The budget cuts that came with The CW’s season 4 renewal of BC-filmed Superman & Lois have seen the demolition of the Kent house set in Ladner, a reduction in episodes from 13 to 10, a cut in series regulars cast from 12 to 5 and now a reduction in writers from 8 to 5.
Writing of the new season is underway now that the WGA (Writers Guild of America) has a new contract after a debilitating 148-day strike but production can’t start in metro Vancouver until SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild)’s 105-day strike is settled.
How did season 3 end?
Lex Luthor summoned Bizzaro, now completely feral and transformed into Doomsday, to the Kent Farm. The battle between Superman and Doomsday moved from Smallville to Metropolis to outer space. A revived Superman then forced Doomsday onto the moon where we left the duo until season 4.
Season 3 cast and crew on the moon set.
Superman & Lois Season 4:
Permanent sets:
There is now an empty spot in a Ladner field where the Kent house set used to be.
You’d think the Smallville set would be gone too, but it’s still standing on the Cloverdale fairgrounds.
Where have the citizens of Smallville gone?@yvrshootstweets @WhatsFilming pic.twitter.com/KTLYVBIgTo
— Paul Orazietti (@Paradeguy) October 1, 2023
Episodes:
Superman & Lois’s episode count in season 4 drops from 13 to ten. Other returning CW series like All American, Walker and All American: Homecoming get 13 episodes but Superman & Lois is more expensive per episode because of its extensive visual effects.
Cast:
Supeman & Lois had to cut its series regulars from 12 to five for season 4: keeping Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman, Bitsie Tulloch as Lois Lane, ,Alex Garfin as Jordan Kent/Superboy, and Michael Bishop as Jonathan Kent of course and adding Michael Cudlitz as the season nemesis Lex Luthor.
Related: Superman & Lois To Cut Main Cast From 12 to 5 in Season 4
That means Dylan Walsh’s General Lane, Emanuelle Chriqui ‘s Lana Lang, Erik Valdez’s Kyle Cushing, Inde Navarrette’s Sarah Cushing; Wolé Parks’s John Henry Irons, Taylor Buck’s Natalie Irons; and Sofia Hasmik’s Chrissie Beppo will only recur or guest star dependent on the actors’ “interest and availability”.
Writers:
A few weeks after the WGA Writers Strike ended in late September, Superman & Lois’s Writers Room convened for season 4 but with just five writers not the eight of season 3 (The new WGA contract mandates a minimum of five writers for a series between seven and 11 episodes long).
Staff Writer Adam Mallinger aka Bitter Script Reader (@BittrScrptReadr) posted about his departure on X (formerly Twitter).
Disappointing news – due to budget cuts, I won’t be returning on staff at SUPERMAN & LOIS for season 4.
— Bitter Script Reader (@BittrScrptReadr) October 17, 2023
I debated saying anything, but I’ve tweeted my way into literally every TV job I’ve had, so it seemed prudent to announce I’m available for staffing.
Although no longer on staff with Superman & Lois, Adam Mallinger will have the opportunity to write a season 4 episode script on a freelance basis and another writer (Jai Jamison?), who chose not to renew his option to be on staff for the opportunity to direct a season 4 episode, will write a freelance episode script,, according to Deadline: Hollywood.
Episodes: 10.
Filming dates: production can’t start until the SAG-AFTRA strike ends.
Showrunners: Todd Helbing, Brent Fletcher.
Cast: Tyler Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch, Alex Garfin, Michael Bishop, Michael Cudlitz.
Producers: Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television.