Tom Welling Returning as Clark Kent for CW’s ‘Crisis’ Crossover
Actor Tom Welling is reprising his iconic role of Clark Kent for the CW’s upcoming DC “Arrowverse” crossover event, based on the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” storyline.
The casting was first announced by Deadline.
Welling, who played Clark/Superman on ten seasons of “Smallville,” joins Tyler Hoechlin and Brandon Routh, who are also playing the character in the crossover, which involves multiple parallel universes.
Hoechlin currently portrays Superman on the CW show “Supergirl,” while Routh portrayed the character in 2006’s Superman Returns. Routh portrays Ray Palmer/The Atom on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” which is also involved in the “Crisis” crossover event. It is believed Routh will play an older Superman from an alternate universe, as seen in the iconic “Kingdom Come” comic books, but that is not confirmed.
Welling has been reluctant to revisit the Clark Kent/Superman character in the past, but seemed to be softening his stance in recent years, even appearing at comic conventions to sign autographs. During the show’s run, however, he never appeared in the Superman costume, except for the final shot in the series finale. Even then, it was only a brief glimpse.
The “Arrowverse”
For those unfamiliar with the “Arrowverse,” it includes the DC Comic-inspired shows on the CW network, which saw its birth with “Arrow” and includes “Legends of Tomorrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” and the upcoming “Batwoman.” The CW’s other DC Comic show, “Black Lightning,” is not included in the “Arrowverse.”
It is not clear how Welling’s Clark Kent will be introduced into the crossover. In a statement, Arrow co-creator/executive producer Marc Guggenheim was careful not to even say if Welling would be Superman, or just appear as Clark Kent. He also did not confirm whether Welling’s Clark Kent would be the “Smallville” Clark Kent, or another iteration.
“For eight years, Arrow has stood on the shoulders of Smallville. Simply put, there would be no Arrow, and no Arrowverse, without it,” he said. “So when we first started talking about Crisis on Infinite Earths, our first, second and third priorities were getting Tom to reprise his iconic role as Clark Kent. To say that we’re thrilled would be a Superman-sized understatement.”
The five-part crossover will air three episodes in December, and two in January.
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