Every superhero fan has their favorite Superman. In the decades since the character made the jump from the pages of comic books into live-action, we’ve been lucky enough to get a number of takes on the hero. Whether you prefer Christopher Reeve’s more affable and boyish Superman, the rugged physical intensity of Henry Cavill, or the one-off Brandon Routh, there’s a Superman for all seasons. Last year, David Corenswet stepped into the iconic trunks as the official take on the character in the DCU. One Superman, though, has arguably spent more time as the figure than anyone else, as they got to spend years and hundreds of episodes exploring what made the Last Son of Krypton such a compelling fixture.
Before every superhero got an origin story and before The CW unleashed a sprawling universe of heroes with the Arrowverse, Tom Welling starred in what was somewhat considered a revolutionary idea for Smallville: what if the entire show was about Clark Kent navigating his life in the town he grew up in? Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar created a “no tights, no flights” rule that set the series apart from all of its peers, keeping the focus on characters over bombastic spectacle.
Currently, Smallville is #8 in the worldwide trending charts on Netflix, but, sorry, fans in the US, the series isn’t currently available there, but you can find it on Hulu. Not all hope is lost for DC fans on Netflix, however, as you can still watch DC shows like The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and another series that gave us one of the best superhero depictions of all time, which we’ll dive into later. There’s also no better time to catch up on your DC lore, as 2026 could make or break the entire franchise as we know it.
Off to a Super Start, but Will It Last?
There’s a lot to like about Henry Cavill’s take on Clark Kent and Superman, and while Zack Snyder’s version of the DC Universe has its detractors, it’s hard to find anyone who disagrees with his casting choices. Still, even with Cavill bringing his best to the role, not everyone appreciated the doom and gloom of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, or any version of Justice League. With last year’s Superman, James Gunn wanted to deliver a more hopeful, optimistic Superman than seen in recent memory. In the above clip, in which Corenswet’s Superman tries to explain to Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane how the power of caring and being kind is the truly rebellious act in a cynical world, this one exchange feels like the thesis of Gunn’s take on the figure.
With Superman going on to take in $624.3 million worldwide and secure 83% positive reviews from critics on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, it was a promising launch to the big-screen DCU, despite not necessarily being a monumental achievement. What’s worth noting, though, is that even if Iron Man was a big success back in 2008, the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – The Incredible Hulk – took in only half of the box office of its predecessor and got 30% worse reviews.
In this sense, 2026 could stifle the goodwill that Superman earned the DCU, based on its upcoming theatrical releases. Complicating matters further is the fact that fans will have to see a new performer try to put their own take on one of the best superhero depictions in live-action history.
Prepare to Meet a New Kara Zor-El
Fans first met Milly Alcock’s Supergirl in the closing scenes of Superman, with this depiction of the hero being starkly different from other versions of the character we’ve seen. Subsequent trailers and teasers have further expanded on this interpretation of Kara Zor-El, and this take is a far cry from the heroism of her cousin Kal-El. Supergirl trailers have teased how Kara will be celebrating her 23rd birthday in the ways that many people do: drinking, partying, and going on murderous quests for revenge across the galaxy. This is an intentional juxtaposition against Corenswet’s Superman, which might make the movie difficult to engage with for some audiences, and what also stacks the deck against Alcock is that Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl might be the best thing the Arrowverse ever gave us.
Right from the start, Benoist perfectly captured the playful, optimistic spirit of Supergirl and Kara Zor-El. She conveyed an innocence that never came across as ignorance, with the actor growing more confident and mature alongside her on-screen counterpart. Much like the Snyderverse, the Arrowverse got off to a dark start, courtesy of Arrow, and while The Flash hinted at a more playful take on this world, Supergirl served as an antithesis to the franchise’s namesake, cementing Benoist’s performance as one of the best superhero depictions of all time.
If Supergirl doesn’t work this summer, then the DCU is going to be in a tough place, as we’re also set to get Clayface later this year, which is a more horror-tinged adventure in the franchise that will appeal to a more niche audience. Still, no matter what the future of DC looks like, they can’t take successes like Smallville away from us.
Smallville
- Release Date
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2001 – 2011
- Network
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The WB, The CW
- Directors
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Mike Rohl, Jeannot Szwarc, Glen Winter, Terrence O’Hara, Whitney Ransick, Mairzee Almas, Paul Shapiro, Rick Rosenthal, David Carson, James L. Conway, Chris Long, Michael Katleman, Morgan Beggs, Allison Mack, David Barrett, Marita Grabiak, Michael W. Watkins, Philip Sgriccia, Rick Wallace, Thomas J. Wright, Todd Slavkin, Brad Turner, Charles Beeson, Craig Zisk
- Writers
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Steven S. DeKnight, Holly Henderson, Don Whitehead, Caroline Dries, Mark Verheiden, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Philip Levens, Jordan Hawley, Kenneth Biller, Michael Green, Drew Z. Greenberg, Geoff Johns, John Chisholm, Drew Landis, Julia Swift, Doris Egan, Tracy Bellomo, Garrett Lerner, Greg Walker, Russel Friend, Shintaro Shimosawa, Tim Schlattmann, todd helbing
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