowlton as Silas White
* Jason Behr as Zor-El
* Matt Baram as Mitch
* Jhaleil Swaby as Orlando Davis
* Mila Jones as Esme
* Andrew Morgado as the voice of the Totem Oracles

Guest

;Cast notes

Production

Development

In January 2020, The CW renewed the series for a sixth season. Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner return as the showrunners. In September 2020, it was announced that it would be the final season, with a 20 episode order.

Writing

The twelfth episode was written by Azie Tesfai and J. Holtham. This marks the first time in the Arrowverse that an actor (Tesfai) wrote an episode. Like previous seasons, the sixth season too is inspired by political and social issues in the real world, especially in its second half. Queller said the theme of the season would be "power, and the abuse of power, and the limits of powers, and from without and within". Rovner said the Black Lives Matter movement was another influence on the season. Melissa Benoist, who portrays Kara Danvers / Supergirl, said the season serves as a "self-exploration" for her character, "looking in the mirror and ontemplatingwhat her power means because it's almost limitless and it makes her so strong on Earth".

Casting

Main cast members Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, Katie McGrath, Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines, Azie Tesfai, Julie Gonzalo, Staz Nair and David Harewood will return as Kara Danvers / Supergirl, Alex Danvers, Lena Luthor, Querl Dox / Brainiac 5, Nia Nal / Dreamer, Kelly Olsen, Andrea Rojas, William Dey, and J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter. In December 2020, David Ramsey was revealed to be reprising his ''Arrow'' role of John Diggle in addition to directing at least one episode in the season. In March 2021, Claude Knowlton and Jason Behr joined the cast in undisclosed recurring roles for the sixth season. Knowlton's role turned out be Silas while Behr's role turned out to be Zor-El who was previously portrayed by Robert Gant in season one and season two. In the April 13 episode, Peta Sergeant debuted as series regular and fifth-dimensional imp Nyxly, who would serve as the season's primary villain.

Filming

Filming began on October 13, 2020. It was initially scheduled to begin after Benoist returned from maternity leave, but was later rescheduled to begin on September 28, 2020. However, by September 29, filming was temporarily postponed, because of delays in receiving COVID-19 test results for the cast and crew, before beginning in October. The early filming of the season worked around Benoist's absence until she returned to work in January 2021. Filming concluded on August 6, 2021.

Marketing

In early August 2020, The CW released several posters of the Arrowverse superheroes wearing face masks, including Supergirl, with all posters having the caption "Real Heroes Wear Masks". This marketing tactic was used to "raise public awareness on the efficacy of facial coverings preventing the spread of COVID-19".

Broadcast

The sixth season was originally scheduled to premiere in mid-2021. However, ''Superman & Lois'' went on hiatus due to a production delay caused by COVID-19, so the season premiered early on March 30, 2021. The season continued on August 24, 2021, after ''Superman & Lois'' finished its first season.

Reception

References

{{Arrowverse

2021 American television seasons
Supergirl (TV series) seasons
Television productions postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic