The CW's Stargirl has recruited a new member of the Justice Society of America.
According to Decider, Alkoya Brunson will join Season 2 in a recurring role as Jakeem Thunder, the new wielder of the Thunderbolt pen. Brunson's casting hits two weeks after comedian Jim Gaffigan was announced to voice Thunderbolt, a wish-granting creature from the fifth dimension.
In the comics, Jakeem Williams is Johnny Thunder's successor. He received Johnny's pink pen by accident, only later discovering the "genie" inside: Thunderbolt, a creature from the fifth dimension. A reluctant hero, Jakeem eventually took up the name Jakeem Thunder. He was invited into the JSA by Courtney "Stargirl" Whitmore and became friends with Rick Tyler, aka Hourman, who also appears on The CW series.
Although Jakeem has not yet appeared on the show, Stargirl already paved the way for his arrival. In the Season 1 episode "Wildcat," Pat Dugan's son Mike casually mentioned Jakeem. As everyone got ready to go in the morning, Mike asked to invite his friend to dinner: "I wanted to bring my buddy Jakeem over." He never turned up on-screen in Season 1, but the Thunderbolt pen did when Courtney stole the JSA's equipment from the Hall of Justice and brought it home. Ever since, the Thunderbolt has remained in her room, in a mug full of other pens.
Brunson is no stranger to The CW, having appeared in three episodes of the Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals. His past credits include Constantine, Hidden Figures, The Birth of a Nation and Atlanta. He has also appeared in Me, Myself and I, Malibu Rescue, Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison, NCIS: New Orleans and more.
Stargirl stars Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl), Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan (S.T.R.I.P.E.), Joel McHale as Sylvester Pemberton (Starman), Trae Romano as Mike Dugan, Yvette Monreal as Yolanda Montez (Wildcat), Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore, Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel (Dr. Mid-Nite), Cameron Gellman as Rick Tyler (Hourman), Joy Osmanski as Ms. Brooks (Tigress), Christopher James Baker as Dr. Henry King (Brainwave), Neil Jackson as Jordan Mahkent (Icicle), Nelson Lee as Dr. Ito (Dragon King), Neil Hopkins as Lawrence Crock (Sportsmaster), Jonathan Cake as The Shade, Nick Tarabay as Eclipso and Jim Gaffigan as the voice of Thunderbolt. Season 2 currently does not have an announced release date.