With the overwhelming popularity and recognition enjoyed by Superman a.k.a. the 'Man of Steel' around the world, one would assume that the members of his immediate family would enjoy similar levels of attention. But for years Supergirl has stood in the shadow of her Kryptonian cousin, despite possessing all of his strength. As Superman is set to return to the box office with his friends in tow, a new report claims that the last daughter of Krypton might get a series of her own - on television.

The report comes courtesy of Bleeding Cool and their source, claiming that writer and producer Michael Green (Smallville, Heroes, Green Lantern) is set to produce and write a Supergirl series - a project that DC Entertainment is "actively pitching." Green may not be a household name for mass audiences, but he's acted as writer and producer on multiple DC Comics properties in the past; that includes his work (as one of several writers) on both Green Lantern (2011) and the previously-announced Flash movie.

No other details are offered in BC's report, with regard to exactly what angle or networks the show is being developed for, but with Gotham, The Flash, Constantine and numerous other comic books in production for TV, there's certainly no shortage of interested parties. Even so, there's no question that adapting the character to TV would be a difficult task - a fact Green would be aware of, having co-written the character's re-launch as part of DC's 'New 52' reboot.

Supergirl Comic New 52

Given Green's interest (and knowledge) of the character Kara Zor-El a.k.a. 'Supergirl,' the most likely direction would be the most obvious one: recreate the premise of Smallville, but with a female in the lead role. But aside from the danger of retreading similar territory (for much of the same audience), it's difficult to create any take on the superheroine that is separated from her formerly-younger-cousin Kal-El.

But with DC's TV and movie worlds totally divided, and it seeming less and less likely that Superman or Batman will appear outside of blockbusters, that would be a necessity.

For both Michael Green and Mike Johnson's part, the recent reboot of the character steered clear of Superman from the start. But without a family of her own, or a relative to develop alongside, her comic delved headlong into the mysteries of Krypton. Besides that being almost prohibitively expensive for a standard TV series, it also takes a large bite out of Superman's big screen story. Could DC and WB be willing to share the origin? Perhaps. But it's not an easy decision to make.

Supergirl TV Show Movie Role

The other question worth asking is what impact a potential Supergirl TV series might have on the character's role in the larger DC/WB movie universe. Geoff Johns' explanation that the movie and TV universes won't be overlapping may seem like an argument for characters to appear in both TV and movies, but audiences have yet to see that theory in practice. What they have seen is Wonder Woman origin story cancelled prior to her debut in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (and the mere claim that DC is shopping the show to networks implies it may not be a fit for The CW).

Those who believe that Supergirl was already teased in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel will know that while the film's prequel comic confirmed the existence of Kara Zor-El in the film's continuity, she lived thousands of years before Kal-El. We've voiced our own theory on how Supergirl's legacy could be preserved in the movie universe, but the standard origin story seems impossible. If that's the case, then a TV series would be a welcome consolation for fans.

We'll keep you up to date on this rumor if and when new details surface, but with Michael Green preparing to act as showrunner to Bryan Fuller's American Gods, don't be surprised if his attention is needed elsewhere. For now, what do you think of a Supergirl TV show? Would it be too close to Smallville for your tastes? Or does it seem like a logical step?

Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: Bleeding Cool