ASmallvillesequel could be on its way, as series stars Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum are pushing for it to happen, and I fully believe that the possible project would work perfectly as a replacement forSuperman & Lois. DC has had many successfullive-action Superman adaptationsover the years. On the TV landscape, my two favorite iterations of the Man of Steel are Tom Welling’s fromSmallville, even though he was mostly just playing Clark Kent, and Tyler Hoechlin’s fromSuperman & Lois. I was heartbroken to hear thatSuperman & Loisseason 4 ends the series.
Superman & Loiswas reportedly planned to last at least seven seasons, but due to multiple factors, the show was cut short. Thankfully,an animatedSmallvillesequel series could be happening.Smallville’s Clark Kent and Lex Luthor stars Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum have been working on that concept for years, though the project has yet to be pitched to DC.Smallvilleis one of the best superhero shows of all time, ending its run with ten seasons and crafting the most well-developed versions of many DC characters. WithSuperman & Loisending, theSmallvillesequel needs to come soon.
The Smallville Sequel Series Can Continue Superman & Lois’ Most Important Aspect
Tyler Hoechlin’s Man Of Steel Is A Family Man
The aspect I find the most interesting inSuperman & Loisis how the show follows a fully realized version of the hero. Hoechlin’s Superman has been saving the world for several years, with flashbacks throughout the show revealing key moments of his life, including proposing to Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane, fighting crime in his first suit, and many more. While the show does a wonderful job with the Superman side of things and the action the DC series needs to have, the best andmost unique element ofSuperman & Loisis the focus on family.
Superman & Lois Season 4 Review: DC Series Is Anchored By Emotion As It Preps For An Explosive Finale
Superman & Lois season 4 is a worthy follow-up to an emotional season 3, with an epic story for Tyler Hoechlin’s last time as DC’s Man of Steel.
Hoechlin’s Superman and Tulloch’s Lois Lane have to save the day in their own ways while making sure that they are raising their two sons right. On top of that,Superman & Loisinitially did not have the sons know about Clark being Superman, which adds a layer of drama that has been interesting to see developed over the seasons, as Jonathan and Jordan wrestle with being lied to for so long. I also love howClark has to guide Jordan as his son develops powerswhile also connecting with Jonathan on another level due to him not having abilities.
WithSuperman & Loisending, I was afraid that we would lose that kind of story for Superman in live-action, as David Corenswet’s Clark Kent in the DCU will be 30 years old. However, theSmallvillesequel series can continue that family dynamic. In the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, it was revealed thatWelling’s Clark and Erica Durance’s Lois Lane had two daughters. While theSmallvillesequel series could avoid connecting to Crisis on Infinite Earths or perhaps take place earlier in the timeline for the characters, the show can see Lois and Clark slowly building their family.
Tom Welling’s Clark Kent Can Finally Fit Into Tyler Hoechlin’s Place
The Smallville Sequel Series Can Do What Fans Have Always Wanted
Smallvillehad a very serious “No Tights, No Flights” rule throughout the DC show’s ten seasons. That meant the series was never destined to become a full-on Superman show, even though it mostly did in the later seasons, save for Welling wearing the suit, which I found infuriating. Still,the series was always envisioned as Clark Kent’s journeyto becoming the Man of Steel. Fans at least had a taste of what Welling could be like as Superman inSmallville’s series finale, which featured the actor as the DC hero in a few CGI scenes and the show’s final shot.
After ten seasons, his Superman would be the most developed yet, serving as the perfect replacement for Tyler Hoechlin’s.
Now,theSmallvillesequel series can finally be all about Welling playing Superman. Recently,Welling spoke about the Smallville sequel plans, once again confirming that “All the actors want to do the voices of the characters” and that the show’s creators, Al Gough and Miles Millar, want to return for it. I think that is the best possible scenario for the series, finally seeing Welling show that he can be just as iconic as Superman as he was as Clark Kent. After ten seasons, his Superman would be the most developed yet, serving as the perfect replacement for Tyler Hoechlin’s.
I Think The Smallville Sequel’s Plan Is The Ideal Way To Keep Superman On TV
Conflicts With The DCU’s Superman Can Be Avoided
Another important factor that makes me believe that theSmallvillesequel series is perfect to serve asSuperman & Lois' replacement is its medium. The project would be animated, not live-action. That is crucial because the animated medium allows it to avoid standing in the way of what the new DC Universe is doing with the Man of Steel. In March,Michael Rosenbaum revealed that theSmallvilleseries had yet to be pitched to DC, even thoughhe is good friends with DC Studios boss James Gunn. The reason for that is because “right now is not the right time.”
James Gunn’s Superman movie reboot will be released in theaters on June 02, 2025.
Any new live-action versions of Superman would conflict with the DCU’s plans for David Corenswet’s Clark Kent, so I think animation is the way to go if a major project with the hero is to be made, which would beSmallville’s case. Waiting a year for Corenswet’s Superman movie to be released, I could see the animatedSmallvillesequel series being greenlit at the end of 2025 by Gunn. Helping its case is thatthe animatedMy Adventures with Supermanhas no end in sight, which means the medium can be used for Elseworlds Superman stories like theSmallvillesequel.
If Superman & Lois Has To End, Then A Beloved Series Like Smallville Replacing It Is Perfect
Only An Iconic Series Can Take Superman & Lois' Place
ReplacingSuperman & Loisas the main ongoing series for the Man of Steel is a tall order. It would be difficult for most projects to do, but I’m convinced thatSmallvilleis the ideal property to pass the test with flying colors.Smallvillehas such a rich history that the world of the sequel would be one of the most engrossing of any DC series, with ten seasons of backstory available for anyone who wants to do a deep dive.LikeSuperman & Lois, the series would build on past events that new fans could find out with time.
I thinkSuperman & Loisis one of the best adaptations of Clark Kent and the Superman mythosoutside the comics. I wanted to see it continue for a few more years, but if we get a fan-favorite series likeSmallvilleback, albeit in a different way, the gapSuperman & Loisleaves will be filled with success. After such a high-level Superman show, only a major popular property likeSmallvillecould replaceSuperman & Lois, and I can’t wait to see the sequel series finally get the green light, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
Superman & Lois
Superman & Lois follows the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and journalist Lois Lane as they navigate the strains of contemporary parenthood while confronting threats from supervillains and alien invaders, blending personal challenges with heroic responsibilities in this 2021 television series.
