One of the best superhero shows around, Superman & Lois, was renewed for a fourth season! That’s great! But along with a shortened, 10-episode season, we’ll see most of the cast departing as series regulars, Deadline reports. What’s going on over there?
Unless you live on the Kent family farm full-time, your time in Smallville is limited. Returning as series regulars for Season 4 are Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Alex Garfin, and Michael Bishop–that is, Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane, and their sons Jordan and Jonathan. Michael Cudlitz, who plays Lex Luthor starting next week, will become a series regular for Season 4.
Departing are Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Tyler Buck, and Sofia Hasmik–that’s Lois’ father Sam Lane, Lana Lang and her family, John Irons and his daughter, and Lois’ coworker Chrissy, respectively. The expectation right now is that the actors will guest star or recur but with significantly reduced screentime. According to Deadline, the renewals of Superman & Lois and All American: Homecoming came with significant budget cuts that required cutting the number of regular cast members.
Along with changes to the cast, Deadline notes that the show will likely focus more on the family drama aspect of the show, meaning that we could see reduced screentime for Superman, or visual effects more in line with previous CW superhero shows. Superman & Lois’ higher quality visual effects are just another one of the elements that make this a more expensive show than other CW programs.
Superman & Lois Season 3’s final two episodes air on June 20 and June 27. A premiere date for Superman & Lois Season 4 has not yet been announced.
