Fans of Superman have a lot to look forward to these days. As The CW’s popular series, Superman & Lois, wraps up with its fourth and final season, many are thinking about another version of Superman that they loved: Tom Welling’s Clark Kent from Smallville.
With one CW version of Superman ending and a new theatrical version coming soon, it seems like the perfect time to bring back the longest-running TV version of Superman. Fans and creators alike are hoping for a Smallville sequel to make its way to our screens.
Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum Push for More Smallville
Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, who starred as Clark Kent and Lex Luthor in Smallville, are excited about the idea of continuing the story. Recently, they’ve been active in the Smallville community through their podcast, Talk Ville.
On this podcast, they discuss their experiences from filming the show and invite guests who were involved with the series. This has led to a surge of interest in the show. They frequently attend conventions and host meet-ups across the country, which fans really enjoy.
Welling and Rosenbaum have been very open about their desire to bring Smallville back in a new form. They are especially interested in creating an animated series. Welling shared some exciting news in August at Terrificon 2024. He revealed that they have a poster and concept art ready for the animated series.
The art features Lionel Luthor, a key character from the show. However, they are still waiting for approval from DC Entertainment and James Gunn’s DC Studios before they can move forward.
Welling also mentioned that other original cast members, including Erica Durance, Kristin Kreuk, Laura Vandervoort, and John Glover, are also interested in returning to the series. With so many people eager to continue the story, it would be a great idea for Warner Bros. and DC to consider a new Smallville project.
The Possibility of a Movie or Animated Series
Michael Rosenbaum has also discussed the possibility of a movie continuation if the original writers prefer that format. He shared in an interview with ScreenRant that if Al Gough and Miles Millar, the original writers, wanted to make a movie, he and Welling would consider it.
For them, it’s important that any new project respects the story and characters from the original series. Given the current changes at DC Studios and James Gunn’s involvement, this could be a good opportunity to follow Marvel’s example and expand into animation. Marvel’s animated projects, like X-Men ’97 and What If…?, have shown that audiences enjoy stories set in different timelines.
A Fresh Take on the Superman Story
The last time we saw a version of the Smallville universe was during the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. In this event, which was written by former Smallville writers Don Whitehead and Holly Henderson, viewers return to the Kent farm.
There, an older Clark Kent and Lois Lane are shown. In this version, Clark is no longer Superman and is focused on his life as a father. He and Lois are raising their young daughters, which is different from most Superman stories that feature a son as the heir to Superman’s legacy. This new angle could bring new life to the Smallville series by focusing on a father-daughter dynamic.
In the original Smallville series, there were many strong female characters, such as Lois Lane, Chloe Sullivan, Tess Mercer, Martha Kent, Kara Zor-El, and Lana Lang.
It would make sense for Clark and Lois to have daughters in this sequel, especially if they developed powers like their father. This could add a new dimension to the show and show how the Kent family deals with new challenges.
The Potential for a Smallville Sequel
Smallville still holds a lot of potential. As Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit the show through their podcast, it’s clear that the series was successful because of its mix of standalone episodes and overarching comic book-inspired storylines. These storylines helped to show Clark Kent’s journey towards becoming Superman.
A sequel could focus on Clark as Superman, showing how he handles new challenges. Fans have been waiting to see more of Welling as Superman, even if it’s in animation.
The animation could provide the freedom to show all the superhero elements that the original show had to leave out. A high-quality animated series could rival other successful DC animated productions like Justice League and Young Justice.
Smallville has a history of using animation to tie into the main plotline. For example, when Season 7 aired, the network produced Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton. This was a low-budget tie-in that showed Krypton’s final hours.
A full-fledged animated series would have a higher quality and could offer fans the chance to see Welling as Superman, something they’ve been eager to see during Krypton’s final hours. A full-fledged animated series would have a higher quality and could offer fans the chance to see Welli
Why Fans Are Still Attached to Smallville
The wise words of Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) from the show still resonate with fans. He told Clark to “always hold onto Smallville” when he gave him the Superman suit.
This advice still rings true today. As the DC Universe prepares for a new interpretation of Superman and the CW’s version fades out, many hope that the Smallville story will continue. The beloved versions of these characters deserve to be revisited, especially if the original creators are ready to bring them back.
The excitement around the idea of a Smallville sequel is strong. With Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum leading the charge and many fans eager for more, there is a great opportunity to show new dimensions of the Smallville universe. Whether through an animated series or a movie, bringing back this version of Superman could be a rewarding experience for fans and creators alike.
Smallville is available for streaming on Hulu.
