Smallville Animated Sequel Stalls as Superman Takes Center Stage

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Enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the comeback of the much-missed show Smallville might find themselves waiting a bit longer than initially expected. In 2021, it was disclosed that the lead actors from Smallville, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (who portrayed Clark Kent and Lex Luthor), were considering an animated spin-off of the series. The pair even presented their idea to Warner Bros. in January 2022, but since then, there has been no further news on the project. This recent development could be disheartening for fans who have followed the early 2000s superhero series closely.

In the most recent installment of Welling and Rosenbaum’s “Talk Ville Podcast”, the pair welcomed Smallville’s co-creator Al Gough. He discussed the reasons behind the delay in the continuation of Smallville, which appears to be tied up with James Gunn’s Superman project. Currently, Warner Bros. and DC are prioritizing the new Superman film, relegating other Superman-centric projects to a lower position on their agenda for now. Gough expressed this by stating:

The main issue with most projects under development in studios and networks is often due to changes in leadership. Warner Bros., for instance, has experienced significant changes, and their current plans to reboot Superman once more, albeit regrettably, seems to be pushing our project aside temporarily. It’s a cyclical industry; ideas eventually return, I recently learned that they are planning to reboot Buffy on Hulu [laughs].

It’s not surprising to think that Warner Bros. and DC are planning to make Superman the main focus for the Man of Steel’s upcoming projects. Reports suggest that “Superman & Lois” ended after four seasons to avoid clashing with an upcoming movie. The series finale of “Superman & Lois” aired on December 2, 2024, just two weeks before the first trailer for the new Superman film was released online. Meanwhile, the animated series “My Adventures with Superman” has been renewed for Season 3. However, it seems that Warner Bros. is content with one live-action and one animated Superman project, leaving the continuation of “Smallville” uncertain.

The Many Behind-the-Scenes Changes at Warner Bros.

Gough also discusses numerous transformations that have occurred at Warner Bros. throughout the years. Since January 2022, when Welling and Rosenbaum first presented their idea to Warner Bros., significant shifts have taken place within the studio. AT&T’s previous ownership was sold to Discovery, resulting in a merger that formed Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2022. In October 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co-heads of DC Studios. Their roles involve overseeing the creation of all DC projects. As a result, it seems that the original studio executives who were pitched the Smallville animated series by Rosenbaum and Welling may no longer be involved in the project.

One advantage for the series is that James Gunn and Michael Rosenbaum are friends, with Rosenbaum appearing in minor roles for both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Although the main goal is to launch Gunn’s Superman project, once the DCU is successfully launched, the Smallville series could potentially pick up where it left off. As 2000s nostalgia grows in popularity, reviving the Smallville storyline on Max could attract many viewers who fondly remember watching the Superman origin story during that era.

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2025-03-21 02:05