New Superman sequel series plans to bring Brandon Routh back

A new Superman sequel series could be happening, with Brandon Routh to return once again as the titular superhero character.

Brandon Routh first starred as Superman in Superman Returns (2006) and after 13 years, Routh reprised his iteration of the character during the 2019 Crisis of Infinite Earths crossover episodes, on The CW.

What happened to Routh’s Superman?

During Crisis on Infinite Earths, when the Arrowverse Lois visits Routh’s Clark Kent/Kal-El; he is still working at The Daily Planet, although he had lost people in his life to the joker.

Brandon Routh wears a Kingdom Come Superman suit with a red and black symbol on his chest — The CW

Joker’s gas attack at The Daily Panet killed his Lois Lane, Perry White and Jimmy Olsen. This caused him to wear a red and black crest on his chest like the Kingdom Come Superman comic version.

As Clark says in the episode for the crest change “I put this on, this crest… I made a promise to keep fighting no matter what” and the Arrowverse Lois asks why he added black and Clark replies “Because Lois, even in the darkest times hope cuts through. Hope is the light that lifts us out of darkness”.

Luckily at the end of the crossover; The Spectre (Stephen Amell) rebirthed the multiverse and while this was happening, he made adjustments to characters lives including Routh’s Superman from Earth-96. Assuming that he brought Lois, Jimmy and Perry back like the gass attack never happened. There’s a final scene where a happier Routh Superman is flying in space, giving a classic farewell to the audience.

At the moment, Marc Guggenheim (best known as an executive producer on the Arrrowverse) is currently planning ideas for what the sequel series is going to be about. Marc has also confirmed that he has been discussing this with Brandon Routh.

“Brandon and I have talked about a sequel series. We have some really exciting ideas…” – Marc writes to a fan on X.

If it all goes well with Marc successfully pitching these ideas to Warner Bros., then there will be a new Superman series with Brandon Routh returning.

Superman and Lois season 4

Currently, the Superman and Lois live-action series starring Tyler Hoechlin and Bittsie Tulloch is soon to be ending with its final season releasing this year. This version of Superman was last seen fighting Doomsday on the moon. After this season finishes, it would leave open a new place for a different live-action Superman show to watch.

My Adventures with Superman

There is a second season of an animated Superman series called My Adventures with Superman; with the titular role voiced by Jack Quaid, releasing some time in 2024.

For two years now, there’s also been announcements that Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling have been working pitches to Warner Bros. for a Smallville: The Animated Series, to continue on from the live-action show.

This would see an animated Clark Kent (Tom Welling) suit up properly as Superman since the very brief season 10 scenes. There’s not been much news since regarding this project, and when we contacted the new head of DC studios James Gunn, there was no response regarding any updates.