STARGIRL Casts Luke Wilson as Stripe

Stargirl just got herself a sidekick.

Deadline has word that the upcoming DC Universe series Stargirl, based on the DC Comics superhero, has cast Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan, better known to DC fans as the robotic superhero S.T.R.I.P.E.  Wilson joins Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl, Lou Ferrigno Jr. as Rex Tyler/Hourman, Brian Stapf as Ted Grant/Wildcat, Henry Thomas as Charles McNider/Dr Mid-Nite, and Anjelika Washington in an undisclosed role.

According to the article, Stripe is described as "Pat Dugan once went by the less-than-inspired superhero name of Stripesy, sidekick to a young hero known as the Star-Spangled-Kid and later Starman of the legendary Justice Society of America.  Today, Pat has left his sidekick life behind him.  But when his new stepdaughter, Courtney Whitmore, discovers Pat’s secret past and takes on Starman’s legacy to become Stargirl, Pat is forced to come out of retirement and once again become a sidekick — to his stepdaughter — this time piloting a 15-foot robot called Stripe."

Showrunner Geoff Johns, who created Stargirl, remarked on the casting, "When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and saw Bottle Rocket, I became a huge fan and admirer of Luke’s.  And I literally wrote this part for Luke, hoping that someday and somehow he’d play Pat Dugan.  I only envisioned him, and now I feel like I won the lottery!  Luke’s talent, humor, compassion — his presence and professionalism — and his creative collaboration, his ideas — we’re so lucky to have him alongside Brec in Stargirl."

Wilson, 47, has appeared in the films Idiocracy, Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums, Legally Blonde, 3:10 to Yuma (2007), My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Charlie's Angels (2000), Rushmore, Blades of Glory, The Skeleton Twins, and Scream 2.  His television appearances include episodes of The X-Files, That '70s Show, Entourage, Drunk History, Enlightened, and Roadies.

Created in 1941 by Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman, Patrick "Pat" Dugan first appeared in Action Comics (vol.1) #40 as a young man who helped a young Sylvester Pemberton III against Nazi spies posing as protestors at a movie on July 4, 1941.  Pemberton and Dugan became the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, in order to battle Nazi spies and fifth columnists during World War II.  They devised a series of acrobatic maneuvers that allowed them to build upon one another's strengths -- the Kid's agility and Dugan's prowess.  They also built the Star Rocket Racer, a bubble-topped limousine with the functions of a rocket and helicopter.

The Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy were members of the superhero team known as the Seven Soldiers of Victory as well as the All-Star Squadron.  After battling the Nebula Man, the Seven Soldiers were lost in time in 1950 and rescued decades later by the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America.  Batman, Hourman and Starman retrieved Stripesy from being trapped in ancient Egypt.

Upon his return, Dugan married a woman named Maggie, who left him to raise their son Michael on her own.  In addition, Sylvester Pemberton's black sheep relative Arthur had stolen Dugan's patents during their disappearance.  Upon hearing about this, Sylvester returned the patents to Pat, and the two reconciled.  Dugan later assisted Pemberton after he became involved with Infinity, Inc., until Pemberton's death at the hands of Solomon Grundy, who used the deadly touch of Mr. Bones to murder the hero.

Dugan married for the second time and settled in Blue Valley.  His stepdaughter, Courtney Whitmore, became the second Star-Spangled Kid, partly in order to annoy him.  This led Dugan to develop a robotic suit of armor equipped with a range of ballistic weapons and utilities.  He assumed the identity of S.T.R.I.P.E. (Special Tactics Robotic Integrated Power Enhancer), in order to accompany Courtney and protect her during her adventures.

This will be the first time S.T.R.I.P.E. will appear in live-action, although the character did appear in several episodes of the animated series Justice League Unlimited (voiced by Phil LaMarr) and the animated film Justice League: Gods and Monsters (voiced by Dan Gilvezan).

Stargirl is currently expected to debut on DC Universe on August 9, 2019.