Deadline reports that Luke Wilson (Legally Blonde, Charlie’s Angels) has been tapped to play the role of Pat Dugan in DC Universe’s upcoming Stargirl. Pat was a mechanic before he became a superhero. He have also invented a 15-foot robot named Stripe which he pilots.
“When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and saw Bottle Rocket, I became a huge fan and admirer of Luke’s,” Showrunner Geoff Johns added that the character was originally inspired by Wilson himself. “And I literally wrote this part for Luke, hoping that someday and somehow he’d play Pat Dugan. I onlyenvisioned 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 is best known for his roles in comedy films such as: Legally Blonde opposite Reese Witherspoon, Charlie’s Angels starring alongside Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu; and in the superhero comedy My Super Ex-Girlfriend with Uma Thurman. He will next be seen in John Crowley’s The Goldfinch and the romantic drama All the Bright Places starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith.
The official description for Wilson’s character is as follows: “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, Curtney 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.”
The series’ also stars Brec Bassinger as the titular heroine, Anjelika Washington (Shameless, Young Sheldon), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), Joel McHale (Community) as Starman, Lou Ferrigno Jr. (S.W.A.T.) as Rex Tyler/Hourman, Brian Stapf as Wildcat, Henry Thomas as Dr. Mid-Nite, Joy Osmanski (The Santa Clarita Diet) as Tigress, Neil Hopkins (Matador) as Sportsmaster, and Nelson Lee (Mulan) as Dragon King.
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Stargirl will follow the story of Courtney Whitmore (Bassinger) who is a smart, athletic and above all else kind girl. This high school teenager’s seemingly perfect life hits a major speedbump when her mother gets married and her new family moves from Los Angeles, California to Blue Valley, Nebraska. Struggling to adapt to a new school, make new friends and deal with a new step-family, Courtney discovers her step-father has a secret; he used to be the sidekick to a superhero. “Borrowing” the long-lost hero’s cosmic staff, Courtney becomes the unlikely inspiration for an entirely new generation of superheroes.
Character creator Geoff Johns will write and produce the series through his Mad Ghost Productions banner alongside Greg Berlanti and Berlanti Productions. This series is not to be confused with Disney’s forthcoming Stargirl, based on the young adult novels from Jerry Spinelli first published in 2000.
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Stargirl joins an increasing roster of new DC-based shows that will be available to the DC Universe service including Titans, the live-action TV series based on the teenage heroes; Young Justice: Outsiders, the long-awaited continuation of the fan-favorite animated series; Harley Quinn, an all-new animated series starring the villain turned anti-hero; Doom Patrol, a spin-off of the Titans series starring the weirdest group of heroes; and Swamp Thing, an all-new live-action series based on the fan-favorite character.
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