10 Lessons Superman Legacy Needs To Learn From Smallville

Superman: Legacy could learn a few lessons from one of the best superhero series, Smallville. Jame Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe will start next year with the animated Creature Commandos series, with 2025’s Superman: Legacy then being the first film in the new shared universe. David Corenswet stars as the DCU’s Superman, taking over from DCEU Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill. Superman: Legacy‘s story is said to be more in line with the comics’ vibrant tone for Superman, telling the story of a young Clark Kent, which is why Cavill was not asked to return for the film.

Albeit not an origin story, Superman: Legacy‘s focus on a young Clark means the movie can take some notes from Superman’s famous prequel series, Smallville. Tom Welling delivered a charming, compelling performance as Clark Kent from high school to adulthood throughout Smallville‘s ten seasons. The long-running series dealt with different phases of Clark’s life, which included him learning about his Kryptonian heritage, developing his powers, and ultimately becoming Superman in the series finale. From tone to characters to story and more, here are 10 lessons that Superman: Legacy can learn from Smallville.

10 Lois Lane Is Key To The Story

Erica Durance’s Lois Was One Of Smallville’s Best Aspects

Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy, and the movie is better served by looking at what Smallville did with the character than the DCEU. In the TV show, Erica Durance gave life to a comic book-accurate Lois Lane. Smallville‘s Lois started out as a supporting character and slowly grew in importance as the seasons went by, with Lois’ spitfire attitude and investigative skills making her propel Smallville‘s story forward many times. In the DCEU, Amy Adams’ Lois did not get much to do and barely had any of the character’s signature snark.

9 It Is Okay For Superman To Doubt Himself

Clark Carries The Weight Of The World On His Shoulders

Smallville featured several moments where Clark did not think that he was ready to become the hero he was destined to be. While Superman is incredibly powerful, what makes him the most compelling is the fact that the character seems to be the hero most in tune with his humanity despite being an alien. By leaning on his self-doubt, Superman: Legacy can make Corenswet’s nearly flawless hero relatable, establishing a bond with the audience that the DCU needs from the get-go. By showing he struggles with his destiny, Clark becomes a more complex character.

8 Superman: Legacy Can Play Around With The DC Mythos

Smallville Was Not Afraid To Make Changes

Smallville included many of the classic elements that make up the Superman mythos; however, the series was not afraid to deviate from the character’s history in some ways. One of Smallville‘s biggest changes to Superman’s origin story was the reveal that Kal-El’s Kryptonian parents chose the Kents to raise him after Jor-El came to Earth and met Jonathan Kent’s parents, later thinking that it was a good family for Clark to grow up in, rather than the Kents meeting a baby Clark simply by accident. Superman: Legacy can stay close to the comics while also adding a unique spin to the hero’s story, making the DCU’s Superman familiar yet unique.

7 Other Heroes Can Appear Without Overshadowing Superman

Superman: Legacy Will Introduce Multiple DCU Heroes

Besides its title character, Superman: Legacy‘s cast will include at least four other DCU heroes. Gunn has announced that Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan is Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion gives life to the Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi plays Mr. Terrific. Some DC fans expressed their concerns that the multiple heroes would overshadow Superman, with Gunn shooting down the Superman: Legacy cast criticism. Smallville included several heroes over its ten seasons, with Clark even working alongside a version of the Justice League. By making the other heroes support Clark’s story, Superman: Legacy can have the same success Smallville did.

6 Clark Kent Is Just As Important As Superman

The DCEU Did Not Really Focus On That

Superman might be DC Comics’ best hero, but the Clark Kent side of the character is just as important. While Superman has incredible feats of strength, with a wide array of powers, as Clark, the character is at his most relatable. In Smallville‘s first seasons, Welling’s Clark Kent had everyday problems like dating, making the football team, and doing well at school. In later seasons, Clark would deal with moving, making a name for himself at his job, and more. By focusing on showing that the Man of Steel faces problems that the audience also does, Superman: Legacy can endear Superman to viewers.

5 Clark Kent & Lex Luthor Should Have A History

Smallville Laid Out The Perfect Clark-Lex Relationship

Smallville has the best live-action Lex Luthor. Michael Rosenbaum delivered a complex, nuanced performance as Superman’s nemesis. Smallville made Clark and Lex best friends for years before they would eventually fall out, with Luthor then becoming the villain he is destined to be. Superman: Legacy could take the same road with the characters. Gunn has said that he wants the DCU to feel lived-in, which is why Clark has been Superman for some time and other DCU heroes are active. By revealing that Superman and Lex Luthor have a shared history, Superman: Legacy can deepen their relationship, making Lex a more tragic character and expanding the mythos of the DCU.

4 The Kents Need A Prominent Role

Smallville Has The Best Use Of The Kents In Live-Action

The DCEU had a bad version of Jonathan Kent. Instead of being warm and loving, Kevin Costner’s Pa Kent reprimanded Clark for saving a bus full of kids and asked the boy to let himself die in a hurricane so Clark did not reveal his powers to the world. Smallville‘s Jonathan and Martha Kent knew that Clark’s secret identity was important; however, the Kents were nothing but extremely supportive of their son and his desire to help others. Superman: Legacy should go for the caring, more lovable version of the Kents and make them a huge part of Clark’s life, keeping him going straight whenever he might falter.

3 Superman: Legacy Should Hold Off On Revealing Clark’s Secret Identity

Clark’s Secret Can Make The Film Better

Smallville saw Clark refrain from revealing that he had powers to Chloe Sullivan, Lana Lang, Lois Lane, and more characters who were close to him for years. That generated interesting turmoil within Clark’s personal life and allowed his relationship with Lois to develop outside of his hero side. Superman: Legacy can do something similar. The DCU’s first movie could become more intriguing by having Lois develop different bonds with both Superman and Clark Kent, which would allow her to slowly piece together Clark’s secret.

2 The Daily Planet Should be Important

The Iconic DC Location Can Give Lois A Major Role

In one of the earliest story reports for Superman: Legacy, which Gunn has yet to confirm, it was said that the movie would follow a young Clark as he starts at the Daily Planet as a reporter and learns his way around the place with the help of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Smallville saw Clark move to Metropolis in later seasons, climbing the ladders of the Daily Planet. The series used the location to allow Lois to have a more impactful role in the story, with the character’s investigative skills leading to some interesting developments. Superman: Legacy could do the same for Brosnahan’s Lois, giving her more agency.

1 Superman Can Be Interesting While Remaining True To His “Boy Scout” Self

Superman: Legacy Should Really Lean Into A Lighter Tone

After the DCEU’s darker version of the Man of Steel, and of the DC universe as a whole, did not do well with audiences, Superman: Legacy should bring in the classic “Boy Scout” Superman from DC Comics. Gunn has said that the DCU will be more in line with the classic comic book characters from DC, and Smallville is a perfect example of how to adapt Clark in live-action. Welling’s take on the character was the perfect mix of caring, heroic, dorky, optimistic, and more that makes Clark/Superman who he is, and Superman: Legacy would be all the better for taking inspiration from Smallville for Corenswet’s Superman.