The demise of The CW as we knew it continues: The network’s last superhero show standing, Superman & Lois, will come to an end after its upcoming fourth season.
Buy the Book
System Collapse
Last year, The CW was sold to Nexstar, which immediately set about changing the makeup of the network’s programming. A seemingly endless series of cancellations included most of the network’s previously plentiful superhero shows, including Batwoman and the beloved Legends of Tomorrow.
Somehow, Superman & Lois was the last superhero series standing. Starring Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf) as Clark Kent/Superman and Elizabeth Tullock (Grimm) as Lois Lane, the show (as was frequently the case with The CW’s Arrowverse show) introduced its stars via other superhero’s tales: They first appeared on Supergirl (RIP), and also turned up on Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow (RIP, RIP, super-double RIP). (Except those were apparently different versions of Superman and Lois than the ones who have their own TV show. If you don’t know why… don’t ask. It’s a long explanation.)
Beyond The CW’s many changes, there was another issue looming: The major DC Studios reset brought about by new heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, who said in January (ahead of the third season’s debut) that Superman & Lois had “one to two more seasons.” Gunn also called it “a show everybody likes,” which was nice of him.
The CW’s site has a pithy description for the series: “After years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, the world’s most famous superhero and comic books’ most famous journalist come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever—being working parents in today’s society.”
The show may end, but that challenge certainly doesn’t. The final ten episodes of Superman & Lois will air on The CW in 2024.
