Jupiter's Legacy could be the next big superhero show. Hot on the heels of Invincible's success at Amazon Prime, it's an adaptation of another title published by Image Comics. Based on Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's 2013 mini-series, it launched a series of Millarworld adaptations on Netflix.
Jupiter's Legacy shares something in common with Netflix's other superhero adaptation, The Umbrella Academy. It's also about a dysfunctional superhero family. Where they differ is that Jupiter's Legacy is a story about a clash between generations with a sprawling cast. Here's a list of the show's 10 main characters to help you keep them all straight when the show debuts on May 7.
Sheldon Sampson/The Utopian (Josh Duhamel)
Sheldon is the patriarch of the Sampson family. He was one of the founding members of the superhero team the Union, leading the expedition that got the team their powers. Like the Homelander and Omni-Man, he has a power-set similar to Superman, including super strength and flight. He also has telekinetic abilities, which he passed on to his son Brandon. Sheldon's old school morality creates conflict within his family. Sheldon is played by Josh Duhamel, who has appeared in the Transformers series and will voice Harvey Dent in the animated adaptation of Batman: The Long Halloween.
Grace Kennedy Sampson/Lady Liberty (Leslie Bibb)
Grace is another founding member of the Union. Her powers are super strength and invulnerability. She's married to Sheldon and often finds herself having to temper his idealism with realism. She and Sheldon are the parents of Brandon and Chloe Sampson, who are part of the disaffected second generation of superheroes. The long shadow she casts is especially difficult for Chloe. Grace is played by Leslie Bibb. She's no stranger to superheroes. She appeared as reporter Christine Everhart in the first two Iron Man films and the WHIH Newsfront shorts, which were used in viral marketing campaigns for Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War.
Walter Sampson/Brainwave (Ben Daniels)
Walter is Sheldon's older brother and a founding member of the Union. He shares the ability to fly with his brother, but the rest of his powers are mental. Walter can telepathically separate someone's mind from their body and trap them in a "mind painting." He also induces lethal aneurysms, making him a nightmare opponent for everyone but Sheldon, who is immune to his powers. Unlike his brother, Walter prefers direct political action to merely setting a positive example. He's played by Ben Daniels, who has appeared in everything from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the cinematic adaptation of Doom.
Brandon Sampson/Paragon (Andrew Horton)
Brandon is a second-generation superhero who resents living in the shadow of his parents, the Utopian and Lady Liberty. He also has abandonment issues, feeling like his father wasn't there for him growing up. The rift between Brandon and his parents leads to him being influenced by his uncle Walter. Brandon's main power is telekinesis, which allows him to fly, survive the vacuum of space like his father and lift objects as large as a loaded freighter ship. He's played by Andrew Horton, who appeared in the Neil Gaiman adaptation How To Talk To Girls At Parties.
Chloe Sampson (Elena Kampouris)
Chloe shares her brother's frustration over being the child of two beloved superheroes and struggles to live up to their reputation. Unlike Brandon, she didn't try to follow in their footsteps. While she has superpowers, including a sonic scream, she didn't join the family business. She's a socialite who fits charity work into her busy schedule of partying. Rejecting the idea of dating a superhero, she prefers bad boys, including the drug-dealing son of a supervillain. Chloe is played by Elena Kampouris, who appeared in the recent Children of the Corn remake.
George Hutchence/Skyfox (Matt Lanter)
Skyfox is to Batman as the Utopian is to Superman. His use of gadgets, playboy lifestyle and secret cave headquarters are all reminiscent of the Caped Crusader. Unlike Batman, he has actual superpowers. Skyfox can fly and has super strength. Once Sheldon's closest ally, a falling out made them bitter rivals, with Skyfox ultimately becoming a political radical and supervillain. He's also the father of Chloe Sampson's boyfriend Hutch. Skyfox is played by Matt Lanter, who has voiced Aquaman, Venom and Anakin Skywalker.
Hutch Hutchence (Ian Quinlan)
Unlike the Sampson children, Hutch didn't inherit any abilities from his superpowered father. He holds his own with his Power Rod, which simulates superpowers. Hutch uses the rod to teleport himself and others to any destination he can name. The rod also emits energy beams that can knock anyone back, including superhumans. While he didn't grow up with his supervillain father in his life, Hutch follows in his footsteps, leading his own gang. His relationship with Chloe Sampson could be seen as a rebellion on her part. Hutch is played by Ian Quinlan, who appeared on Gotham.
Fitz Small/The Flare (Mike Wade)
Fitz Small is one of the founding members of the Union. As the Flare, he's the team's resident speedster. He can also fly, has super strength and emit energy blasts. He's a valued member of the team, even after injuries force his retirement from the Union. Fitz's retirement comes from the comics. Deviating from the source material, Fitz is replaced in the Union by his daughter Petra, who becomes the second Flare. Fitz is played by Mike Wade, who has appeared on CBS dramas Seal Team and NCIS.
Petra Small/Flare II (Tenika Davis)
Canadian actress Tenika Davis, who has appeared on shows like the CW's Beauty and the Beast, plays a new character in the Netflix adaptation. Petra might be loosely based on Fitz's oldest son from the comics, Peter. Like Peter, Petra inherited powers from her father Fitz and takes on the mantle of the Flare after he retires. Peter resents his father for tearing their family apart by having an affair with a teenager. If that remains part of Fitz's backstory, it would create another kind of tension between generations on the show.
Doctor Richard Conrad/Blue-Bolt (David Julian Hirsh)
David Julian Hirsh's Richard Conrad is the lone founding member of the Union who hasn't been featured in costume in promotional photos for Jupiter's Legacy. He is featured in a shot with the rest of the Union's founders on the expedition where they gained their powers. That could be because Blue-Bolt was featured more prominently in the prequel series Jupiter's Circle. He may appear more in future seasons, assuming Netflix renews the show. Given that Jupiter's Circle takes place in 1950s Hollywood, he would most likely appear in flashbacks. Hirsh has appeared in everything from Canadian police drama Flashpoint to Weeds.
Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy stars Josh Duhamel as The Utopian, Ben Daniels as Brain-Wave, Leslie Bibb as Lady Liberty, Elena Kampouris as Chloe Sampson, Andrew Horton as Brandon Sampson, Mike Wade as The Flare, Anna Akana as Raikou and Matt Lanter as Skyfox. The series premieres May 7 on Netflix.