We have the writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar to thank for creating the masterpiece Smallville. This wasn’t just a Superman story, this was an origin story. Fans watched for ten seasons just how Clark Kent transformed into Superman. And it wasn’t as simple as throwing on the tights. With beautiful storylines, brilliant acting, perfect writing, and incredible digital affects, it’s no surprise Smallville is one of the greatest superhero shows around. We’ve compiled little known facts about the DC Comics series, shall we get started?
Bit Nervous
Season four of Smallville introduced us to Erica Durance, AKA Lois Lane. Durance’s addition was a huge component to the Superman mythology. However the actress admitted that she was actually frightened when she took on the role. Well it wasn’t the role that frightened her, it was the comic book fans. On The Bonnie Hunt Show, Durance explained, “There have been the occasional ones [fans] that have frightened me that – you know – come up when I’ve been at conventions. And they come up and they’re dressed up as Superman,” Durance said. “And they’re like ‘Hey, Lois.’ And they’re so cute. And they don’t fit the costumes. And they’re so excited about being Superman.”
Bit Nervous
Supernatural
Tom Welling was the model Clark Kent for a whole new generation of Superman fans. However the showrunners of Smallville almost made a different actor the future Man of Steel. Jensen Ackles, who would later appear on as Lana Lang’s boyfriend Jason Teague, in season four, was actually the second choice for the young farmer with superhuman abilities. As we know, Ackles went on to star in Supernatural, a series still running today. It all worked out in the end!
Smallville
Smallville Line Up
Here’s an interesting fact, Tom Welling wasn’t the first cast member signed on! Kristen Kreuk, AKA Lana Lang, was cast before anyone else. Moreover, Michael Rosenbaum was chosen as Lex Luthor just a week prior to production.
Smallville Line Up
Mama Kent
Annette O’Toole wasn’t always Martha Kent. I know, right? The unaired pilot of Smallville had the actress Cynthia Ettinger \as Clark Kent’s mother. After studio executives screened the pilot, they chose to redo Ettinger’s scenes, but with O’Toole. “They told me I was too young,” Ettinger said. “I had a lot of conflicting directions on the show and although I loved the story line, the people and the character… they just did not know how to use me or what to do with the character.”
Mama Kent
The Suit
Gough and Millar were firm on following the “No Tights, No Flights” rule. And when Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders became the executive producers, they followed that rule as well. “What we wanted to do all along was show hints at where he [Superman] was going because that is a whole different story that is yet to be told,” Peterson explained. “It felt like it gave just enough without starting to tell a whole different story that is left for all the other media.” The series finale only showed Welling on the roof wearing Superman’s suit under his dress shirt.
The Suit
Color Me Surprised
Apparently Smallville showrunners did not allow Tom Welling to tan while shooting the series. Interesting but this rumor was everywhere. In an interview with Carson Daily, Welling said he wasn’t aware of any such rule though! “I think maybe there’s some secret meeting down in Los Angeles about that. I haven’t heard that yet. I know there’s some things that they ask you: ‘Please don’t do anything but walk from your trailer to set, don’t ride bikes, don’t run, don’t do anything’ – I ignore that, of course.”
Color Me Surprised
Superman
Bryan Singer directed the 2006 film Superman Returns and Jude Law and Tom Welling were both in the running to play Superman. Law turned the part down because he didn’t “want to spend the rest of my life being that guy who played Superman.” Whereas Welling had a different reason for not taking the part on. “I actually went to his house in Los Angeles,” Welling explained. “We sat down and we talked about it a little bit both know that scheduling would always be an issue. Basically, if that movie were to happen the show [Smallville] would pretty much have to go away.”
Superman
Supergirl
Helen Slater played Lara and Clark/Kal-El’s mother on Smallville, although she was originally Supergirl in the 1984 film. Currently she plays Kara Danvers/Supergirl’s (played by Melissa Benoist) mom on the CBS show.
Supergirl
Miss Popular
Allison Mack played the part of Chloe Sullivan, Clark’s best friend with a keen eye for journalism and the weird. However this role didn’t even exist, especially not in the comics. Nope, the role was specifically invented for the series. Her character became so popular that in 2010 it was introduced in the Action Comics #893. Chloe is even referenced in the Man of Steel movie.
Miss Popular
Color Scheme
In nearly every single of the 217 episodes, Tom Welling is wearing some variation of red, blue, and yellow. Whereas Michael Rosenbaum is wearing purples, greens, and whites. This was intentionally done in order to reflect their comic book counterparts.
Color Scheme
Different Hats
Some of the cast members didn’t just act on the show, they also directed some episodes! Tom Welling, Alison Mack, Michael Rosenbaum, John Scheider, and Justin Hartley all directed episodes at some point in the show.
Different Hats
Only One
Out of the entire cast of Smallville, Tom Welling is the only one to have appeared in every single of the 217 episodes of the series. Are you surprised though?
Only One
Swann
Christopher Reeve came back into Superman’s world a final time before his untimely death. Reeve portrayed Dr. Virgil Swann in two episodes during the second and third seasons. Moreover his sidekick Lois Lane, AKA Margot Kidder, also joined the cast for a few episodes.
Swann
Chloe Sullivan
Kristen Bell, who went on to play the iconic Veronica Mars, auditioned for the part of Chloe Sullivan before Allison Mack was cast in the role. Hmm, either way, it would have been a win-win. Especially considering Mack’s scandal right now, but more on that later.
Chloe Sullivan
Wonder Woman
Lynda Carter, yes Wonder Woman herself, came back to DC TV on Smallville. Carter played Moira Sullivan, Chloe’s mom, on the series. Currently you can catch Carter as the President of the United States on the new Supergirl series with Melissa Benoist.
Wonder Woman
Not A Fan
DVD commentaries and various interviews have revealed that Tom Welling walked around set muttering “Clark is an idiot! He’s such an idiot!” Moreover, and here’s a shocker, he isn’t a fan of the Superman comics. However he’s not alone in that, Christopher Reeves also felt the same. It actually took a while to convince Welling to take on the role, he turned it down twice before eventually signing.
Not A Fan
What A Record
When season 10 wrapped up, Smallville had become the longest running science-fiction show in all of North America, passing Stargate SG-1. Furthermore the series was also the longest running comic-book based series in television history. Smallville broke the record by just 5 episodes with 218. What’s even more interesting that Ackles’ show Supernatural is currently on track to beat that record as it’s headed into season 11.
What A Record
Season 11
Guys, there was a season 11! If you believed that season 10 was the last of Smallville, well you’re technically right. The series ended in season 10 however season 11 was then produced as a comic book. The comic book made its debut on April 13, 2012 and to some very positive reviews. Many of our favorite Smallville characters were included and their storylines continued. Plus we saw new addition like Wonder Woman and Batman.
Season 11
Parrallel
The first and final scene for Lex Luthor are actually parallels of one another. During the “Pilot” episode, Lex is seen stepping out of a car and turning to the camera. His final scene in “Finale Part II” shows Lex turning to face the cameras just as he did in his first ever scene 10 seasons before.
Parrallel
Lana Lang
Allison Mack learned about casting for Smallville from the casting director Dee Dee Bradley. Originally Mack thought about trying out for the part of Lana Lang. Instead she chose to audition twice for the part of Chloe Sullivan.
Lana Lang
Lois Lane
Erica Duranc was a recurring guest in season four, before she became a series regular. Producers wanted to bring Lois Lane into the series, and with Chloe’s supposed death in the season three finale, they saw an opportunity. Additionally Durance was cast just three days before filming began. Initially she could only appear in four episodes, however after negotiations her character was allowed to have more appearances. Good choice!
Lois Lane
Jimmy Olsen
Aaron Ashmore portrayed Jimmy Olsen, and in season six he was just a recurring guest before becoming a regular cast member from season seven. Ashmore said his casting was a surprise, “I auditioned for [the role] and I put myself on tape. I hadn’t heard anything, and a couple of weeks later, all of the sudden, I got the call saying, ‘You’re going to Vancouver to start shooting Smallville.’ It’s a dream come true, really.”
Jimmy Olsen
Green Arrow
Justin Hartley played the Green Arrow in seasons six and seven. By season eight though, he was a regular cast member instead of just in a recurring compacity. Producers said that Hartley was their first choice to play Oliver Queen.
Green Arrow
Batman
Originally Tollin/Robbins Productions wanted to do a show about a young Bruce Wayne. However Warner Bros. wanted to do an origin movie for Batman, they didn’t want to compete with a series. Tollin/Robbins then approached Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television, in 2000 about doing a series on a young Superman. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar developed a pilot which was based on the film Eraser. Once Roth watched the pilot, he approached Gough and Millar about doing the pilot about a young Superman. Thank goodness!
Batman
Copyright
In November 2004, there was a re-acquisition of Superboy by the Siegel family. As such, a copyright infringement argument rose up about ownership of the fictional town of Smallville and it claimed there was similarity between Superboy and Smallville’s Clark Kent. The Siegel heirs explained that “Smallville is part of the Superboy copyright” (which they hold).
Copyright
Crew Changes
After seven season, Gough and Millar left the show and were replaced by Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. Although by season nine Swimmer and Slavkin left and only Souders and Peterson remained. Tom Welling also took on the part of co-executive producer. In 2010, Millar, Gough and co-producer Tollin/Robins Productions all filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. and The CW. They claimed that “Warner Bros. failed to “maximize profits” in marketing Smallville, misrepresented production costs and sold the show to foreign markets at “well below the value of the series.” That same year Welling became the executive producer.
Crew Changes
CW’s Arrow
Executive producer Marc Guggenheim explained why they didn’t cast Justin Hartley as Green Arrow in the CW series. Instead they took on Stephen Amell. “We certainly wanted to chart our own course and destiny. Justin is a terrific Arrow.” He also explained that, “Michael Keaton [as Batman] doesn’t affect your love for Christian Bale and Christian Bale doesn’t affect your love for Adam West … multiple iterations are possible.”
CW’s Arrow
Jonathan Kent
TV Guide asked John Schneider, AKA Jonathan Kent, why his character was getting killed off. He revealed, “It was explained that in the story of Superman, Jonathan Kent dies, so it was an inevitable event that had been set up so long ago. I just thought that perhaps it would be at the end of the season, not in the middle, but there you have it.” He continued to say, “But it’s OK with me because in many senses, Jonathan is in the show more after he’s dead. His memory is kind a talisman for the second half of Season 5. I’m in it in spirit more than I was in Season 4 at all.”
Jonathan Kent
Her Exit
Kristin Kreuk received a lot of criticism for leaving the show, and not coming back, but she felt that Lana Lang’s story was over. Kreuk felt that Lang had inner strength and courage to walk away from Clark Kent. That her commitment to a greater good far outweighed her emotional desires. “I think her story is done,” she revealed. “I am not sure how her coming back changes Clark’s story any longer. He has moved forward. As he was always supposed to do. As Lana would have wanted him to do.”
Her Exit
His Exit
Michael Rosenbaum met with Peter Roth, the president of Warner Brothers, over dinner to discuss leaving Smallville. “Peter, my grandma thinks I’m funny and I’ve always wanted to do comedy, and I started out in comedy, and I was doing tons of comedy, and then I was catapulted into this role that I love and it’s been great, but I was contracted for six years to play Lex Luthor, I did seven, and I’m just ready to move on and I’m just ready to take a new step.”
His Exit
Hero
Erica Durance was once asked what she brought to Lois Lane that other actresses haven’t. “I think that you can’t help but bring pieces of who you are. No matter what you do, it comes through you, as a vessel. So, I suppose that some of the things that you see in this particular Lois – with her spunkiness, or certain moments of neuroses, or that high energy perkiness, or the laughing, or the klutziness – are definitely me. I am not a particularly aggressive person. That’s not Erica. I play a kick-ass woman.”
Hero
Supergirl’s Mom
Erica Durance has taken over as Alura, Supergirl/Kara Danver, mom for Laura Benanti in season three of Supergirl. Benanti had work commitment but executive producer Andrew Kreisber, “We are so blessed that Erica has come aboard to offer her own interpretation of Kara’s mother. We had tremendous success with a former Lois Lane last season with Teri Hatcher. We know Erica will continue the proud tradition of legacy actors joining our shows and creating new and exciting takes on classic DC characters.”
Supergirls Mom
Lucifer
Tom Welling opened up about why he back to TV, he was recently cast on the series Lucifer. And yes, some of the reason was because the role is the opposite of Clark Kent. “As much fun as that [Clark Kent] is to play, it wasn’t necessarily because of Clark that I chose this character. I think it was a number of things, it was the cast, the subject matter, the show, the showrunners, the Greg Beeman recommendation, the location. It was so many more factors than just ‘I don’t want to play Clark again,’ but I’d be lying if I was saying that I’m not enjoying playing something very different for sure.”
Lucifer
Double Trouble
There’s a reason you saw double! Shawn Ashmore and Aaron Ashmore, who are twins, both appeared in the show throughout the seasons. Shawn played Eric Summers in ‘Leech’ from the first season and again in ‘Asylum’ in season three. Aaron played the beloved character of Jimmy Olsen from season six on.
Double Trouble
Luthor Mansion
The Luthor Mansion that is depicted in all the seasons is also the exact same mansion that is used in the 2003 film X-Men 2 and Arrow.
Luthor Mansion
Say My Name
In nearly all of the episodes of Smallville, the title of the episode will be said somewhere in the show. I know, now you need to re-watch all the seasons!
Say My Name
Heroes
Originally Milo Ventimiglia auditioned for the part of Clark Kent. While the role went to Tom Welling, the WB producers liked him so much that they gave him the role of Jess on Gilmore Girls. Smart thinking! Ventimiglia would later play a different comic book-style superhero on the series Heroes.
Heroes
Kryptonite
The sound effect that the series used for Kryptonite radiating is the exact same sound that was used in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman back in 1993.
Kryptonite
They Tried
Fans of Smallville got together, by the hundreds, to launch an unsuccessful online campaign. What were they doing exactly? They were petitioning that Tom Welling should be cast as Clark Kent/Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns. Bless them for trying!
They Tried
The Flash
While starring on the show, Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) also helped to provide the voice of the Flash (Wally West) in Justice League. See, he is a good guy after all!
The Flash
Clark and Kara
Fans of Smallville probably thought that Clark and Kara didn’t really wrap things up during the final season of the series. And Laura Vandervoort agrees. She said to Comic Book Movie, “I’m a little upset that Kara did not get to say goodbye to Clark personally. She just kind of watched from afar. But overall, ‘Smallville’ is fantastic and they did such a great job.”
Clark And Kara
Two Years
Here’s a fun fact. Tom Welling is actually two years older than Brandon Routh who went on to play the adult version of Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns.
Two Years
The Torch
Chloe and Clark write for The Smallville High Student Newspaper, “The Torch,” which is named after the student newspaper at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Turns out that the Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster worked together at the Glenville Torch back when they were students.
The Torch
Father-Daughter
Michael Ironside and Peyton List first portrayed father and daughter (General Lane and Lucy Lane) during a CW series which is based on DC Comics characters. Later they would go on to play Lewis and Lisa Snart in The Flash.
Father Daughter
Crossover
Once a “crossover” episode with Supernatural was proposed but eventually scrapped. Sam and Dean Winchester were meant to save Tom Welling from the infamous “Superman curse,” it’s the one that supposedly victimized many actors who have played Clark Kent/Superman.
Crossover
Dairy Farm
We’re not too sure why this even happened but the Kent farm actually appears in a Canadian dairy farm commercial. That’s a bit odd but whatever works we suppose.
Dairy Farm
So Close
Before Aaron Ashmore landed the role of Jimmy Olsen, Shawn Ashmore his identical twin brother was actually considered for the exact same role in Superman Returns. However Sam Huntington was eventually cast in the part for the film.
So Close
Toy Man
When Tom Welling was cast as Clark Kent, he received a ton of Superman-related gifts, which included books and toys. Welling planned to leave all of the gifts unopened until the series wrapped up.
Toy Man
Big Bad
Margot Kidder, who played Bridgette Crosby, was supposed to become the primary villain of season four. However after Christopher Reeve’s untimely death in 2004, the producers decided to incorporate his real-life death into the plot as Virgil Swann was killed off screen. Naturally Kidder was not pleased with this decision, as she felt the producers were just capitalizing on the actor’s passing. Therefore she backed out of her commitment. Genevieve Teague, played by Jane Seymour, was therefore created as big bad for the rest of season four.
Big Bad
Brainiac
Laura Vandervoort briefly portrayed Brainiac who posed as Kara in the series. In Supergirl, the new series, she portrays Indigo, a character who we know from the comics is later revealed to be Brainiac 8.
Brainiac
Her Own Show
Speaking of Laura Vandervoort, she almost got her own show as Supergirl. She told TVLine in 2016, “When we were working on Smallville, it wasn’t officially discussed, but I had heard rumblings as well about a series being done. The timing wasn’t right. There were the 90210s and Melrose Place-type shows. And I’m just glad that now we’re seeing the ability to have a female superhero leading the way.”
Her Own Show
Fan Demand
Once again fans stepped in to strongly demand that Tom Welling reprise his role as Clark Kent/Superman on the new Supergirl series. However Welling felt that Clark could not exist in that universe because there is a highly different essence between both of the shows. “There’s really nothing in common, there are no parallels at all. I say that being a fan of what they’re doing. I think they’re doing a great job.”
Fan Demand
Never Happened
Sarah Douglas and Jack O’Halloran both appeared in the films Superman and Superman II, therefore they lobbied Smallville producers to have guest appearances but that never happened.
Never Happened
Up, Up and Away
When Laura Vandervoort auditioned for the role of Kara Kent/Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, producers told her “Don’t leave, just wait outside” to which she immediately replied “Don’t worry, I won’t take off!” meaning that she would not fly back to Canada. However the crew understood that she meant ~literally~ flying back. “Everyone laughed, and I realized I had made a joke, seeing that Supergirl can fly. I simply meant I wouldn’t get back on a plane, but they didn’t need to know that.”
Up Up And Away
That Quick
When Tom Welling finished auditioning for the part of Tom Welling, he revealed an interesting fact! “I was on my way back from the Warner Bros. studio, and I stopped in a gas station to call my manager and tell him how it went. I called and got him on the phone and he said, ‘Can you hold on a second?’ Next thing I know, there are literally seven people on the other line and almost in unison they say, ‘Tom, you got it!’
That Quick
Anyone Else?
After season three, Tom Welling was interviewed by Smallville Magazine. They asked him if he could play someone other than Clark Kent, who would it be, his answer was surprising! “Lex Luthor! I wouldn’t mind having my head shaved—as an actor, [it is the ultimate,] getting to play the complete opposite of your character.”
Anyone Else?
So Thankful
Erica Durance spoke about what it was like to play Lois Lane and you can tell the role meant a lot to her. “Everyone has their specific idea of who Lois Lane is for them, and you have your overall blueprint, but then you have to try to make it your own. That’s the only way to try to stay truthful to what you’re doing. It’s an experience I will cherish always and never forget. Lois is a beloved character. I took that seriously and put my heart and soul into her for seven years. I enjoyed every minute and am forever changed by it”
So Thankful
Relationship
In the DC comic universe, Lex Luthor and Clark Kent only have a relationship while Kent is Superman; they never met while Kent was at school. Although in 1960, there was an exception to his in an alternative reality one-off story. They wanted to try and explain Lex’s hair loss. Also this story showed them as childhood friends but this notion has been largely ignored or discredited since.
Relationship
Celebrity Status
Don’t call him a celebrity! Tom Welling has openly stated that he dislikes interviews. He also goes on to say, “I don’t want to be a celebrity for the sake of being a celebrity. I want to work and then go home and live in private.”
Celebrity Status
Joker
Michael Rosenbaum was known by everyone, cast and crew like, to be a bit of practical joker. Maybe it’s because he’s a comedian? In any case, he pulled a ton of practical jokes and would make farts between takes.
Joker
Happy With It
Eric Johnson, who played Whitney Fordman, Lana’s boyfriend actually auditioned for the parts of Lex Luthor and Clark Kent before getting cast as Whitney. Despite being written off the show, Johnson was happy that his character got a hero’s exit.
Happy With It
The Scandal
It was recently announced that Allison Mack is involved with a sex cult, Nxivm. She was arrested by the FBI, as was the head of the group, Keith Raniere. Both were charged with three felony counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit force labor. Mack recruited young women (25 that the FBI knows of), “brainwashed” and branded them. Moreover Mack tried to recruit Emma Watson and Kelly Clarkson via Twitter. It is seen that Mack’s influence ran very deep in the organization.
The Scandal
NXIVM Controversy
Allison Mack was not the only Smallville actress linked with Nxivm, so is Kristin Kreuk. After Mack and Raniere were arrested, Kreuk disclosed that when she joined NXIVM it was because she believed it was a “self-help” group. She left the group in 2012 and has not been in contact with any of its members since she left. Nor did she witness anything illegal during her time in the group.
NXIVM Controversy
All Lies
Kristin Kreuk has gone on to publicly say, “The accusations that I was in the ‘inner circle’ or recruited women as ‘sex slaves’ are blatantly false,” she explained. “During my time, I never experienced any illegal or nefarious activity. I am horrified and disgusted by what has come out about DOS.”
All Lies
Admission
Allison Mack has recently admitted that it was her idea to brand the women. She tried to play it off as though it was like getting a tattoo however the media and certain individuals have piped up their disgust at her actions. The New York Times reporter Vanessa Grigoriadis has claimed that Mack told her that women who were branded saw it as a great way to conquer their fears.
Admission