Though little has been revealed about the series, there is aSmallvillesequel in the works. In 2021, the show’s stars, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, shared that they were developing an animated continuation ofSmallville.Since then, concrete updates have been few and far between, though Welling did give some insight on the process back in August. The actor explainedthatSmallvillecreators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar were on boardand that they have an artist working on the project. The current hangup is getting the green light from DC Studios.
As a lifelong Superman fan, I cannot overstate my excitement about a potentialSmallvillecontinuation.The series is one of my childhood favorites, and seeing those characters back onscreen, even in animated form, would be amazing, especially if the original cast returned. By the odd chance that James Gunn is reading–make this happen, please. SinceSmallvilleis a prequel, a continuation would be rife with opportunities. Beyond the sheer awesomeness of Welling playing Superman, theSmallvillesequel would be fun if only for its ability to give fans more of their favorite characters, especially fromits substantial roster of villains.
Smallville’s Brainiac Actor Comments Make An Animated Sequel Sound Even Better
James Marsters Is Game To Return To Smallville As Brainiac
Recently, James Marsters,one ofSmallville’sbest villains, discussed the possibility of making a comeback as Brainiac. The actor joined the cast of Smallville for its fifth season, where he played a mentor of sorts for Clark Kent before he was revealed as Brainiac, a creation of Jor-El. Thereafter, he continued making guest appearances as both Brainiac and his benevolent form, Brainiac 5. Inan interview with Screen Rant, Marsters further explained why he enjoyed working onSmallville:
“I think that Smallville was the most intelligent character version of Superman that I’ve ever seen. Superman is a very difficult character to write because he’s invulnerable. Heroism is when I help somebody, even when I have to sacrifice something to help them. That’s the definition, and when you have a hero movie, you have the very most exciting part [which] is when the hero has to risk his life to save someone or help someone. And that’s just impossible with Superman. He’s invulnerable. He’s going to be fine unless you pull out Kryptonite. Every Superman movie does that.
“With the television series, you can’t pull out Kryptonite every week. It gets redundant so fast. It gets cheesy. They sidestepped all that by not focusing on Clark’s physical vulnerability, which there is almost none of. It was all about the fact that he was a teenager, and he was vulnerable to everything, and they could explore [the] emotional vulnerability for Superman. I just thought, ‘Okay, you’ve solved it. That’s what to do.’ And they were able to go ten years on that show and not be redundant, not be repetitive.”
Marsters added that he “would love to do more of that.” The actor returning to the series could manifest in a couple of ways. Marsters' Brainiac could be an exciting foe for Superman. However, he could also return as Brainiac 5, who had an expanded role inSmallville: Season 11. In an ideal world, both Brainiac and Brainiac 5 would have a role in theSmallvillecontinuation. Though they share a performer, the two are different enough to justify both characters appearing, with potential stories expanding on Brainiac evolving into Brainiac 5 or the latter’s relationship with Supergirl.
A Smallville Animated Sequel Is The Best Of Both Worlds For DC
An Animated Smallville Show Would Be A Perfect Elseworld Project For DC
The beauty of making an animatedSmallvillesequel is that any actor who wants to return can, regardless of the 13 years that have passed since the series ended. Voice acting requires less physical commitment from the performers, making it more likely for the cast to be available. Visible aging wouldn’t matter either, soSmallvillecould pick up right where the finale left off or do a time jump. Additionally, recasting anyone who doesn’t choose to reprise their role would be less jarring for the audience because they wouldn’t be seeing the actor, just the character.
No plot details have been shared for theSmallvillesequel, so it is unknown when the continuation will be set relative to the show’s timeline.
Actors aside, making the series animated would be a good idea for DC because it could setSmallvilleapart from the other live-action television series and movies they’re releasing. DC Studios is largely focusing on its new DC Universe, launching theatrically withSupermanin 2025. However, the studio is still producingElseworld content that does not align with the DCU’s main continuity.Smallvillewould fit perfectly into that niche, especially if the continuation were animated. DC would have the opportunity to capitalize on the nostalgia of fans like myself while also keeping the DCU streamlined and consistent.
I Need The Plans For An Animated Smallville Sequel To Become Reality
Smallville Is The Perfect Age For Early 2000s Nostalgia Bait
Regardless of how they make it happen, Ineed DC Studios to produce aSmallvillesequel.Both Welling and Rosenbaum are game, and now, Marsters says he is, too. With the original cast and the series' creators interested in a sequel,Smallville’s return would be a safe gamble for DC. I selfishly want to see my personal favorite Lex Luthor opposite Clark Kent again, and I’d reckon a lot ofSmallvillefans feel the same way. An animated series could build on the foundation ofSmallville,without detracting from the DC Universe’s mainline entries.
10 Ways The Smallville Sequel Show Could Perfectly Continue The Original DC Series
A Smallville animated sequel is in the works, and it could easily build on the perfect foundation the original DC Comics series created.
If they gamble on a sequel series with Welling and Rosenbaum, they might just have a hit on their hands. With almost 15 years since the end ofSmallville, there has never been a better time for DC to play on their audience’s nostalgia for the series.
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.
