‘It Was Almost Like A Triple Whammy’: Superman And Lois’ Elizabeth Tulloch Opens Up About The DC Show’s Cancellation And Not Wanting Fans To Get Angry At James Gunn About It

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‘It Was Almost Like A Triple Whammy’: Superman And Lois’ Elizabeth Tulloch Opens Up About The DC Show’s Cancellation And Not Wanting Fans To Get Angry At James Gunn About It

As a devoted fan of the DC universe, I have been following Superman & Lois since its inception and it has truly been a rollercoaster ride. The show, with its gripping storylines and exceptional performances, has captured my heart and imagination. So, when I heard that the final season would only consist of 10 episodes and was hit by major budget cuts, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

With the upcoming release of James Gunn’s new Superman movie in 2025 signaling a fresh start for the Superman universe, the current era on TV is nearing its end as Superman & Lois Season 4, the final season of The CW’s last DC TV show, approaches in 2024. This season will consist of only 10 episodes and has undergone significant budget cuts to ensure a satisfying conclusion rather than leaving fans on a cliffhanger from Season 3. Lois Lane actress Elizabeth Tulloch recently discussed the reasons behind the cancellation of Superman & Lois, expressing her disappointment at fan frustration directed towards DC Studios co-head James Gunn regarding this decision.

There Were Three Factors That Led To Superman & Lois’ Cancellation

Actress Katee Sackhoff, known for her roles in ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘The Mandalorian’, had a chat with Tulloch on the latest episode of her podcast, The Sackhoff Show. During their conversation, they discussed ‘Superman & Lois’, among other topics. One of the intriguing points was whether there was any truth to the rumor that the cancellation of ‘Superman & Lois’ was due to Warner Bros.’s reluctance to have two live-action versions of Superman coexisting. Tulloch, who holds ‘Superman & Lois’ in high regard, shared that she had heard the same speculation. She then expressed her admiration for James Gunn and Peter Safran, who jointly run DC Studios, stating that they have a great deal of respect for these individuals.

Initially, we anticipated that the show would run for seven seasons based on what we were informed. However, unexpected events led to its premature end, which was quite a surprise. To put it simply, it felt like a triple blow. While some are quick to blame Joss Whedon and Brendan Fraser, the real culprits were the sale of The CW to Nexstar, a new leader at Warner Bros., David Zaslav, and also new leadership at DC Comics.

Despite any reservations Elizabeth Tulloch may have had about the production of “Superman & Lois,” she has faith that James Gunn is a fan of the Superman universe and believes his upcoming film will be exceptional. Consequently, whether or not the rumor about Gunn’s Superman project holds any truth, or if it contributed to the early conclusion of “Superman & Lois” along with other factors, is immaterial to her as she views the show as having come to an end. Therefore, the cast and crew had to work with the resources at their disposal. Tulloch further expressed that:

Due to significant budget reductions during Season 4, we had to adapt and make do with what we had. This meant going from a main cast of 13 to just five, which meant many of our regular cast members were appearing in fewer episodes. However, our writers did an exceptional job ensuring that it seemed as though all the cast members were present in every episode, giving the impression that the show remained consistent and unchanged. Indeed, it continues to feel like the same show we started with.

Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark Kent/Superman, Michael Bishop’s Jonathan Kent, Alex Garfin’s Jordan Kent, and Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor were the main cast members who appeared regularly this season alongside Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane. Other familiar faces made guest or recurring appearances. Tulloch also shared that due to production constraints, the episodes for Season 4 were mostly shot within eight days instead of the usual ten or eleven days from previous seasons. In the instance of an episode directed by her husband, David Giuntoli, they only had seven days for filming.

Elizabeth Tulloch Doesn’t Want Superman & Lois Fans Getting Mad At James Gunn

Although I was bummed out that the series “Superman & Lois” got canceled prematurely, as Elizabeth Tulloch pointed out during her conversation with Katie Sackhoff, it’s essential not to keep blaming James Gunn for the turn of events. The anticipation for Superman’s future in the new DC Universe shared continuity helps soften the blow of the series’ end. In her own words: “The pain of ‘Superman & Lois’ ending is eased by what lies ahead for Superman.

It felt like there was a lot of vitriol aimed at James Gunn and Peter Safran, and at the end of the day, it’s like, if you’re a Superman fan, be stoked about the movie and trust in his vision. Because everything I think Gunn has directed has been great, and I think it’s going to be great. Yes, I’m bummed, but I also didn’t go into playing Lois Lane thinking, ‘Well, I’m going to be the last Lois Lane in history.’ You know that at some point, you got to pass the baton to the next one, and that happened a little earlier than I expected, but I think Rachel Brosnahan’s going to be great. David Corenswet’s going to be a great Superman. It’s time to pass the baton.

David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan are part of the cast for the upcoming Superman series, alongside Nicholas Hoult, Skyler Gisondo, Wendell Pierce, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Eli Gathegi, and Anthony Carrigan, among others. While Creature Commandos is set to launch the DC Universe when it becomes available for Max subscribers in December, creators James Gunn and Peter Safran consider Superman as the “foundational start” for this franchise. The forthcoming DC film is also said to feature Milly Alcock’s Supergirl before she takes the lead in 2026’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

On the movie calendar for July 11, 2025 is the release of Superman. Meanwhile, starting Monday, October 7, the first two episodes of Superman & Lois Season 4 will air. If you’d like to catch up, the earlier three seasons are available on Max for streaming.

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2024-09-25 16:37