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

Tom Welling, best known for his role as Clark Kent on Smallville, recently discussed his reluctance to appear as his iconic character in the Arrowverse before 2019. During his appearance at Fan Expo New Orleans, Welling explained why he turned down earlier opportunities to reprise the role.
He revealed that while he received calls from the Arrowverse producers, they weren’t for acting but for playing Clark Kent specifically. He felt strongly that Clark’s character would not fit into those shows without losing something important from Smallville‘s vision.
Although Smallville was a key part of the foundation for the Arrowverse, Welling was careful not to disrupt what had already been established. If he had appeared as Superman in Supergirl’s second season, it could have changed the direction of the Arrowverse, especially with Tyler Hoechlin cast as Superman in that role and the Superman & Lois series later emerging. Welling was protective of his character’s legacy, and this helped avoid major complications in the Arrowverse timeline.
His eventual return in Crisis on Infinite Earths in 2019 came after Welling was convinced by the writers. After reading the script, he felt that the one-scene appearance made sense and honored the legacy of Clark Kent. He even brought his own touch to the role, referencing his on-screen father, Jonathan Kent, in his portrayal. It was a decision that allowed Welling to return in a way that made sense for the character without overshadowing Smallville’s story.
In addition, Welling opened up about his least favorite storyline from Smallville. The Red-Blue Blur arc in Season 9, where Clark adopts a darker, vigilante persona, didn’t sit well with him. He felt it was a far cry from the hopeful, optimistic hero that Superman was meant to be. Despite this, the arc served an important purpose in Clark’s development and eventual transition into the hero fans recognize.
You can watch the full panel here:
Fans can relive all of Smallville on Hulu, where the show’s entire ten-season run is available for streaming.
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