Superman & Loishas put an end to the best era ofDCTV shows, and it did so in a perfect, full-circle way. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch debuted as Superman and Lois Lane in the Arrowverse.The actors' first time as the iconic DC characters was inThe Flashfor Tulloch andSupergirlfor Hoechlin. The duo would go on to appear throughout theArrowverse’s many seriesfor multiple years, with Superman and Lois playing a role in a couple of massive crossovers.
WhileSuperman & Loisretconned their Arrowverse rolesby setting the show on a different Earth, Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch mostly continued to play their characters as they were in the Arrowverse. The Superman series then proved itself very successful, with a nice balance between dramatic moments, heartwarming conversations, and gripping superhero action. After four seasons,Superman & Lois' series finaleended the show with its most emotional hour yet. Not only did it end one ofDC’s best live-action TV showsever, but the episode was a fitting way of capping off a successful DC era.
The CW’s DC Series Started And Ended With Superman
The reasonSuperman & Loisseason 4 was the perfect way to end The CW’s long history with DC TV shows is due to how that history started with the Man of Steel several years ago. Before the Arrowverse was ever a thing,Smallvillewas the first DC series to air on the network. The first five seasons of Tom Welling’s Superman prequel series aired on The WB before it became The CW, withSmallvilleseasons 6 to 10 airing on the new network.
DC Just Broke A Major Superman Rule For The First Time In 85 Years
The Superman & Lois series finale delivered an emotional ending for Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel, which included a major Superman rule being broken.
From 2001, whenSmallvilledebuted, to 2024, withSuperman & Lois' final season, DC’s live-action series thrived. It is fitting that Superman projects started and ended this 23-year era for DC, and it is all the more special that they had opposite stories.Smallvillesaw Tom Welling’s Clark Kent grow through the years before finally becoming Superman at the end of its series finale. As forSuperman & Lois, Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel would come to lose his powers, becoming human in the show’s final episode.One was the journey to Superman, while the other was to Clark Kent.
DC’s Next Era Also Starts With The Man Of Steel
Superman Continues To Thrive In Live-Action
Now thatThe CW’s DC series are over, the next chapter of the comic book giant happens in James Gunn’s new DC Universe.David Corenswet’s Supermanstars in the first film of the DCU, with the hero serving as the only ongoing live-action version of the character moving forward.Superman recently debuted in aCreature Commandostrailer in a vision, teasing his overarching role in the franchise. It is only fitting that the DCU follows DC’s most famous era of TV and kicks things off in earnest withSupermanin 2025, keepingSuperman & Lois' momentum going.
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.
Superman & Lois
Superman & Lois follows the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and journalist Lois Lane as they navigate the strains of contemporary parenthood while confronting threats from supervillains and alien invaders, blending personal challenges with heroic responsibilities in this 2021 television series.
Superman
Superman (2025): Superman follows the dual life of Clark Kent, a journalist in Metropolis, as he endeavors to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Set against a backdrop of personal discovery, the film explores his journey of identity as he navigates his existence in a complex world.
