Smallville TV Sequel Can Fix The Biggest Problem With Tom Welling’s Superman

Smallville was a standout take on the Superman story, but unfortunately, it didn’t get to finish its planned arc. The show began in 2001 with Tom Welling taking on the famous role of Superman, portraying him as a teenager.

The show aimed to be different from the original story, focusing entirely on Clark Kent’s life before he became Superman. This allowed for ten seasons of exploring his journey as he developed into the hero we know.

Crisis On Infinite Earths Failed Tom Welling’s Superman

Despite running for many seasons, the show ended without Tom Welling’s Superman ever fully wearing the classic red and blue suit. He was only starting to be known as Superman. The final scene shows Clark Kent tearing open his shirt to reveal the Superman symbol, but that’s all there is.

After years of anticipation for Clark Kent to become Superman, the show hinted at that transformation but never delivered. When Tom Welling reprised his role in the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ crossover event on The CW’s Arrowverse shows, fans hoped he would finally wear the Superman suit, but that didn’t happen either.

Unfortunately, that plan didn’t work out. In a quick appearance, Welling’s Clark Kent explained he’d chosen to live a normal life with his family – his wife and two daughters – and had therefore given up his superpowers.

Tom Welling Has Never Played A Proper Superman

Despite playing Clark Kent and a version of the character known as The Blur for over ten years, Tom Welling never actually got to fully portray Superman in a way that satisfied fans. While popular with viewers, he didn’t get the chance to fully realize the iconic hero’s potential.

Even though Smallville finished airing in 2010, fans still strongly want Tom Welling to play Superman in a full suit. You can see this online through the many fan-created artworks and tributes dedicated to his portrayal of the character.

What A Smallville Reboot Should Look Like

Fans are eager to see more of Tom Welling as Superman. While the Smallville comic book continuation offered a look at Clark Kent’s future, many want to see more stories with the original actors.

Despite their continued enthusiasm for the show, a live-action sequel seems very unlikely, as it’s hard to imagine the original cast reuniting. Furthermore, the emergence of the new DC Universe and its own Superman storyline creates another obstacle to a major revival.

A good solution might be to make another installment as an animated series, bringing back the original actors. Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, who famously played Lex Luthor on Smallville, have already discussed this possibility.

Unfortunately, the animated reboot seems to be facing major production difficulties. Hopefully, the new Smallville series can overcome these challenges and finally allow Tom Welling to play Superman, not just his alter ego, Clark Kent.

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2025-11-23 14:38