Fans hoping for a Smallville animated revival will have to wait a little longer, as co-creator Alfred Gough has revealed that the project is currently “off the table.” The delay, he explained, is primarily due to Warner Bros.’ focus on the upcoming Superman reboot under the direction of James Gunn.
Appearing on the Talk Ville podcast alongside Smallville stars Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, Gough shared the disappointing news. “Warners has obviously gone through a lot, and I think the fact that they are in the process of rebooting Superman again, kind of unfortunately, keeps our thing off the table for a bit,” he said.
However, Gough remains hopeful about the future of the animated follow-up. He pointed out that revivals and reboots are common in the world of television, citing the recent announcement of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot on Hulu. “Everything comes around in one form or another,” he added.
Smallville, which aired on The CW from 2001 to 2011, was a groundbreaking show that ran for 10 seasons and 217 episodes. The series followed a young Clark Kent (played by Tom Welling) as he navigated his powers in the small town of Smallville, Kansas, long before donning the iconic Superman cape.
Another factor in the delay, according to Gough, is the shift in leadership at Warner Bros. Since 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been at the helm of DC Studios, overseeing the future of the DC Universe, which includes the highly anticipated Superman film set to release in July 2025.
While Smallville fans may be disappointed by the setback, Gough’s optimism offers a silver lining. The world of superheroes is known for its constant cycle of reboots and revivals, meaning that the animated series may one day return to screens. For now, fans will need to stay patient as Warner Bros. sets its sights on establishing Gunn’s vision for the DC Universe.
