Summary
I am very excited about David Corenswet’s Superman movie, don’t get me wrong, but there is a possible newSmallvilleproject for the Man of Steel that takes the first place for me on the anticipation scale. WhileI loved Henry Cavill’s casting as Superman, what theDCEUended up doing with the character was never what I really wanted to see. When Cavill reappeared as Superman inBlack Adam, I was hopeful thatfuture DC moviescould finally make him the ideal Superman, but that would never come to pass, with the new DCU rebooting Superman.
Gunn’s Superman rebootseems to be bringing the version of the hero that I wanted for Cavill to life. However, I have had issues with some of the reveals from the new movie. For instance, whileI am now in favor of Corenswet’s Superman suit, it still isn’t what I would call the ideal one, as the lines and baggy look still bother me. The animatedMy Adventures with Supermanand its excellent second season also help inform my opinion on the Superman project that most excites me, as it could do things new DCU movies can’t.
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The Possible Smallville Animated Series Is The Superman Project That Excites Me The Most
A Sequel To Smallville Could Happen More Than A Decade Later
Smallvilleis the Superman prequel series that followed Tom Welling’s Clark Kent.Smallville’s ten seasonscame to an end in 2011, and after more than a decade since the show’s finale, the series could make a comeback in the future. That is becauseSmallville’s Clark Kent and Lex Luthor actors,Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, want to bring back the show for an animated sequel series.Smallvillewas the biggest exposure to Superman I had growing up, and with the show holding a special place in my heart, that possible project has become my most anticipated Superman one.
Now, theSmallvilleanimated series still has a long way to go. The reason for that isRosenbaum revealed the series has not been pitched to DC. I can understand his reasons for waiting, asthe 2023 Hollywood strikes limited projects' chances of getting greenlit, and James Gunn is now focused on setting up the DCU, a shared universe that includes live-action movies and series, animation, and video games. With Corenswet’s Superman debuting next year and the DCU’s first project coming in late 2024, I think aSmallvillereturn needs to wait a few years. Check out Rosenbaum’s quote below:
All I could share is that it’s a great idea. We have Al and Miles, the creators of Smallville backing us up. When it’s the right time, we’d like to go and do this; pitch to Warner Bros. It has to be the right time, and right now is not the right time. We had the strike, we had a change of executives at DC — one being one of my best friends in the world, James Gunn. When the time’s right, I think it’s something that’s a no brainer, unless they have other ideas. We’d like to do it — the whole cast would like to do it. They would voice their own character from the show, and we have a concept of what the show is.
Still, I think the chances of the project happening are pretty good, and that has me excited. Rosenbaum is close friends with Gunn, and that, as well asSmallville’s popularity to this day, should help the animated show move forward. This June,Rosenbaum shared a new update on theSmallvillesequel. According to the Lex Luthor star, they have seen “loose animation,” and it looks great. AsWelling and Rosenbaum revealed thatSmallville’s co-creators are on board, and the plan is to have most of the show’s cast voice their characters, it has become my most anticipated Superman project.
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I Want To Finally See Tom Welling Play Superman, Not Just Clark Kent
The Actor Never Fully Suited Up As The Man Of Steel
For ten seasons, I waited for the moment Welling would finally don the Superman suit in the series. I got my wish partially in theSmallvilleseries finale, which featured CGI shots of Welling’s Superman and close-ups of his face while in the suit, but no full body shots.Smallville’s final scene was Clark Kent running on The Daily Planet’s rooftop as he opened his shirt to reveal the Superman suit, ending before he flew away as the Man of Steel.While I understand that the series was about Clark’s journey, I always wanted to see Welling as Superman.
While it would not be what I expected, the animatedSmallvilleseries would make up for the fact that I never got to really see Welling as Superman in live-action.To me, theSmallvillestar is the second-best Superman actor, with Christopher Reeve taking the top spot. After not wanting to wear the Superman suit, the fact that Welling is not only game to return as the voice of Superman in the possibleSmallvilleanimated series, but is actively trying to make the project happen, is everything I could have hoped for.
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The Animated Medium Would Help Smallville Reach Its True Potential
The Series Can Expand Its Universe And Bring In Iconic DC Characters
Smallvillewas great, finding many creative solutions for its limited CGI budget in comparison to more recent superhero fare. That said, there were so many things the team behind the series could have done with the character that ended up not happening. Well, the animated medium could help expand theSmallvilleuniverse in ways the show never could. For instance,Smallvillecould not use major characters like Batman and Wonder Woman. However, theSmallvilleSeason 11 comic booksintroduced the heroes and many more key DC characters. TheSmallvilleanimated series could likely follow suit.
I want the possibleSmallvilleanimated series to open the door for the show’s world to become a living and breathing DC Comics universe. With no budget concerns or issues surrounding getting major characters for live-action appearances,Smallvillecould make Welling’s Superman interact with a huge roster of iconic DC heroes and villains. The animation format would allow the show to have Welling’s Superman be part of major fights that a TV budget would not make possible.TheSmallvilleJustice League could appear in its full glory, with all characters now their final, classic versions.
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The Smallville Sequel Series Could Finally Answer Crisis On Infinite Earths' Lingering Questions
Smallville Stars Returned In The Arrowverse
While Welling never really played Superman, the actor did return as his version of Clark Kent years later. Instead of a new iteration ofSmallville,Welling and Lois Lane actress Erica Durance reprised their roles from the series in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. The explanation the event gave for Welling not appearing as Superman in live-action was that Clark had given up his powers sometime afterSmallville’s series finale. At the end of the crossover event, it was never shown ifSmallville’s universe had survived, which is one of thecrossover showrunner’s Crisis on Infinite Earths regrets.
I thinktheSmallvilleanimated series could finally explain what happened between the end of the series and Crisis on Infinite Earths. The show could start shortly afterSmallville’s ending, with the possible animated series having the potential to run for several seasons. Towards the end of the sequel, we could finally get an answer as to how Clark Kent gave up his powers and stopped being Superman, and whether that choice is definitive or could be walked back. TheSmallvilleanimated series could also show that the series' universe is alive and well after Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
