‘Supergirl’ Spoilers: Laura Benanti On Passing Alura To ‘Smallville’ Alum Erica Durance In Season 3

Laura Benanti has addressed “Supergirl’s” recent major recasting ahead of the show’s Season 3 premiere.

Shortly after it was revealed that “Smallville” alum Erica Durance is taking over the role of Alura Zor-El for Benanti in Season 3, the Tony-winning actress — who just gave birth to her first child last Valentine’s Day — took to Twitter to explain her exit from the CW series. In her tweet, Benanti wrote that while she will miss working on the show, she explained that now is the right time for her to be “supermom” to her 4-month-old daughter Ella Rose.

Benanti made her first appearance as Kara’s biological mom, Alura, in the series premiere of “Supergirl.” The character was last seen as a hologram in Season 2, episode 4. In addition to playing Alura, Benanti also portrayed the role of Alura’s twin sister, Astra, who was killed by Alex (Chyler Leigh) in Season 1.

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Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg announced the recasting on Friday, July 7. “Unfortunately Laura, who Greg [Berlanti] and I have worked with for years going back to ‘Eli Stone,’ was unable to continue in the role due to work commitments in New York,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said in a statement. “But we are so blessed that Erica has come aboard to offer her own interpretation of Kara’s mother. We had tremendous success with a former Lois Lane last season with Teri Hatcher. We know Erica will continue the proud tradition of legacy actors joining our shows and creating new and exciting takes on classic DC characters.”

Durance played the role as Lois Lane for more than 140 episodes on “Smallville.” The Canadian actress joined the WB-turned-CW series in Season 4 and was promoted to a series regular in Season 5. Durance starred on the superhero show until it wrapped its 10-season run in 2011.

Durance also plays Dr. Alex Reid on the Canadian supernatural medical drama “Saving Hope,” which is set to air its series finale next month.

Durance’s casting comes five weeks after it was announced that Odette Annable was cast to play the role of Reign in Season 3.

More details about the upcoming season are expected to be revealed at the show’s San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, July 22.

“Supergirl” Season 3 will premiere on Monday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW.