Smallville Star Tom Welling Reveals Animated Spin-off Series In Development

Superman is one of the most iconic characters in the DC franchise, and it's no secret that Warner Bros. has maximized his popularity by producing a slew of live-action and animated projects for the powerful hero over the years. This includes the likes of 2013's Man of Steel and 2006's Superman Returns. 

Aside from the movies, Superman also thrived on the small screen, and one of the well-known TV series that focused on the Man of Steel is Smallville. Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, Smallville showcased a unique prequel story for Clark Kent, and it starred Tom Welling as the titular hero alongside Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor and Erica Durance's Lois Lane.

The show ran for 10 seasons from 2001 to 2011, and it earned positive reception from fans and critics due to its comic-accurate representation of the main characters. Smallville also did a deep dive into Clark's origin story, dealing with an assortment of villains from Superman's rogue's gallery and exploring his Kryptonian origin like never before. 

While Smallville's run already ended, it seems that the story is far from over based on a recent tease from one of its leading stars. 

AN ANIMATED SPINOFF FOR SMALLVILLE TEASED 

In an Instagram post from @tarierl22, Tom Welling made a video greeting for a fan, and he teased the arrival of an upcoming animated spinoff for Smallville.

The actor confirmed that he and fellow Smallville alum Michael Rosenbaum are working on an animated series to "bring those characters back to life" while also teasing that they are mapping out a plan to "use as many original cast members as possible:"

"Maybe there's a Smallville marathon coming your way. Michael Rosenbaum and I are actually working on an animated series to bring those characters back to life and use as many original cast members as possible. Don't tell anybody though, it's a secret that we're working on." 

A FITTING FOLLOW-UP TO SMALLVILLE 

It is unknown if this is a direct confirmation from Tom Welling (it's a video greeting, after all), but it makes sense if he is willing to continue the story of his Clark Kent in animated format.

To recap, Smallville ended with Clark's full-blown transformation into Superman, flying off to save the world from imminent threats. However, the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover confirmed that the heroics of Welling's Superman only lasted for a decade since he decided to start a family with Lois Lane.

As a result of this decision, he gave up his Kryptonian abilities for good. Based on this reveal, it's possible that the animated spinoff will mainly focus on the decade of Superman's heroics in Metropolis, and it will likely lead to his game-changing decision of settling down for good and giving up his powers.

On the flip side, there's also a chance that the spinoff will revolve around a post-Crisis storyline where Clark decides to wear the cape again to save the world and protect his family. 

The story possibilities are endless, and it's safe to say that the combined creative decisions of Welling and Rosenbaum will boost anticipation for the dedicated fans of the series.