‘Stargirl’: Starman Joel McHale Is Excited to Return as Series Regular
DC’s Stargirl introduced Joel McHale as the Justice League of America superhero Starman in season 1. He made a few brief cameos in Season 1 of The CW series. But according to McHale, fans will get to see a lot more of him when DC’s Stargirl returns for Season 3.
Joel McHale debuted as Starman in Season 1 of ‘DC’s Stargirl’
McHale first appeared as Sylvester Pemberton, aka Starman, in the series premiere of DC’s Stargirl. His character is seen in a series of flashbacks and is presumed dead throughout the season. But in the finale, he appears alive and well, hinting more is left to his story.
McHale, known for his work on The Soup and Community, had a limited role in the first season. But at the time, he said he was just excited to take on the superhero role.
“Believe me, I was just honored to be asked,” McHale told Comic Book when talking about the moment DC’s Stargirl showrunner Geoff Johns offered him the part. “It was a dream come true from Geoff Johns. I was thrilled because I’ve always wanted to play a superhero.”
And when praising his co-star Luke Wilson, McHale suggested he’d love to return in a more significant way. “[Luke Wilson is] such a nice man, and he’s such a good actor that I always still find myself in situations where I say, ‘You get to be a superhero, you get to work with Luke Wilson,’” he said. “So I hope to God I get to do more of it, and I hope the series does well with all that stuff.”
Joel McHale promises fans will see more Starman
Luckily, McHale’s wishes have come true. The show was picked up for a third season. And in a recent interview with Arsenio Hall for The Ellen Show, the actor revealed that he’d been bumped to a series regular.
“I was just ‘appearing,’” McHale told Hall. “In the first episode of the first season, my character dies. But now I’m back. So hold on to your hat. Or your cosmic staff, which is what my character holds.”
“I’m very happy to be part of the show,” he added, after praising his co-stars. “So thank you, Geoff Johns, who invented it. It’s the greatest show on television and streaming that’s ever been made, so there you go.”
We’ll likely see Starman and Stargirl join forces in Season 3
In the first season of DC’s Stargirl, high school teen Courtney Whitmore (Brec Basinger) inherits Starman’s staff and learns that her stepfather, Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson) once worked with the JSA superhero. After taking on the persona of Stargirl, Courtney believes Sylvester Pembroke is her real father.
All season, fans wondered; are Stargirl and Starman related? But by the finale, Courtney discovers that Starman is not her father and that her real dad ran out on her.
Starman was feared dead until he showed up looking for Pat in the Season 1 finale. The scene foreshadowed his Season 3 story arc, in which he’ll likely end up in Blue Valley and join forces with Courtney and Pat.
New episodes of DC’s Stargirl air Tuesday nights on The CW.
