“I’m in a lucky in that I get to do what interests me,” DuVernay says. “A documentary on the prison industrial complex interests me and a DC comic about a Black girl who loves Superman and becomes like him interests me as well.” 

For her part , the 17-year-old Walfall says she prefers easing into her superhero status on the show. The slow pace, she says, “allows me to grow and I think that it allows the character to grow … it’s really helpful because as the series goes on, she’s figuring out things and she gets better and better every episode.” 

At the press event, Walfall was also figuring out what the TCA was all about. “I thought it was the Teen Choice Awards.” 

“Naomi” premieres tonight after the second season premiere of “Superman & Lois” (CW, 8 p.m.).