Smallville Sequel Shelved: The Death of a Superhero Era?

The show, particularly memorable for a whole generation, was groundbreaking as the first successful superhero drama in the 2000s. Portraying Clark Kent’s early life, it offered a fresh, contemporary perspective on Superman’s youth. However, it may be wiser to abandon rather than pursue further animation.

There hasn’t been significant progress on the Smallville animated sequel since its announcement in 2021, leaving some to wonder if it will ever materialize. This stagnation is partly due to the upcoming DC Universe on the big screen, but even without James Gunn’s new Superman film, a follow-up to Smallville might not be as appealing as some think. With the passage of time, and considering the original show’s shortcomings more clearly in today’s superhero adaptation landscape, it may not hold the same allure.

The DCU Is Keeping a Smallville Sequel From Happening

James Gunn’s Superman Might Be Holding Up the Animated Smallville Sequel

For approximately five years now, discussions about a sequel animated series based on Smallville have been ongoing. Given the popularity of DC superhero shows at that time, it’s understandable why this show was considered for production. In 2019 and 2020, The CW brought together many of their DC superhero shows with the crossover event titled “Crisis on Infinite Earths”. This epic series not only merged their shared universe but also paid tribute to various DC shows and movies.

Among these were The WB’s short-lived “Birds of Prey” series, Tim Burton’s “Batman” films, and even the 1960s “Batman” TV show with a guest spot by Burt Ward (Robin). Two highly anticipated appearances, however, were from Tom Welling and Erica Durance, who revisited their characters from “Smallville”. This came close to a decade after their show ended, but Durance had previously appeared in the Arrowverse TV series “Supergirl” in entirely different roles.

Smallville significantly boosted the network’s ratings, and it can be argued that it laid the foundation for the Arrowverse. Given this history, it was fitting to bring these characters back for cameos. Opting for an animated series seemed ideal because it would enable the original actors to reprise their roles without budgetary or special effects concerns. Even though the Arrowverse was winding down, news of a Smallville sequel generated much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, progress on the project has been slow, reportedly due to another DC project in development. James Gunn is planning to revamp the DC movie universe as the DCU, and his 2025 Superman reboot will kick off this interconnected storyline.

It appears that this project and its upcoming launch are a significant factor in Gunn’s plans for a cohesive vision of DC and its adaptations. Previously, Gunn criticized the fragmented projects featuring DC characters with little connection. This seems to echo past strategies used for Batman and other characters, although it may aid the DC Universe in gaining momentum. Unfortunately, this might mean less opportunity for fans of Smallville, as the show’s style is more suited to a time long past.

Smallville’s Scope Belonged to a Bygone Era

“No Flights, No Tights” Was an Easier Sell Back Then

Making its appearance around the turn of the millennium, Smallville emerged into a superhero adaptation world quite distinct from what we know today. The superhero film genre was still grappling with the aftermath of the notorious flop, Batman & Robin, which dealt a temporary blow to the Batman movie franchise due to its overly campy and cartoonish portrayal. It wasn’t until the joint successes of the Fox X-Men series and the Sony Spider-Man films that the genre truly found its footing again, leaving some lingering aftershocks in the wake of Joel Schumacher’s second Batman film.

In this period, the X-Men films chose to downplay the characters’ vivid costumes and comic book absurdities, focusing instead on a more realistic narrative that explored themes of discrimination. Similarly, the Spider-Man movies stayed true to many aspects of the character but went deeper into his personal relationships, offering a less campy feel compared to earlier superhero films like those featuring Superman and Batman. It is during this time that Smallville was produced, which explains why it differed significantly from later series such as Arrow and The Flash.

In the spirit of maintaining a prequel narrative, Smallville adhered to the philosophy “no superhero antics”, ensuring that the adolescent Clark Kent remained rooted in reality. Over the entire course of the series until its conclusion, he didn’t don any costumes, and even his powers and those of the weekly “kryptonite-afflicted individuals” were kept relatively subdued compared to the Christopher Reeve Superman films, which had started to seem somewhat outdated in their portrayal of the character.

Much of this originated from The WB’s status as a network with lower budgets and the audience preference for traditional superhero shows and films back then. However, in today’s context, this approach is less captivating due to advancements in adaptation techniques. Despite lingering nostalgia for the show, it might not be sufficient to create an animated sequel that lives up to fans’ expectations in the same way as before.

The Smallville Sequel Can’t Compete in Today’s Market

Modern Superhero Shows and Movies Offer What Smallville Can’t

It’s questionable whether a sequel to the Smallville animated series would be successful due to several factors. Firstly, the superhero genre has significantly evolved, catering more towards mature audiences in TV and film. The new series might primarily target fans of the original, but this could potentially limit its reach and make it hard to sustain its relevance.

Reselling an animated sequel to a live-action show that concluded more than a decade ago might be challenging, especially for those who prefer the original version. If the animation doesn’t impress, it could make convincing the undecided even harder. However, if it leans more towards anime-style, it might be more appealing, though this approach is likely to attract a specific audience.

Given that the original show has ended and ‘Superman & Lois’ has recently concluded, it’s not surprising that DC and Warner Bros. Discovery seem hesitant about producing the ‘Smallville’ sequel.

It’s clear that the new Smallville animated series must delve deeper into the superhero aspect since Superman is now openly present in a world filled with other heroes, villains, and metahumans. This could be challenging for those who cherished Smallville because it didn’t conform to typical superhero narratives, but ignoring such elements in today’s market may prove tough.

Given the abundance of choices within this genre, particularly appealing to mature audiences, it seems like the continuation of “Smallville” might lean towards this demographic. However, this shift also brings potential risks. Overstepping boundaries to distinguish the show could backfire, potentially dooming it before its premiere. Moreover, with James Gunn focusing on the DCU, there’s limited motivation beyond nostalgia to carry on the Smallville narrative.

In essence, the comic books of Smallville Season 11 or an interpretation of classic Superman tales might be considered as the next step in the narrative. Similarly, some view Superman & Lois as a continuation given its series atmosphere, and this could provide a solid foundation for comparison. Notably, Superman & Lois started as part of the Arrowverse before evolving into its own separate universe. Although it’s no longer directly connected to the Arrowverse, it can be argued that it shares a similar relationship with Smallville.

This summer, fans are enjoying a classic portrayal of Superman, and an animated version is popular on Adult Swim and Max. Consequently, there seems little reason to create additional stories within the Smallville universe. Many original show fans felt that its story had exceeded its natural ending point, and since the finale aired years ago, it’s now time to officially close its chapter in DC history.

2025-05-05 03:10