As many are waiting to learn more about theSmallvilleanimated sequel series, long-timeDCactor Tom Welling clarifies what is going on with the potential revival. WhiletheSmallvilleendingtook place more than 13 years ago, the beloved Clark Kent-focused drama could be making a comeback as Welling and his co-star Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor, have been developing a pitch for an animated continuation. Even though this has raised excitement in the fandom, theSmallvillesequel has not been formally greenlit, and it appears the massive hold-up goes back to one of Hollywood’s biggest studios.
Screen Rantrecently had the chance to speak with Welling during Comic Con Stockholm as he looked back on hisSmallvillejourney while also highlighting the Talk Ville Podcast and the upcoming Cruiseville event in 2025. After interviewing Welling forMafia Warsearlier this fall, where he gave a status report on theSmallvillesequel,the former Superman star opened up more on what is going on with the proposed animated series, as he revealed the following:
Tom Welling: We want it to work. The honest answer is we have not been able to get Warner Brothers to give us the thumbs up. We need their permission.
Welling was asked if this means that Warner Bros. Discovery is not open to revisitingSmallvilleor if it’s about them not having responded to him and Rosenbaum’s pitch.TheSmallvillelead made it clear that they haven’t received a reply yet, as he shared his theories on Warner Bros. Discovery’s part.
Tom Welling: [Laughs] We haven’t even gotten a response! It’s the weirdest thing because it is more of a fan-driven idea. It’s not going to be a blockbuster. It’s not going to be a financial windfall for any of us. We all like each other, we all like working together, and if we could do it, it’d be fun. But Warner Bros. - and I’m not hating on them - they just haven’t gotten back to us.It’s not a priority for them. It’s like a not-returning-phone-calls-thing. [laughs]
One of the big figures at Warner Bros. Discovery right now is DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, who is a good friend of Rosenbaum, as theSmallvilleactor was featured in the filmmaker’sGuardians of the Galaxymovies for Marvel Studios.When suggested that Rosenbaum should contact Gunn about theSmallvillerevival, Welling stated:
Tom Welling: I know! We joked about it. Michael says, ‘Oh, James is so busy.’ I think it’d be a fun idea. We already have the animation done. I don’t know if Michael shared it already, but we have a poster for it. It’s [with] the cast and Lionel Luthor looming behind [them.]
Welling wouldn’t address how aSmallvillesequel would deal with the return of Lionel Luthor, who was killed by Lex in season 7. However, the actor stressed thatthe originalSmallvillecreators, Al Gough and Miles Millar, want to be involved in bringing the show back:
Tom Welling: We want Al and Miles to write it. They’ve expressed interest, but they’re also busy working on Wednesday with Tim Burton. I think because it’s not a big financial gain for anybody, it’s getting less [priority.]
What Tom Welling’s Comments Mean For The Smallville Sequel
From what Welling revealed toScreen Rant,theSmallvilleanimated sequel may simply be a project that will take some time before it goes from concept to production. As there have been a lot of regime changes at the studio in the last few years, including the launch of DC Studios, the structure of DC IPs is going through significant retooling, which may be why aSmallvilleanimated show hasn’t been greenlit yet. Once DC Studios truly gets into their era,aSmallvillesequel show alongside Gunn’s DC Universecould easily be more possible.
It also appears that perhaps theSmallvilleseason 11comic may not be what gets used for the animated sequel. WhenScreen Rantasked if Welling has ever checked out the comic series that continued theSmallvilleuniverse after its end in 2011 and if he ever finds it weird seeing him in comic form, he said:
“No, never read it!I’ve signed some, but I’ve never opened it. It is for a second, and then I’m talking to the next person! [laughs] You’d think that I would read ‘em all, but I really don’t have one to read. There are moments where I’m like, ‘Oh, I should read that,’ and then I kind of forget.”
However, Welling didn’t rule out the possibility of checking outSmallvilleseason 11, proposing that he and Rosenbaum maybe"should do a podcast about that later. Michael and I should read it and do a podcast review!"
Our Take On Tom Welling’s Comments About The Smallville Sequel
Time will tell iftheSmallvillesequel TV showever gets to go forward, but for any passionate fans who are hoping to see it come to fruition, hope is definitely not lost yet.It may simply be a matter of timing, as Gunn is focusing on building up his new DC Universe, whileSmallvillecould easily fit into the Elseworlds banner down the line. Hopefully, whether it is in the immediate or distant future,Smallvillewill get to make a return to the silver screen at some point.
Smallville: The Complete Seriesis on Blu-ray/DVD and available through streaming. New episodes of Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum’sTalk Ville Podcastreleases on Wednesdays through YouTube and anywhere you may get your podcasts on. Be sure to learn more about Cruiseville at the event’s official website,Cruiseville.com.
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.
