David Corenswet Was Inspired By Tom Welling On "Smallville": 'He Was The Superman I Grew Up With'

Dan Lalonde
3 hours ago
1 min read

Which is your favorite Superman? Christopher Reeve? Dean Cain? Brandon Routh? Henry Cavill? Tom Welling? Tyler Hoechlin?

As excitement builds for Superman (2025), David Corenswet has addressed comparisons to Smallville’s Tom Welling, a beloved portrayal of Clark Kent from the early 2000s. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Corenswet acknowledged Welling’s lasting legacy and shared that he grew up watching the long-running CW series.

“I've also got a lot of physical comparisons to Tom Welling,” Corenswet said. “When I was growing up, he was the Superman who was on TV every week.”

Welling’s decade-long run as a young Clark Kent in Smallville (2001–2011) made him the face of Superman for a generation — a generation that includes Corenswet himself, who was just 8 years old when the show premiered. That childhood connection adds poetic weight to Corenswet's casting as the next Man of Steel under James Gunn's new DC Universe.

The influence of Smallville continues beyond Clark. Nicholas Hoult, who will portray Lex Luthor in the upcoming film, also cited Welling’s co-star Michael Rosenbaum as his “first ever Lex.” These reflections highlight how Smallville helped shape the Superman mythos for both fans and future stars.

Corenswet’s admiration for Welling and acknowledgment of past Superman portrayals underscores the generational impact of the character. As the DCU reboots with fresh faces, it also pays subtle tribute to the icons who came before — a legacy that promises to resonate with longtime fans and new viewers alike. Comment below on your favorite Superman.