Smallville Reboot: Which Actors Are Returning for This Animated Sequel?
The Smallville Sequel: A Reunion of Familiar Faces?
Get ready for some serious nostalgia, folks! Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (Clark Kent and Lex Luthor) are pitching a Smallville sequel; it sounds utterly amazing! It'll be animated (smart move, considering the time jump since 2011), and the original creators, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, are on board. While it's just a pitch right now (needing the go-ahead from DC Studios and Warner Bros.), this is exciting news and getting major buzz among fans and even cast members who want to participate!
The main question is: who's returning? Welling sounds optimistic that a huge chunk of the original cast will return! While only a few have confirmed their participation already, let's see exactly what the confirmed actors already mentioned concerning their own roles; a great jumping-off point for exploring just how great the entire cast list could eventually become!
Confirmed Returns: The Core Smallville Team
7. Tom Welling as Clark Kent: The Man of Steel Returns!
Tom Welling—the original Clark Kent—is totally in! He's been discussing it for some time in a rewatch podcast called Talkville (with Rosenbaum), and now that passion and excitement for those classic episodes has resulted in another major role! He also mentions some pretty big things – the early involvement of artists on this project even though those details are still kept private; the current status is simply being ready – pending a “green light” from DC. Getting Welling back is enormous, given his influence on that past Smallville run; an almost essential aspect!
6. Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor: The Villain Returns!
The other major Smallville duo is equally as interested in joining! This is equally huge. Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor was insanely important to the Smallville dynamics—the complicated Clark/Lex relationship made the original run absolutely unforgettable. The writers could now leverage the power and familiarity associated with this iconic villain to give this sequel run more intensity, possibly using his character to provide a more nuanced antagonistic element in this future production.
Rosenbaum mentions wanting things to be “right” before he would commit and adds that he’s hopeful the rest of the cast is involved; hinting toward the huge production needed to bring all of those cast members back, for something really epic! This statement alone already makes everything incredibly significant for Rosenbaum’s involvement.
5. Erica Durance as Lois Lane: The Iconic Journalist’s Return
Erica Durance, another integral member (Season 4 onwards), is excited to revisit her own take on Lois Lane. She added a great element and developed many nuanced aspects which made her iteration unforgettable. And those early years in her career? This could have serious narrative opportunities, as Durance specifically highlighted some key plots and details which show what she expects for this animated show’s story arcs.
4. James Marsters as Brainiac: The Villain with a Twist
James Marsters was awesome as Brainiac! A perfect villain; and those unexpected twists! This really was his doing alone; showcasing his mastery at portraying many characters within one person: his early mentor status with Clark, then turning into an extremely threatening villain before becoming a different person! Getting Marsters back would be a HUGE get, adding both great talent and enormous potential that would make the creative and other production teams focus more seriously. And as Marsters says himself, that whole take on Superman as this adolescent, the emphasis being more around his character development rather than superpowers? It was unique. This also provides excellent creative inspiration and reasons to justify bringing back this famous actor.
Other Possible Returns: The Smallville Ensemble
Many other Smallville stars hinted about returning! Alan Ritchson (Aquaman) wants to get into DC, so might appear. Laura Vandervoort (Supergirl) says a huge "YES"! Even James Gunn (DC co-CEO) shared that! Erica Durance also talks about another DC venture and Kyle Gallner (Impulse) teases this idea of him becoming Green Arrow. These all are hopeful!
Unlikely Returns: Tragedy, Circumstances, and Controversy
Sadly some returns won't happen. Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) thinks a new take would be better—though it seems completely unlikely she wouldn’t want to take part considering her enthusiasm elsewhere surrounding Smallville's original storyline and cast members! There's also John Schneider's controversies. And tragically, Lee Thompson Young's passing prevents his Cyborg return. And of course, given Allison Mack's criminal history, a return would never happen, nor be desirable to audiences everywhere.
Conclusion: A Smallville Reboot Teeming with Potential!
A Smallville animated sequel looks insane! Even more exciting given those hinted, if not confirmed cast reunions! This possibility really elevates the fanbase. Yet some notable absences. Even the possibility and drama inherent with all these existing controversies surrounding the individuals make everything feel highly significant and anticipated for both fans, producers, and especially, actors involved. So, cross your fingers –this has the potential to be a massive event and its animation format only helps alleviate some issues surrounding these particular events and personalities. The nostalgia; the anticipation alone means audiences remain eagerly watching this animated sequel's progress, keeping their hopes high. It all promises an epic adventure!
