Supergirl‘s move from CBS to sister network The CW has been touted as a step in the right direction. The switch allows the series to be closer to its shared universe counterparts, The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. As The CW continues to rack up accolades on how well the network’s cross-overs work in the DC TV space it has built, it’s no wonder that there are talented directors who want to be part of the Arrowverse.
Kevin Smith has made no secret about his desires to direct (and even write) episodes of these Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg-produced CW/DC properties. Smith has now directed “The Good Dinosaur”, the 21st episode of The Flash season 2. His influence could been seen throughout the episode, between its offbeat humor and big heart. Shortly after his Flash debut, Smith told anyone who would listen that he’d like to direct an episode of Supergirl next.
CW may have made the announcement during their TCA press event, but Kevin Smith’s 16-minute, profanity-laden announcement on Fatman on Batman (see below) is nothing short of a love letter to Supergirl. In the video below (brought to our attention by CBR), Smith is on the set of his new show, Geeking Out, as he reveals a secret he’d been holding on to for quite some time. “They’re doing the Lord’s work with these [CW] shows,” he praises just before threatening to tear up about the title of his episode, “Supergirl Lives”.
Smith also discussed his happiness about getting to work on a female superhero property, by directing “Supergirl Lives”:
“I’m happy to see any show that puts a positive spin, or a female spin on this [stuff]. It’s a big boys club, we all know that, superheroes and stuff. But that’s not true. There’s a lot of girls and women out there that love this, but you’ve got to give it to them at a young age. With this show, you’ll have a whole generation of girls growing up thinking about Supergirl the way I thought about Superman.”
His enthusiasm about Supergirl and the superhero genre in general is infectious. Smith acknowledges the work that goes into making these shows great and how his desire is to be a part of it instead of reinventing the wheel. As for why it took him so long to confirm he was directing, Smith says, “I’ve been sitting on this information for a while. The CW folks were like, ‘you can’t say [anything] until the TCAs.’ Will it affect me getting the job? ‘Yes.’ Then I ain’t saying s—!”
The episode title, “Supergirl Lives”, is a callback to the screenplay Smith wrote for the doomed film that never saw the light of day, Superman Lives. Elsewhere in the video, Smith is so excited about the opportunity to direct Supergirl he jokes that, “If you just tell people in life what you want, it’ll happen.” Shortly afterward, Smith puts forth to the universe that he’d love the chance to tackle one of the remaining episodes of Game of Thrones. Is there room for Smith in the Seven Kingdoms?
NEXT: Joss Whedon Directing Flash/Supergirl Musical Crossover?
The Flash season 3 will premiere Tuesday October 4th at 8pm on The CW, Arrow season 5 will premiere in the same timeslot on Wednesday October 5th, Supergirl season 2 on Monday October 10th, and Legends of Tomorrow season 2 on Thursday October 13th.