Tom Welling Talks Arrowverse Appearance & Reveals His Least Favorite Story in ‘Smallville’

Tom Welling, famously recognized for playing Clark Kent on “Smallville”, recently opened up about his hesitation to portray his iconic character within the Arrowverse prior to 2019. In a chat at Fan Expo New Orleans, he shared reasons behind his refusal to reprise the role in earlier opportunities.

He shared that he had conversations with the creators of the Arrowverse, but these talks weren’t about acting roles; instead, they were propositions for him to portray Clark Kent particularly. He held a firm belief that the character of Clark wouldn’t align with those shows without compromising an essential aspect of Smallville‘s concept.

Despite Smallville playing a significant role in forming the Arrowverse, Welling took care to preserve what had previously been set up. Introducing Superman in Supergirl’s second season might have altered the course of the Arrowverse, given Tyler Hoechlin was already cast as Superman and the later introduction of the Superman & Lois series. Welling valued his character’s history, ensuring such a move would prevent significant conflicts within the Arrowverse timeline.

In 2019, Welling’s appearance in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was secured following persuasion by the scriptwriters. Upon reading the script, he believed that his single-scene role aligned with the legacy of Clark Kent and made perfect sense. He also infused his unique interpretation into the character, subtly referencing his screen father, Jonathan Kent. This choice enabled Welling to reprise his role in a manner consistent with the character’s development without overshadowing the narrative of “Smallville”.

Furthermore, Welling shared his least preferred storyline from Smallville. Namely, the Red-Blue Blur arc during Season 9, where Clark took on a darker, vigilante role, didn’t resonate with him. He believed it was quite different from the inspiring, optimistic Superman character that was originally intended. However, this storyline did play a significant part in Clark’s growth and transformation into the hero we know today.

You can watch the full panel here:

Enthusiasts have the chance to revisit every episode of “Smallville” on Hulu, as the platform offers a way to stream the complete 10-season series of the show.

Read More

2025-01-14 12:14