"Smallville" Animated Sequel On Pause As Warner Bros. Reboots "Superman" Universe

Fans hoping for a return to the world of Smallville via an animated sequel may need to wait a while longer. According to co-creator Alfred Gough, the project is currently on hold due to Warner Bros.' focus on rebooting the Superman franchise under the creative direction of James Gunn.

Speaking on the Talk Ville podcast hosted by Smallville alumni Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, Gough explained, “Warners has obviously gone through a lot… they are in the process of rebooting ‘Superman’ again, kind of unfortunately, I think, [which] keeps our thing off the table for a bit.”

Originally airing from 2001 to 2011, Smallville chronicled the early life of Clark Kent before he became Superman, earning a dedicated fanbase across its 10-season run. While the idea of revisiting the show through animation gained traction in recent years, Gough acknowledged that the evolving leadership at Warner Bros. and the relaunch of the DC Universe have made it difficult to move forward.

“That is the thing,” he added, “the problem with most projects in development in any studio and/or any network is regime change.”

Warner Bros. named James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022, tasking them with reimagining the DC brand. Their flagship project, Superman, starring David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult, is set to premiere July 11, 2025, and will serve as a major test for the new direction of the franchise.

Still, Gough remains optimistic, reminding fans that “everything comes around in one form or another.” While the animated sequel may be shelved for now, hope remains alive for a future return to Smallville—eventually. My hopes are for a live action film.

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Source: Variety

Photo Credit: DC/WB