Smallville Sequel Series Finally Get an Update (Is the Superman Movie To Blame?)

Al Gough, a co-creator of Smallville, shared updates about the upcoming sequel series during his recent appearance on Talk Ville podcast. He mentioned that the project’s progress might be delayed due to recent changes in production at Warner Bros., and specifically pointed out James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film as temporarily halting work on the Smallville sequel. However, Gough remains optimistic that the series will eventually make its way to audiences.

It seems that Gough stated his opinion that many projects under development across studios and networks often face challenges due to leadership changes. He mentioned that Warner Bros., which has been going through a lot, is currently reworking Superman, which inadvertently delays our project temporarily. However, he believes that everything cycles back eventually, as he recently learned they are rebooting Buffy for Hulu.

For a decade, Smallville graced our screens, concluding in 2011. Since then, there have been discussions about a follow-up series, initially conceived as an animated production. In 2022, Welling revealed that the proposed new series aimed to carry on from where Smallville’s finale ended. Regrettably, this project hasn’t yet taken flight. Last year, Welling pointed out that the primary challenge was securing Warner Bros.’ approval: “We need their consent,” he stated.

Gunn’s “Superman” hits theaters this July, marking its debut as the initial film within the DC Universe franchise – a vast universe spanning titles across different mediums. The animated series “Creature Commandos,” which premiered towards the end of 2024, was actually the first official release from the DC Universe. There are also several other movies and TV shows in the pipeline.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself reminiscing about the TV series “Smallville” when Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” graced the silver screen in 2006. It’s fascinating to consider how parallel Superman narratives could coexist, even back then, before shared universes became a common trend.

Fast forward to today, and it seems Warner Bros. is keen on keeping the limelight solely on their upcoming “Superman” film, aiming to establish a successful franchise. Given the high stakes – with the movie’s box office performance potentially shaping the future of Warner Bros. as a whole – it makes perfect sense that they haven’t yet given the green light for a “Smallville” sequel series.

The focus right now is on ensuring a smooth takeoff for the DC Universe, and understandably so. Fans are intelligent enough to grasp separate continuities, but I can see why Warner Bros. wouldn’t want viewers’ attention divided between two versions of Superman at this critical juncture given the magnitude of the upcoming film.

Absolutely, just because Gunn is exploring Elseworlds titles outside the primary DC Universe timeline doesn’t necessarily mean a Smallville sequel will never happen. For now, Matt Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga (comprising The Batman and The Penguin) is the only project fitting this description, but more might emerge as the DC Universe settles in. A potential Smallville sequel series could comfortably fit under the Elseworlds label, offering a delightful reunion for fans with those characters.

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2025-03-20 17:47