CBR has confirmed with WBTV that Owain Yeoman ("The Mentalist," "Extant") has been cast as DC Comics supervillain Vartox in CBS' upcoming "Supergirl" series. Yeoman will appear as a guest star in the show's pilot episode.
According to the official description of the role, "Owain Yeoman plays longtime DC Comics villain Vartox, an alien convict, who has been hiding on Earth for the past twelve years. After Supergirl's emergence on Earth, Vartox seeks her out to ascertain her identity and do battle with her."
This news follows an earlier report given to io9 by an unnamed source close to the production.
Created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan, the alien Vartox first appeared in 1974's "Superman" #281. The character, who hails from the planet Valeron, was originally established as a slightly older comrade of Superman's possessed of many of the same powers, including flight, invulnerability and super strength. A modern Vartox storyline involved the alien traveling to Earth in search of the perfect mate following the release of a "contraceptive bomb" on his home planet that rendered all the women of Valeron sterile. While on this mission, Vartox set his sights on Power Girl -- the Earth-2 version of the Supergirl in CBS' series.
"Supergirl" stars Melissa Benoist as Kara, Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen, Laura Benanti as Alura Zor-El, Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant, Chlyer Leigh as Supergirl's sister Alex, David Harewood as Hank Henshaw and Jeremy Jordan as Winslow Schott.
The pilot is directed by Glen Winter, a veteran of "Smallville," "Arrow" and "The Flash;" while "Arrow" veterans Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg are both on board as executive producers.