CBS releases first look at Melissa Benoist's 'Supergirl' costume

LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- CBS has released a first look at Melissa Benoist in character as the star of CBS' Supergirl series, based on the DC Comics superhero.

Benoist, 26, will play Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El, who escapes the planet Krypton and is taken in by an Earth family.

Benoist's suit was designed by Oscar-winner Colleen Atwood, who has worked on Into the Woods, Snow White and the Huntsman and CW superhero series Arrow. "In designing Supergirl, I wanted to embrace the past but more importantly, thrust her into the street-style action hero of today," Atwood said in a statement.

Benoist has previously starred in TV's Glee and the Oscar-nominated film Whiplash.

"I wish there was a superhero emoji," she tweeted Jan. 22 when her casting was announced. "But seriously, sans emoji... I AM SO EXCITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #Supergirl."

Supergirl will also star Calista Flockhart, Dean Cain and Helen Slater.