When it comes to the Man of Steel, everyone has to start somewhere. Whether your first introduction was in an issue of Action Comics, one of the many Superman cartoons, or a live-action adaptation, every generation has its own iteration they rally behind. In fact, that even includes many of the actors who portray the character. On more than one occasion, while promoting Superman, David Corenswet has paid homage to the version of the Man of Steel that he grew up with, a bingeworthy television series about the early years of Clark Kent simply titled Smallville.
Like Many of Us, David Corenswet Grew Up With ‘Smallville’
When speaking with GQ about what went into his work playing Superman, Corenswet revealed that, although he couldn’t be certain, he believed that his first introduction to the character was through Smallville. “While we weren’t allowed to watch television growing up, I had like a couple hours after I got home before my parents got home where I could sneak whatever was on,” he revealed, with Smallville episodes being a particular favorite. Interestingly, Corenswet has been most compared physically to Tom Welling, Smallville‘s leading man who played Clark Kent for a decade. “When I was growing up, he was the Superman who was on TV every week,” the actor once told Entertainment Weekly. While Welling himself has always maintained that Smallville was about Clark Kent rather than Superman, it’s hard not to see the Man of Steel in Clark’s character as he grows into that role over time.
What was always so important about a show like Smallville is that it resonated with the general audience. Many have believed for years that the character of Superman was either too goofy, too powerful, or too unrelatable to be taken seriously, and Smallville tackled those misguided criticisms head-on.
More than that, it humanized Superman in a way most didn’t expect. Of course, it was not the first live-action piece of media to do so. Only four years earlier, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman had been cancelled by ABC after spending four seasons focusing on Clark Kent’s (Dean Cain) personal life and career, as well as his superheroics. But Smallville was different. Smallville‘s earliest years centered on Clark’s struggles for a normal life, to be human, knowing that he is actually an alien from another world. He yearns for love in the form of Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), friendship with Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) and Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack), and aims to see the good in others, even someone like Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum). Also, a departure from most adaptations was that Clark’s parents, Jonathan (John Schneider) and Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole), were a direct and consistent part of his life. Every new trial, every new struggle, he worked through it with them by his side.
‘Smallville’ Allows Clark Kent To Develop Into Superman Over Time
Over 10 seasons, Smallville developed and changed as Clark did the same. In many ways, Clark’s own journey to adulthood reflected much of the audience, likely including Corenswet as well. A few years in, the show introduced Lois Lane (Erica Durance), then Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore), and continued to make strides to not only expand the larger Superman mythos, but the show’s growing DC Universe as well. Clark encountered everyone from Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and the Justice League to the Legion of Superheroes, the Justice Society of America, and even inspired a new, younger generation of heroes than himself as he stepped into the spotlight as Metropolis’ new protector. Though it took several years for Clark to prepare for his destiny, he eventually embraced it and chose to reveal himself to the world. Compared to many other adaptations, Smallville took a long-form, introspective approach.
But there are so many reasons that Smallville is still worth your time today. Apart from being a time capsule of simpler times, Smallville is simply loads of fun. Whether you like the show’s freak-of-the-week format, the series’ growth from high school teen drama to full-on superhero show by the end, or are enraptured by the dynamic performances (everyone on this show brings their A-game), there are so many reasons to revisit Smallville. Full of action and suspense, secrets and conspiracies, science fiction and fantasy, romance and superheroes, the story of Clark Kent’s younger years has it all. Plus, the show always had a killer early 2000s soundtrack.
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Get ready to go on several adventures with Superman.
Superman Took Some Inspiration From ‘Smallville’
Considering how influential Smallville was in launching the 2010s era of superhero television, which included the show’s spiritual successor Superman & Lois (another solid take), it doesn’t come as a surprise that James Gunn‘s Superman also took some cues from the program. After all, a decade on television (from The WB to The CW) is nothing to write off, especially considering Tom Welling — who was given Christopher Reeve‘s blessing to play the character — tackled the role longer than anybody. But for all the comparisons between Welling’s Clark and Corenswet’s, Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor influenced Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of his nemesis as well. “He was probably the first person I saw play Luthor when I was growing up,” Hoult revealed to Entertainment Weekly, adding that Rosenbaum (who has a small part in Superman) personally encouraged him in the role.
Likewise, the traditionally named LexCorp has been renamed “LuthorCorp” à la Smallville in Gunn’s Superman film. “I’m a Smallville fan,” Gunn admitted in an interview with Comic Book, noting that the show (along with other interpretations) was vital in putting Superman together. “[Naming the company LuthorCorp] leaves the door open for whether [Lex’s] father was a part of this, or his mother.” Given that John Glover‘s Lionel Luthor was one of the most important aspects of Lex’s journey to villainy on Smallville, it seems that the DCU may be going this direction as well.
What more can we say about Smallville other than it has remained highly influential and beloved for a reason? For many, the show offers the definitive portrayal of Clark Kent’s youth and upbringing in Smallville, Kansas, opening the door for his eventual tenure as Superman. If seeing the new Superman film has you craving more of the Man of Steel’s adventures, there are 218 episodes of this beloved 10-season series out there for your enjoyment. Who knows, maybe Gunn (being a fan of the show and all) will eventually cave and finally greenlight Welling and Rosenbaum’s idea for an animated revival.
Smallville is available for streaming on Hulu in the U.S.
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