Stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan will provide the voice of the original Justice Society of America member Thunderbolt in Stargirl season 2. The CW show, part of the network's universe of DC superheroes commonly called the Arrowverse, debuted in 2020 and has been well-received as a fun, sweet show for the whole family. Starring Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore, season 1 opened with the Justice Society of America (JSA) being killed by the Injustice Society and shows Courtney taking on Stargirl's mantle a decade later.
The JSA is also reformed, with Courtney's stepdad's reluctant help, Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson), also known as S.T.R.I.P.E, Starman's former sidekick. Season 1 introduced several DC heroes and villains and even revealed that [spoiler alert] Sylvester Pemberton/Starman, or someone claiming to be him, is still alive. Stargirl season 2 will air in 2021 and has already cast two new villains - Eclipso and The Shade. Now, to balance that out, a new hero has been cast, or at least the voice of one.
According to EW, Gaffigan will join the cast of Stargirl season 2 to voice Thunderbolt, aka Yz, is a genie who resides in a pen and emerges from it when it's clicked. In the comics, Jakeem Thunder has control of the pen, and Yz becomes a JSA member. The casting new doesn't mention an actor playing Jakeem, though, and showrunner Geoff Johns has previously said that the character won't be introduced in season 2. Instead, Thunderbolt will be CGI, and Gaffigan has been chosen to provide the quirky character's voice.
Gaffigan's casting confirms that Stargirl will formally reveal the secrets of the pink pen in season 2, and by choosing the comic to voice Thunderbolt, it's clear the character will be on the lighter side of things. There is scope for Gaffigan to play it straight, given the actor has shown off his dramatic range in independent movies like Most Wanted. Still, it's more likely, given the show's tone, that he'll be used for comedic effect in addition to his unique superpower.
The news also reveals that pre-production on Stargirl season 2 is going full steam ahead. It also hints that the DC show is looking at delving deeper into its lore for the sophomore season and building on the universe it established so well in season 1. More casting news is likely to come in over the coming weeks as the series inches closer to production.
Source: EW