I am realizing that James Gunn’s Superman has a fairly good probability of being the closest factor we’d ever get to Smallville season 11 in live-action. The primary live-action film within the new DC Universe, 2025’s Superman guarantees to be an inspiring new period for the Man of Metal. Nonetheless, I do suppose that there is going to be some shared DNA with the basic Smallville sequence that aired on the CW and its meant future (which is certainly not a nasty factor).
2001’s Smallville ran for 10 seasons, detailing Clark Kent’s highschool years and younger grownup life as he developed his powers, shaped key relationships, and regularly formed the type of hero he wished to be when he was lastly able to don the cape and change into Superman. An iconic present that might later assist kick off the CW’s whole DC Arrowverse of exhibits, the future of Smallville’s universe was detailed in Smallville Season 11 comics, and there have even been proposals to develop an animated revival sequence. Nonetheless, I do imagine that James Gunn’s Superman will primarily fill the “Smallville Season 11” void on the massive display screen.
James Gunn’s Superman Will not Be An Origin Story
However Clark Kent Will Nonetheless Be Figuring Out The Job
As seen within the trailers and confirmed by director James Gunn himself, Superman is not going to be a typical superhero origin story. As a substitute, David Corenswet’s Clark Kent/Kal-El may have been the Man of Metal for a while already, although nonetheless early on in his profession as Superman within the DCU. This isn’t in contrast to Matt Reeves’ The Batman which noticed Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in his second yr as The Darkish Knight.
What this implies is that Superman will already be a longtime public determine within the DCU when the brand new film begins, and Clark Kent will already be working at The Day by day Planet in Metropolis. It is also been confirmed that Superman will have already started a relationship with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane (additionally within the early levels). That stated, it has been confirmed that Superman will nonetheless be attempting to reconcile his alien heritage as a Kryptonian together with his human upbringing in Kansas.
The New Superman Will Have A Few Issues In Frequent With Smallville Season 11
There Will Undoubtedly Be Some Key Similarities
Protecting all that in thoughts, it is simple to attract a comparability to the ending of Smallville and the following Smallville Season 11 comedian sequence. In spite of everything, the CW present ended with Tom Welling’s Clark Kent suiting up and able to formally save the day as Superman for the primary time (although he’d lengthy been a hero beforehand, each at house in Smallviell and elsewhere as his powers have been creating). Smallville Season 11 also details Superman in the early days of his career as his typical established order from the unique comics lastly begins solidifying.

Associated
The DC Universe is formally doing a prequel for James Gunn’s Superman film, following the early days of David Corenswet’s Clark Kent in Metropolis.
James Gunn’s Superman seems to be to be sharing an identical setting, as Corenswet’s Man of Metal is equally a longtime hero however remains to be finalizing sure components of his personal established order within the DCU. This consists of Superman’s rivalry with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. Primarily based on the trailers, it does appear to be Luthor has been harboring a grudge in opposition to Superman for fairly a while. It is also value mentioning that his firm within the DCU is named LuthorCorp relatively than LexCorp within the comics, identical to in Smallville earlier than Rosenbaum’s Luthor had the title modified by the sequence’ finish. Maybe the DCU’s Lex will do the identical.
May This Be A Motive Why The Animated Smallville Collection Is On Maintain?
The First Stay-Motion DCU Film Wants To Be The Focus For Superman
It is just lately been reported that Smallville actors Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum have pitched an animated Smallville revival series to DC Studios. Nonetheless, they’ve but to listen to again when it comes to any type of inexperienced gentle. An animated sequence does sound fascinating and really entertaining, and the DCU does have confirmed room for Elseworlds tales past their foremost continuity.
I do suppose it is doubtless that DC is at the moment holding off as a result of easy undeniable fact that Gunn’s Superman will find yourself being too just like the proposed Smallville sequence, particularly contemplating the setting. Given the strain to ensure Superman is successful to then kick off a whole brand-new related universe of movies, exhibits, and extra, it does make sense that DC Studios would not essentially need to compete with itself. Maybe a Smallville actuality sequence will change into a actuality in the future, however I actually do not see it taking place anytime quickly, at the least not within the subsequent couple of years.
Superman releases in theaters on July eleventh from DC Studios.

- Launch Date
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July 11, 2025
- Producers
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Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
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Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El
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Rachel Brosnahan
Lois Lane
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Nicholas Hoult
Lex Luthor
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Edi Gathegi
Michael Holt / Mister Terrific