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Smallville was headed to an end of its run this season when it got a somewhat surprising renewal. That won’t happen next season, which will be the Superguy series’ 10th and last. Star Tom Welling let the news slip in an interview with deadline.com sister site HollywoodLife.com yesterday. Welling may have been too excited about getting his first series pickup as a producer yesterday when the CW ordered his cheerleading drama Hellcats.
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He’s leaving Superman for cheerleaders?!? I knew I didn’t like that guy. Why not just launch a new series based on Supes to take its place?I appreciate them adapting the characters, but the show has not been my cup of tea for years. This show was a reimagining of the myth, so there is room to launch a new Superman show to keep the audience, but make it different enough to attract a new audience, as well. What about a show like LOST that expands upon and reimagines his death and rebirth in the 90s?
Could be maybe he’s tired of playing the same character for 10 years and is looking forward to doing movies and producing TV shows (he’s been credited as co-executive producer on Smallville for a few years now)?
And I can easily see why the CW won’t replace it with a spinoff. Ratings in general are down and shows like this are really expensive to make. Unless it turned out to be a runaway hit it would likely get cancelled quickly anyway.
“Why not just launch a new series based on Supes to take its place?”
Probably because of legal issues (not to mention cost of special effects and such). While a court ruled a while ago that the Siegels aren’t entitled to more of Smallville, I doubt very much that CW/WB could launch a new TV series on Superman without an agreement from the Siegel family.
Why do people blame the actors when it’s the producers, directors and writers they should blame. Welling’s fine as a younger Clark Kent and he definitely would make a great Superman if they would finally write it that way (legal problems with using Supe aside). Thankfully, the current show runners do have a clue, unlike the bunch who brought us Smallville originally. The last two seasons have been much more enjoyable than the constant Lana/Lex and teen melodrama crap we had shoved down out throat. The only good really good things the previous showrunners did was bring in Erica Durance as Lois and make Brainiac a decent villain to play against.
Smallville’s Lex Luthor was the best take that has ever been done on the character. He was pure awesomeness. It put every putz movie Lex to shame. Now, the Lana drama was killing me, and killing the show. There we agree.
Smallville got Lex Luthor so right – it was scary. Michael did the best interpretation ever.
That’s why Superman Returns was so crap – great Superman – terrible Lex Luthor. I feel for Brandon Routh – he got screwed by a terrible script and co-actors who weren’t up to the task.
Emphasis on the rubbish script – It was almost like they were just saying random things for 2 hours.
This has been a very decent, good show from day 1.
Tom’s been right for the part.
It’s true that writer-producers are the power in tv, and I’d say
7 if not 8 out of the 10 seasons have been solid all the way.
5 or 6 of the seasons dealt with the high school time..because they
wanted to examine the legend behind the myth.
I was hoping the time would come for this to end,
because hanging onto it for more than 10 seasons is just cashing
the cow, and not just milking it.
It will do very good in global syndication, if not already,
because 10 years is the mark a lot of series wants to hit.
Or 100 episodes, whichever comes first.
I still think Tom is the logical choice for Supes to take
up his reign as the Man of Steel…and say goodbye to Smallville for good.
But…what the hell.
MARK11
The show as been on 9 Seasons(soon to be 10). That sucess speaks for itself. Tom Welling is learning a new craft as a producer(not becoming a cheerleader himself). If you don’t like that then don’t watch the show. LOST is a stupid show,why would you want to make another crappy show like that.
Yes LOST is demented Gilligans Island, and cannot compare to Smalliville which is a great story!
Sad to see it go. It’s been an amazing run. An entire decade. Wow. Love the show, but asking for more than a decade is too greedy, so I’ll wish it a fond farewell. Congratulations to all.
The show was completely revitalized over the last two seasons, once the original showrunners left. A real creative resurrection occurred, and the series became as fun and interesting as it was it’s first four seasons, before the gradual decline. I’m glad to see they’ve decided to wrap it up next year, as going on any longer would be silly (the show already has left ‘Smallville’ and now takes place in Metropolis, where Clark and Lois already work at the Daily Planet and Clark masquerades as a superhero – sans costume and appearing publicly – so he basically IS the Man of Steel already).
Great job on bringing ‘Smallville’ back to life over the past two years, new showrunners (Kelly and someone else, sorry I forget your name!) and I’m sure now that you know next season will be the last, you will go all out to satisfy fans who have been there since the beginning.
Tom Welling has been, by far, the best Clark Kent ever, and my favorite. I will be sad to see him and the show go.
OMG I’m going to cry so hard when Smallville ends. I love Tom Welling and I love Smallville. It’s been part of my life for going on 10 years! No one will every be able to replace Tom as Superman in my heart. I started watching in 8th grade. Since then, I’ve graduated high school AND college, moved away, and gotten a job. It’s huge when I stop to think about it.
Tom Welling originally signed a seven-year contract, extended it to eight, and then signed on for an additional two years. At the end of next season he will have given Smallville a full decade of his life. He works endlessly and tirelessly, never complains, and seems to be an incredibly nice guy. He is this generation’s Superman, even without donning the cape and tights. It’s time to bring this story to a close, and Tom deserves to move on and explore other creative opportunities, including acting in films, directing, and producing. And I think he has the right to share this news in any way he sees fit. I appreciate his candor.
I’m so happy that this show got the chance to finally realise it’s potential… Kudo’s to TW for making his mark on the character of Clark Kent/’Superman’
and making him so compelling through everything this series has experienced. Thanks for the great run and I’m sure season 10 will be the best season of all.
Don’t worry. The series finale next year will attract such a massive audience, Dawn Ostroff will cancel Everwood to bring it back for an 11th season.
Wha…? You say she already did that? Well, lightning does indeed strike twice.
given how long its been on. guess the cast of small vile finaly figured it was time to end the thing and move on. for ten years is enough. though hope before it fades three things happen. tom gets to put on the red and blue tights. the producers finaly are allowed to have wonder woman cross paths with clark. and also even though doubtful it will happen even with the show going off the air. Warner’s give in and let the producers bring bruce wayne for a visit. and would love the wb to give in and do a green arrow spin off.
Welling is wise to leave. Warners will not let them do an actual Superman series due their fear it will dilute the soon to be revamped film franchise. The same thing ironically happened when Smallville was gestating – “Smallville” was originally conceived as “Bruce Wayne”, following Bruce as a teen and young adult in Gotham City – until WB quashed that, knowing they would reboot the film series sooner than later.
Way to go Tom! I don’t believe we would have had a straight answer from the network.
Its been an amazing run for this show. 10 years? Wow.
Its even more amazing when you consider that the show has actually had its budget cut for the last 2 years. You wouldn’t know it by watching the show.
Welling has done a great job as the young Clark Kent, and works like a dog, from what I hear. And don’t let those movie star looks fool you, the guy is shrewd, smart, and industry savvy. He wants to move behind the cameras into more of a power position, and I think he’ll do just that. This Hellcats series is just the first step. I expect he’ll have much success.
I’m sad Smallville is ending, but I agree that it’s time to wrap it up. The show had an incredible run and it deserves a well planned send off.
Season 9 was one of the show’s best (next to season 5), so I’m really looking forward to the next season. Especially to Clark taking that final step towards becoming Superman, and to see how the relationship between Clark and Lois will develop even further.
All the best to Welling with his future plans! He’s matured so much as an actor on this show, and has also proven himself as a great director.
I just hope, once Smallville is done, we’ll get to see him do a few movies, and that he won’t just disappear behind camera.
While I’m sad to see Smallville come to an end, I really hope it means we will get to see Tom Welling in a brand new show! He has been the one and only reason I’ve continued to watch Smallville since Day 1, he will always and forever epitomise Clark Kent for me, and no actor has ever had the impact on me that Tom Welling has. We’ve seen him literally grow up before our eyes, into a very intelligent and successful actor, director, executive producer and business man, while all along maintaining his dignity and privacy. I wish Tom only the very best in the future, and hope with all my heart that we will continue to enjoy his talents in front of the camera. Tom, don’t you dare disappear to become a ‘behind the scenes kind of guy’!
Can they at least finally let Clark learn how to fly next season!!!!! All the other refugees from Krypton seem to pick it up really quickly, but for some reason Clark is still ridding the short bus…
THANK you, Tom, and all of the folks at Smallville. (I always thought it wasn’t promoted enough and that it was a shame that more people weren’t aware of the fantastic show that it is.) I’ll be so sad to see it end next year, but you’ve done a wonderful job bringing young Clark/Supe to our screen each week. Please know that tons of folks appreciate all of your dedication and hard work!
I can’t thank Tom enough for his wonderful portrayal of Clark Kent. He is this generations Superman and his dedication to the character is admirable. Kudos to Tom for being frank and open about this being Smallville’s last season. He has every right after all these years, as the star of the show and as Co-Executive Producer, to answer the question I’m sure asked to him honestly.
Thank you Tom Welling, for all the hard work you have done on SV the past nine years. You are the only reason I have watched Smallville for the past nine years. You are my generation’s Superman!!!
I look forward to watching season ten, and I also look forward to seeing you in other projects.
You are a talented actor, director and producer, but please don’t “disappear” behind the cameras! I need to see your gorgeous face in front of the camera also, as actor and leading man.
Thanks so much for sharing this info too!
I will be sad to see smallville end. There are many good actors on the show. I am a huge fan of Tom Welling. I have enjoyed watching him grow,as the character Clark Kent grew on smallville. I am a superman fan and have enjoyed his portrayal of clark kent very much. Christopher Reeves is my favorite superman,but Tom Welling is a very close second. I am happy to see him producing projects. I only hope he still continues acting. His smile lights up the TV screen like very few are able to. It isn’t just his good looks it is the way he is able to radiate warmth and compassion with just a smile. I hope he is able show us different sides of himself through further acting projects.
You’re so right. Tom Welling really was this generations defining Superman!
Michael Rosenbaum was this generations defining Lex Luthor.
They should just ditch the Superman movie scripts that are currently going around. Because they won’t meet Smallville fans expectations. Or anyone else’s for that matter.
There’s now a huge problem — Allison Mack (Chloe) leaving the series within the first episode or two. She’s waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more beloved (I’m searching for another word, really) by the fanbase as both the character and the actress — and besides that, she’s widely and wildly celebrated for being able to act rings around the moderately amusing but mostly bland ostensible romantic lead, Erica Durance (Lois).
This is the equivalent of, say, NCIS losing Pauley Perrette if those talks were to fall through — it’s an irreparable, fatal mistake. Especially if, say, Warner and DC (and, obviously, Tom Welling) are considering continuing the Smallville franchise on the big screen as the revival of the Superman movie franchise. (Side note to CBS regarding NCIS: be the first one to blink.)
Hate to break it to The CW and Warner, but Chloe has been a far better Lois Lane than Lois Lane has been since, well, the pilot, four years before Lois Lane joined the show. There’s a reason why there’s a strong “Chlois” subset of Smallville fandom — because, for all intents and purposes, CHLOe IS Lois.
Oh, we know that there are some fanboy literalists who won’t stand for Clark ending up with anyone *but* Lois simply because that’s the way it is in the comics, but the show had already strongly suggested years ago that Chloe could take on Lois’s byline full-time by having her impersonate Lois by name as a throwaway gag. And in the comics, Superman didn’t have a superhero identity other than Superman/Superboy, but the show has him as “The Blur.” So they’re already only loosely adapting the specifics of Superman mythology, winking and nodding in places (Perry White, for example), faithfully adapting in other places (The Legion of Super-Heroes, Supergirl, J’onn J’onzz) and thoughtfully diverging when they recognize that they need to (Chloe in her entirety, but also Clark and Lex growing up together in the town of Smallville, which wasn’t in the comics but *became* canon in the comics because of the show, and Green Arrow being Clark’s closest superhero ally/friend rather than Batman).
When “canon” and what works are in conflict, the show should go with what works — because, duh, the show is its own universe. And IMO, literalist fanboys are annoying enough that they should have to squirm in a case like this. But I digress . . .
So, Dawn Ostroff, get together with Smallville’s showrunners and with Diane Nelson — rethink the whole “how close do we really need to get to the comics in terms of character names when a different character played by a different actor fills the same purpose better than another one. Chloe is a much better Lois, both in terms of the actors playing Chloe and Lois and in terms of Chloe being much better written and therefore a much better concept than the regressive, two-dimensional Lois is.)
Or, in other words: do whatever you have to do to bring Chloe back for the full final season and beyond, have her be the one to end up with Clark. And if you have to kill off Lois to do so to make the story work, then do it. Lois Lane could and should become just a pen name for Chloe.
— Rob
Followed the show since forth season, got caught up on every episode since and my reaction is, “It’s time.” There are some scenes I swear I can see the tired expression on Tom Welling’s face even from behind the mask of acting. I hope he will focus on Smallville next season as a salute to the fans whom followed the show through its 10 years. Though I doubt it cause it would be more lucrative to give life to his new projects. Cheers Tom.
God I just love smallville, after waiting for a long 8 years for smallville to come so awesome for season 9. I just love it so much. Now I am all depressed and sad and no more waiting for smallville on Friday. Please someone, someone out there tell me when the season 10 going to start. I just cannot wait anymore. Also anyone, who was the women in hospital outside tests room, maybe checkmate women or some other government operative or maybe LEX LUTHOR sidekick.
Oh Man! im so dissappointed, Smallville is a really nice show and even though i dont get to watch it since im not based in the US i download and watch it every week religiously. Im gonna miss Tom Welling and the rest of the Smallville cast if it ends after season 10
Many thanks to Tom Welling who made the show a lot more importand and fun to watch. He will always be the best Clark Kent for me and I’m really hoping to see him in movies following Smallville.