Tom Welling Explains Why He Waited Until Crisis on Infinite Earths to Reprise Smallville Role

As a devoted Smallville fan, the moment Tom Welling graced our screens once more as Clark Kent during Crisis on Infinite Earths was nothing short of electrifying. It had been a decade since we last saw him donning the red cape, and his return felt like a long-awaited reunion with an old friend.

Fans of the TV series Smallville were overjoyed when Tom Welling, who played Clark Kent, reappeared not just on The CW but in his iconic role, even if it was only briefly, for the 2019 Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths. This was significant because eight years had passed since fans last saw him as the DC hero, as he hadn’t taken on the character again in any other capacity since the finale of Smallville. Recently, during a discussion on the TalkVille Smallville rewatch podcast (as reported by ScreenRant), Welling disclosed the reasons for this delay and why the Arrowverse event ultimately led to his and Erica Durance’s return.

As per Welling, he was requested to appear in other shows as Clark, but he felt that the tone of those shows didn’t align well with what Smallville and, by extension, his character Clark had been about. For him, it was the role in Crisis on Infinite Earths that seemed appropriate, although he’s unsure if it truly represented Smallville’s Clark.

He mentioned that following the conclusion of “Smallville,” he was frequently invited to join other productions, where he would portray Clark. However, he felt that the atmosphere and tone of these shows didn’t align with Clark’s character or the essence of “Smallville.” In a crossover event, he suggested, the actions of Clark and his decision to relinquish his powers and be with Lois for their family might not resemble the Clark from “Smallville,” as it could be a different universe.

For those who might not recall, Welling’s Clark appears on Earth-167 where during a search for one of the Paragons — which was supposed to be a Clark Kent from an alternate universe — draws Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) who is going Earth to Earth killing every Superman. When confronted by a Kryptonite-wielding Lex, Clark reveals that he gave up his powers to have a normal life with his family and that Kryptonite no longer impacts him. He fights a bit with Lex, but Lex ultimately leaves. Durance shows up as Lois and when Clark explains to her what’s happened, she notes that “Smallville” made a joke.

It’s intriguing to note that Welling himself has expressed uncertainty about whether the Clark he portrayed in Crisis on Infinite Earths was the same as the one from Smallville. Additionally, during Terrificon earlier this year, he hinted that neither he nor anyone else were ever made aware of how Clark lost his powers.

He commented, “It’s hard to say for certain if that character is truly Clark Kent from Smallville, given the complexities of the multiverse. Plus, nobody has shared with me the details about how he might have lost his powers.

It’s clear that Welling wouldn’t have reappeared if he had been asked to dress up like Superman.

In 2020, Welling stated that if they had initiated the discussion with “Clark is wearing the suit,” his response would have been akin to turning off a switch.

2024-09-22 01:41

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