Why Eric Johnson Left Smallville After Only One Season
Eric Johnson played Whitney Fordman in the first season of the DC Universe series Smallville. Whitney, a football star and Lana Lang's boyfriend, was a complex character who had a major impact on some of the show's best episodes. He initially served as an antagonist to Clark Kent, and their tension was established in the pilot episode. Whitney and his football team tied Clark to a cross in a cornfield as a prank, almost killing him with meteor rocks.
Smallville ran for 10 seasons and continues to influence Superman depictions. Many cast members came and went, but Whitney was the first major character to be killed off. He went from antagonist to friend, softening and becoming friends with Clark after losing his father. At the end of season 1, Whitney joined the Marines and was killed in battle shortly after.
Smallville Showrunners Planned to Kill Whitney in Season 1
The original plan was to kill off Whitney in season 1. Eric Johnson revealed this on the Smallville recap podcast Talk Ville. Like other characters, including Pete Ross, the producers didn't tell performers about their future on the show because plans were constantly changing. Johnson said that he was often the last to know about the plans.
While Johnson was disappointed at the time, he now looks back at the experience more positively. He has since starred in movies like Flash Gordon and Fifty Shades of Grey. Smallville went through several cast changes over the years, but these were calculated to strengthen the core relationships, like Clark and Lana.
How Eric Johnson Found Out About Whitney's Death
Johnson, like Laura Vandervoort, was only on the show for one season. He said he caught wind that the writers were talking about killing Whitney off during season 1, but this got pushed back. He felt that something like this could be coming for his character. He didn't find out the details of Whitney's death until he read the script. His character went off to fight in the Marines at the end of season 1. In a fakeout, Whitney seemed to return, but it was actually Tina Grier. He was then killed in battle in Indonesia. Whitney's letter to Lana, accepting their breakup and allowing her to move on, was shown to the audience.
Why Whitney's Death Is Important to Smallville's Storyline
Whitney was a tension point in the relationship between Clark and Lana. In later seasons, there were many barriers to their relationship, and having Lana's first love around would have made things even more difficult. Writing Whitney off the series after season 1 was necessary.
Johnson was a great performer, but his relationship with Lana was too significant and complex. With Whitney's death, Lana could grieve and move on. If he had stayed alive, the show would have had to undo the intimacy between them, which could have undone Lana's character development from season 1.
Smallville, a Superman prequel series, ran for 10 seasons and built an incredible cast. While actors like Jensen Ackles, Sam Jones III, and Eric Johnson had limited runs on the show, their appearances were impactful. Smallville recognized that changes were needed to tell the Superman story best. Whitney Fordman was a great addition to the series, even if his role was short.
