Smallville: The Animated Series

[Moviefan2k4]

Yes, you read that title correctly; an animated version of Smallville is in the works, according to former star Tom Welling. Superhero Hype broke the story; here's their announcement in full.

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Former Smallville star Tom Welling dropped a bombshell last year when he casually announced (in a Cameo message, of all places) that an animated continuation of the long-running DC series was in development, with himself and Michael Rosenbaum reprising their roles as Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, respectively. Neither The CW nor HBO Max has backed up these claims in recent months. But while appearing at Fan Expo Vancouver (via ScreenRant) over the weekend, Welling teased that the show is still in the works. And he also shared who else might be involved. Tom Welling offers.

Welling was joined on the panel by fellow Smallville alum and Erica Durance, who played Lois Lane on the series. When discussing the potential revival, he confirmed that a few of the show’s other performers have already been contacted about coming back. It also sounds like the new series will be the latest superhero project to explore alternate realities.

“We’re working on animated series that picks up right after our Smallville [Season 10],” said Welling. “And, again, telling our own story and our vision is that we get Erica… It might be tough to get Allison [Mack] … But even Sam Jones III and Lionel Luthor is going to be a big part of that. John Glover wants to do it, we’ve already been into this. We’ve already gotten animation, we just don’t have the stories yet because Al [Gough] and Miles [Millar] are busy doing Tim Burton-like movies.”

“As soon as they are done with that, we’re going to do this,” continued Welling. “I want to be Clark’s voice, I want Erica to be Lois’ voice. That’s going to be the fun of it. I think there’s a story that Al and Miles are going to tell that’s individual and new and call it a Multiverse thing. But let’s see where it goes, and it’ll be fun so yeah.”

Mack, who starred in all 10 seasons of Smallville as Chloe Sullivan, recently began serving a three-year prison sentence for her role in the NXIVM cult. So her return is highly unlikely. However, one of the bigger surprises here is the involvement of Jones, who played Pete Ross in Smallville’s first three seasons and later faced his own legal troubles when he was arrested on a drug charge in 2009. Jones eventually served 10 months in jail and has since returned to acting.

It’s also nice to see that Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are also onboard as well. Gough and Millar famously left the original series after its seventh season. Right now, the pair are working on Netflix’s upcoming Addams Family spinoff, Wednesday. This is probably what Welling meant by “Tim Burton-like movies,” since Burton is directing that show.

[vertigop1ayer]

Time has moved on, but I don't really care. Smallville was an excellent series.

[Chedwiggen]

Meh!

[MattJ1991]

Color me cautiously optimistic. This would be a good excuse to watch the series again....

[Smovies]

I’d rather see Welling in the official DCU, maybe in the flash ala the multiverse?

[WMAangel]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Superhero Hype broke the story; here's their announcement in full:

“It might be tough to get Allison [Mack] …”

Understatement of the century….
Has anyone else WHILE they were in prison ever done animated voice work?

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by Smovies

I’d rather see Welling in the official DCU, maybe in the flash ala the multiverse?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPDt_yUZuIY&feature=emb_imp_woyt

[OneWayFilms]

Interesting. I'm, a BIG Smallville fan, but this doesn't excite me...only makes me curious. I'm interested to see where the stories might continue and I'm pleased to hear it will follow the characters and timeline of Smallville. But honestly, making the jump from TV show to animation.....Hmmmm. Just don't know.

[Batmon77]

Isnt he working a the Planet and becomes Superman by the last episode?

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

Isnt he working a the Planet and becomes Superman by the last episode?

The last episode ends with a future scene in Metropolis, where Clark and Lois are still yet to be properly married. But the wedding is finally happening, only for someone to reveal a bomb is going off downtown. Clark says to Lois, "Tell the minister I'll be a few minutes late", then goes to the roof and reveals the S-shield as the final credits roll. So while the show could pick up from that point, I think I'd prefer it pick up from earlier in the episode, right after Clark sends Apoklips back into space and gets rid of Darkseid.

[yanksno1]

He really doesn't want to put on the suit! I'll check it out, but not super geeked yet. Hopefully the animation style will be good and the stories are what Smallville fans always wanted.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

The last episode ends with a future scene in Metropolis, where Clark and Lois are still yet to be properly married. But the wedding is finally happening, only for someone to reveal a bomb is going off downtown. Clark says to Lois, "Tell the minister I'll be a few minutes late", then goes to the roof and reveals the S-shield as the final credits roll.

So while the show could pick up from that point, I think I'd prefer it pick up from earlier in the episode, right after Clark sends Apoklips back into space and gets rid of Darkseid.

Cool.

After 10 seasons what new stories can be squeezed out of the mythos?

So you could have a Post-Darkseid, Clark & Lois marriage buildup and show how he slowly eased into wearing the suit?

You could show them leaving Smallville for Metropolis.....or maybe Lois goes first and he still has Smallville based adventures then eventually joins the Planet?

Its like the Lost Chapter idea???? Im all for it if its well written.

[donutbat]

Just as long as they keep it in the same tv continuity I'm fine, even though I would like to see it in live-action.

I didn't care about the season 11 comic, and from what I've read, it was all over the place, so that would be a no.

This part worries me: "I think there’s a story that Al and Miles are going to tell that’s individual and new and call it a Multiverse thing."

Is this a hint that it'll be in a new continuity with the Arroverse reset? I really hope not.

[BloodshotUSA]

Why would they do an animated reunion instead of a 8-10 episode revival of the main series? I'm sure live action would pay them better than animated. Give Rosenbaum a bald cap if he doesn't want to shave his head again.

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

Isnt he working a the Planet and becomes Superman by the last episode?

He becomes Superman in the finale, when he pushes Darkseid's Apokolips away from the Earth's orbit. The comics deal with him being referred to as Superman in the aftermath of that, but the last several minutes of the finale take place in the distant future, years after the comics and the "end of Smallville". The comics show Superman meeting Batman, the formation of the Justice League, a Crisis event, and more stuff mined from the old comics. We see from the cameo in the Arrowverse Crisis that Clark gives up his powers and role as Superman some time after he and Lois get married and decide to start a family, though the Smallville show gives him a far different fate and says he'll be an unforgettable legend and live forever, until the end of the Universe. Because the show and Arrowverse bit were written so far apart, it's easy to reconcile them as Clark taking a break from being Superman and returning to the job when something very bad happens.

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by BloodshotUSA

Why would they do an animated reunion instead of a 8-10 episode revival of the main series? I'm sure live action would pay them better than animated. Give Rosenbaum a bald cap if he doesn't want to shave his head again.

Cost could be a faction, far cheaper and quicker to do an animated show than a live action series especially in the current climate.

[LexInHD]

It would cost over $10 million to do a live-action Smallville mini. That's just a rough guess, but if they follow the Arrowverse level of quality and scope used in Supergirl, that's how much it's gonna cost. If they try to do what S&L is doing, it will cost a bit more. An animated series on par with Young Justice or the Arrowverse animated efforts would definitely cost less and they could easily pump out a huge pile of episodes for what it costs to do a single season of live-action, with several episodes.