Warner Bros. has been making big moves in the superhero realm, with plans for a new Superman movie helmed by James Gunn. This development has put a hold on a potential animated follow-up to the beloved series “Smallville,” according to co-creator Alfred Gough.
In a recent episode of the “Talk Ville” podcast hosted by “Smallville” stars Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, Gough shared that the studio’s focus on rebooting Superman has delayed their project. Gough expressed some disappointment, mentioning that everything in Hollywood seems to come full circle, pointing out the recent news of a “Buffy” reboot for Hulu.
“Smallville,” co-created by Gough and Miles Millar, was a long-running success on the CW, chronicling the teenage years of Clark Kent as he navigated his superpowers in Smallville, Kansas. The show ran for 10 seasons, totaling 217 episodes.
Gough also touched on the impact of a recent regime change at Warner Bros., with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking the reins at DC Studios. This shift in leadership could further complicate the path to greenlighting the “Smallville” sequel series.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, set to hit theaters on July 11. The film, featuring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, will be a test for Gunn’s vision for DC Studios in a crowded superhero landscape.
As fans eagerly await the return of the Man of Steel, the fate of the “Smallville” sequel series remains uncertain. With Warner Bros. prioritizing their Superman reboot and navigating a changing executive landscape, it may be some time before we see Clark Kent and his friends back on our screens.
