Superman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 Seasons

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Superman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 Seasons

As a longtime fan of the Man of Steel, I must say that the impending conclusion of “Superman & Lois” feels like a gut punch. Having grown up watching Superman save the day week after week, it’s been a joy to see this modern interpretation unfold on our screens. The news of its four-season run was initially disappointing, but upon reflection, I can’t help but feel grateful for what we’ve been given.

In just under a month, the acclaimed superhero show “Superman & Lois” is set to air its final season on the CW. The fourth season kicks off with a double episode premiere on October 7, 2024, following the events of the previous finale. Viewers will witness the end of Superman’s (Tyler Hoechlin) fight against Doomsday, mirroring the famous comic book storyline “The Death of Superman”. While this marks a poignant conclusion for “Superman & Lois”, it wasn’t initially intended to be so. The creators had originally hoped to extend the series beyond its current run.

According to an article from Entertainment Weekly, the team behind Superman & Lois originally aspired for the show to last for seven seasons, similar to the typical duration of CW superhero series like Supergirl (6 seasons), Legends of Tomorrow (7 seasons), Arrow (8 seasons), and The Flash (9 seasons). Interestingly, the creators of Superman & Lois hadn’t anticipated that the “Death of Superman” arc would serve as the final season’s story when they initially pitched the series. However, Todd Helbing, one of the show’s creators, expressed a bittersweet sentiment, stating, “It all fell into place in an unusual yet pleasant manner. It’s just unfortunate that it had to be the last season.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I must admit that Showrunner Brent Fletcher was unable to see his seven-season vision through to completion. Regrettably, some of the supporting cast had to be scaled back significantly. However, in spite of these challenges, he expressed pride in being able to wrap up the story exactly as they had originally intended, a fact that holds great significance for him and his team.

Superman & Lois Was a Casualty of Corporate Rebrands

Superman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 SeasonsSuperman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 SeasonsSuperman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 SeasonsSuperman & Lois Was Originally Planned for 7 Seasons

The news that Superman & Lois, a well-received series, would end after four seasons left many viewers disappointed, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. For some time, it seemed like the writing was on the wall. Prior to the second season of Superman & Lois airing, Nexstar started negotiations about acquiring a majority stake in The CW, which went through in October 2022. This move coincided with The CW canceling several shows such as Naomi, Stargirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. The network then focused on reducing costs by seeking cheaper foreign TV series and investing more in reality programs and game shows. Superman & Lois debuted when The CW was heavily invested in superhero series, unaware of the changes to come.

James Gunn’s fresh strategy for DCU significantly contributes to the mix. He aims to interlink DCU projects across diverse mediums such as movies, TV shows, animation, and video games. Although some projects like the animated series “Harley Quinn” and “My Adventures with Superman” are spared, it seems that “Superman & Lois” may not be so fortunate due to potential conflicts with Gunn’s DCU plans, particularly his upcoming “Superman” film. When “Superman & Lois” initially aired on The CW, the DCEU’s Superman character portrayed by Henry Cavill was in a sort of limbo, making a TV series an effective method to maintain the character’s visibility.

In simple terms, the TV show “Superman & Lois” is set to end about a year before Mark Gunn’s “Superman” movie debuts and starts the DC Universe. This was hinted at by Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment at The CW, who stated, “They [Warner Bros.] don’t want a competing Superman product in the marketplace.” It’s unfortunate that “Superman & Lois” didn’t get to follow its original seven-season plan, but it has provided one of the finest modern interpretations of Superman that fans have enjoyed.

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2024-09-14 01:32