Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman, and he’s all set for a return to the small screen once again.
The CW has a pretty impressive roster of superheroes across its range of DC-inspired TV shows, but it could be said that they’ve taken their time a little when it comes to Krypton’s most famous son.
However, they are now preparing to dive into the mythology of one of the comic book world’s most famous characters, with anticipation building over a series simply known as Superman & Lois.
The CW has officially ordered Superman & Lois, an Arrowverse spinoff starring Tyler Hoechlin's Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch's Lois Lane, to series. https://t.co/9KJ5rdm8Nc pic.twitter.com/jPbmwAEMH8
— IGN (@IGN) January 15, 2020
A new take on classic characters
It was confirmed earlier this year that The CW has given a series order for the new creation, which is of course just the latest in a string of shows to be linked to its so-called ‘Arrowverse’ – a concept which began with the launch of Arrow back in 2012.
DCComics.com reports that Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch are set to star in the show – which is expected to air in January next year – and the pair are actually reprising their takes on the iconic roles of Superman and Lois Lane respectively. The former debuted his version of the Man of Steel during Supergirl’s second season, while the latter first appeared in the Elseworlds crossover event.
As DC outlines, the new series is set to look at the “stress, pressures and complexities” of being working parents in modern society. For the uninitiated, this is a reference to an element that perhaps adds a new twist when compared to other Superman shows. More specifically, the couple have a child within this universe.
Significant small screen legacy
Of course, Superman has built up a fairly significant legacy on the small screen through the years, with this new show marking the first time that the hero has led a TV series since Smallville ended in 2011. That show ran for a total of ten seasons and got a nod in The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover last year, with Tom Welling reprising his role as Clark Kent.
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman also proved hugely successful back in the 1990s, with the show making major stars out of its leads Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. The success of the new series may well hinge on how well it can follow that show’s lead of balancing action and adventure elements alongside more romantic aspects of the plot.
Bringing any new version of Superman to life comes with a fair share of pressure, considering the huge popularity of the character and his iconic status in modern pop culture. He may have started out in the pages of comic books but he has gone on to have a big impact across a range of media. Superman has inspired a host of different merchandise through the years, while he has also made appearances in video games including the Injustice series. The hero has even shown up in the online casino world, with an official Superman slot pitting players against Lex Luthor and also featuring special objects like Clark Kent’s glasses and Kryptonite.
Fresh and familiar
With all of that in mind, it is fair to say that there will be plenty of attention on The CW when its new take on Superman finally launches. The character has a huge following and has had plenty of success on TV in the past too, so it will be intriguing to see whether this show can pull off the trick of combining a fresh take on the hero with the familiar aspects of the character and his universe that we all know and love.
The CW have managed that across the rest of their other shows, so hopes are high are that Superman & Lois will mark the start of more small screen glory days for this iconic duo.