New ‘Supergirl’ Promo Teases CW’s First Transgender Hero

Of all the CW shows, Supergirl has always been at the forefront when it comes to diversity. Between racial inequality, inter-species love stories, and a coming-out arc for Supergirl’s sister that wasn’t as big a deal as the show seemed to want it to be, it seems like the show has always approached inclusion as a key aspect of their storytelling. That will continue this season with the introduction of transgender Catco reporter Nia Nal, played by Nicole Maines. As in the comics where her character first appeared in Adventure Comics #317 in 1988, Nal will eventually become the DC hero Dreamer.

Along with the unveiling of Maines in the trailer, we also got our first look at Rhona Mitra as Lex Luthor’s bodyguard, Mercy Graves as well as the return of Sam Witwer to the CW (He was Doomsday in Smallville and Darth Maul in The Clone Wars) as Agent Liberty. Liberty will be one of the main villains of the season as he sits at the head of an anti-alien group called the Children of Liberty.

Supergirl returns to The CW for its fourth season on October 14.