Summary
DC Universeart seesSmallvilleactor Tom Welling trade in his Superman role for two other iconic Justice League heroes. Prior to the launch of the Arrowverse,Smallville, the longest-runningSupermanlive-action TV show, was The CW’s main superhero property for years.Smallvilleessentially paved the way for Greg Berlanti’s DC TV universe to become a possibility on The CW, to the point where the Arrowverse even included Welling’s superhero drama duringCrisis on Infinite Earths.
While Welling has become one of the most beloved actors to play Superman in live-action after his run onSmallville,Buffy2Villeshared new DC art where they imagine the DC veteran as two different Justice League superheroes.The Welling gallery sees theSmallvillelead both as Batman and Green Lantern, while also pitching him in a classic Superman suit.
While it didn’t happen on the show,Smallvilleseason 11 - which is canon to Welling’s TV series - did see his version of Superman getting to interact with the Green Lantern Corps, including John Stewart. Even though it was only briefly,Welling’s version of Supermandid actually become a Green Lantern for a temporary time in theSmallvilleseason 11 comic.Smallvilleseason 11 is also where Welling’s incarnation of the Man of Steel finally got introduced to Batman, as he was never allowed to appear in the series.
10 Best Episodes Of Smallville Every Superman Fan Must Watch
Smallville was a unique take on the Superman story and had a lot of great episodes that gave Superman fans a new appreciation for Clark Kent.
Which DC Characters Would Make The Most Sense For Tom Welling
As James Gunn’s DC Universe is impending, there is the possibility of Welling taking on another DC role to add to hisSmallvillelegacy. While it is unlikely that Welling would do another superhero role, there are a lot of crucial DC Universe characters who don’t fall into this category. It is also key to remember that ifaSmallvillesequelever happens, having Welling play Superman in one universe and another hero in Gunn’s DC franchise would maybe be a step too much.
Even though it is no longer calledSuperman: Legacy,David Corenswet’sSupermanmoviecould still lean into the angle of honoring Superman’s big on-screen legacy and history. In the past, otherSupermanactors have appeared in later DC projects, playing a role related to said movie or TV show’s version of the Man of Steel. For the DC Universe, it would be a fun legacy casting to see Welling potentially play Jor-El, Kal-El’s biological father, in reference to his history in the franchise.
If he were not to appear on-screen, Welling could simply do Jor-El’s voice as part of the Fortress of Solitude. If Jor-El is featured physically, theSmallvillestar could even play Superman’s dad through flashbacks and even potentially as a hologram in the Fortress of Solitude, having a former Man of Steel be honored in the next big-screen adaptation of the DC legend. But for now, time will tell if Welling will ever feature again in DC’s on-screen adaptations outside of hisSmallvillerole.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
