Brandon Routh donning the cape in Superman Returns should have been a career rocket launch, making the actor a consistent presence on the new movie release schedule. When the movie came out, he was stepping into one of the most famous roles in pop culture, becoming the first big-screen Superman after Christopher Reeve, in a movie built to honor that legacy. Though I think there’s a lot to defend about the flick, becoming a hit wasn’t meant to be for Returns. Now, an interview where he opens up about the aftermath of his take on Big Blue is going viral, with the actor recalling that he wasn’t given what he thought he had “earned.”

A clip from Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, where Routh discussed what happened after Bryan Singer’s 2006 DC movie, is running around the interwebs again. The actor said he expected the role to lead to something much bigger, but the offers he thought would come never really arrived. He explained:

That is a pretty raw admission, especially knowing Superman Returns made nearly $400 million worldwide but still wasn’t enough to guarantee a sequel. Routh has previously said the chance to continue as Superman slowly fizzled over the next few years, leaving him stuck in a strange limbo. Eventually, the Snyderverse came along, and now we’re deep into James Gunn’s DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. We’ve even had a new Superman since Routh, which he’s seen and had an emotional response to.

The Legends of Tomorrow veteran has spoken before about how difficult that period was for him. It even led to him using World of Warcraft as a coping mechanism while he avoiding dealing with his feelings. He has also credited his wife, Courtney Ford, with helping him face what the end of that Superman chapter had done to him.

The roles Routh mentioned are interesting because none of them were the obvious “next Superman” move. Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Chuck let him be funny, odd and more relaxed than the Man of Steel role ever could. They also helped keep his career moving while he figured out what came next.

The Out of Order actor has also been honest about needing to get better at the craft and the business. He has said he had to surrender to the process after realizing he was not always doing the audition work he needed to do. That kind of self-awareness is not glamorous, but it is probably more useful than pretending the cape fixed everything.

Eventually, he did find his way back into the world of new superhero movies and TV shows through The CW’s Arrowverse, playing Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom. Later, he returned as Superman in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, a moment that felt like a course correction for fans who always thought he deserved more time in the role.

That is what makes Brandon Routh’s comments so compelling to me years later. His Superman story was not the clean Hollywood rise people might assume it would have been. It was confusing, painful and full of career detours. But he kept going, and in its own quiet way, that feels pretty Superman, too.

We are officially in my favorite time of the year — the weather is getting cooler, Christmas lights are going up, and there’s no lack of feel-good, holiday spirit-filled movies on the Hallmark calendar. We’re still over a month away from Christmas, and already we think there have been some options that aren’t likely to be topped for the remainder of the 2025 Christmas schedule. My personal favorite so far is A Keller Christmas Vacation, and I am loving what the Internet is saying about this one.

Why I Love A Keller Christmas Vacation

A Keller Christmas Vacation stars Brandon Routh, Jonathan Bennett and Eden Sher as the Keller siblings, who join their parents for a holiday cruise down the Danube. Looking at that cast alone is exciting, and it didn’t go over fans’ heads that Superman, Aaron Samuels and Sue Heck were sharing the screen when it premiered on the 2025 TV schedule.

But this movie worked for so many more reasons than just that. Ensemble films aren’t always easy to pull off, but A Keller Family Christmas made it look easy. I was equally charmed by Cal (Routh) and his budding romance, Dylan’s (Bennett) struggles over his boyfriend keeping a big secret from him, and Emory (Sher) possibly finding love while on the hunt for a new job.

The Keller parents have their own touching story, and somehow all of this fits into one 2-hour block (including commercials) without feeling like too much and giving us that perfectly satisfying Hallmark ending. This immediately went to the top of my list of Countdown to Christmas movies to rewatch, and now I’m obsessed with what other fans are saying.

Fans Want Keller Vacations To Become A Series

Hallmark has been doing more movie series lately, like the Holiday Touchdown films with the NFL and Lacey Chabert’s Haul Out the Holly trilogy. Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh and Eden Sher have more than enough chemistry to reunite for more movies, as one fan pointed out on X (Twitter):

Whether the movies continued to focus on family vacations for different holidays, or centered around the individual Kellers in their lives back home, I’d be on board for this.

Another social media user said her family was “cackling, giggling, kicking our feet in the air” when Jonathan Bennett’s Dylan got drunk and ended up in the middle of a traditional dance with the locals. See her full review:

This Hallmark fan also threw support behind more Keller family fun, saying:

I fully agree, and it sounds like the actors would be down. The Middle’s Eden Sher joked to Decider that they should travel to Australia for Easter, and Jonathan Bennett agreed he “would love to bring the Keller family back.” The Mean Girls star said:

OK, so do I need to shake a snowglobe or something to seal the deal? If you haven’t seen A Keller Christmas Vacation, pour yourself a Hallmark movie-approved beverage and be sure to catch it when it airs again at 10 p.m. ET Saturday, November 15, on Hallmark. It will likely replay at other times over the next couple of months, so keep an eye on the schedule or stream it on Hallmark+.

With the release of James Gunn’s Superman on the 2025 movies schedule last month, you may have felt inclined to revisit past movies focused on DC Comics’ Man of Steel after seeing David Corenswet play him. In 2006, Brandon Routh was in his shoes when Superman Returns came out and propelled him to international stardom. However, in the years since, Routh has heard his version of Superman described as “pervy,” and he provided a wholesome explanation for why he doesn’t agree with the people who think this.

Routh, who can currently be seen in the new movie Ick, appeared on The Sackhoff Show to talk about his career with host Katee Sackhoff. While discussing with The Mandalorian actress how one audience could respond differently to an actor’s performance compared to others, the former Superman shared the following:

Serving as a spiritual sequel to Christopher Reeves’ first two Superman movies, Superman Returns (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription) saw Brandon Routh’s Clark returning to Earth five years after he embarked to find Krypton’s remains and see if there were any surviving Kryptonians. In the time he was gone, Lois Lane became engaged to Jason White, nephew of The Daily Planet’s editor-in-chief Perry White, and they had a five-year-old son named Jason. At one point, Superman hovered near the family’s house to listen and watched (using his X-ray vision) Lois talk about her past relationship with the Man of Steel, denying she ever loved him.

Granted, it was later revealed that Jason was actually Lois and Superman’s biological son, but that’s not the point here. From Brandon Routh’s perspective, it never occurred to him to think of Superman as “pervy” because it’s not in character for him. It’s not like Clark is going to be a creep and stick around as Lois and Richard engage in NSFW activity. So that particular criticism hasn’t made sense to him, but it’s common enough that multiple people have brought it up to him.

Although Brandon Routh’s time as Superman on the big screen ended up being a one-and-done deal after Superman Returns sequel plans were scrapped, he reprised the role over a decade later for the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover on The CW. He also left another mark on DC media playing Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, in that same small screen franchise. As far as I know, Ray’s never been called “pervy,” but feel free to let me know in the comments if you think otherwise.

There’s a lot of kindness on the 2025 movie schedule, especially with James Gunn’s Superman flying high at the box office! As the debut film in DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters continues to bring smiles to those who need them, past figures in the Man of Steel’s legacy have come forward to share their own reactions. You can now add Superman Returns star Brandon Routh to that list, and his reaction might actually stir some emotions in your heart as well.

Promoting his new horror/comedy Ick with Variety, the twice-removed Clark Kent shared that he finally bought his ticket to see David Corenswet’s first flight on the big screen. Sparing no praise for the current DC movie champ, Routh offered this sweet anecdote about his experience:

Considering how some people file the 2006 legacyquel (currently streaming through an HBO Max subscription) under the category of “movies that ruined an actor’s career,” Brandon Routh’s enjoyment of Superman is especially delightful to hear. Then again, I don’t think anyone would have expected any less, as he’s been cheerleading the DC Films production, while also offering hypothetical advice to David Corenswet for his performance.

Personally, in an analogy that will shock no one who knows my work, I feel that Brandon Routh is the George Lazenby of the Superman saga. Putting aside the obviously problematic legacy of being a film directed by Bryan Singer, as well as controversial figures like Kevin Spacey and Frank Langella being in the cast, Superman Returns is a pretty underrated take in the world of the big blue Boy Scout.

Meanwhile, Brandon Routh’s career took some fun turns that didn’t involve any tears at all. While his efforts for a Superman Returns sequel were unfruitful, Routh went on to become a member of the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast. Though we’d all eventually see him return to the character in the CW’s all-out crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which led to Arrow/Legends of Tomorrow creator Marc Guggenheim’s hopes to revive Brandon Routh’s Superman once again.

Beyond all of that history with one of the most unfairly maligned comic book movies, Routh isn’t just a former Superman, he’s also a fan. Knowing that the next chapter in this storied character’s history entertained him, while also making him cry, is a joy to behold on its own.

Though as someone who also cried during Superman, I wonder which three scenes caused Brandon Routh’s eyes to leak? Perhaps I’ll have to see the movie again in an effort to guess.

Actors make good movies and actors make bad movies. It’s just the law of averages and part of the game. However, sometimes an actor shows up in a movie so repugnant that it becomes a detriment to their career or ruins it entirely. One day you’re winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the next you’re taking home some Razzies.

Come with us as we break down 32 movies that ruined an actor’s career and what made them so bad. The perennial A-listers who ran out of steam and up-and-comers whose rise to fame was cut short on this list are wild, to say the least.

The Love Guru (Mike Myers)

Mike Myers had a stellar career on Saturday Night Live and was one of the funniest movie stars of the latter part of the 20th century thanks to ‘90s comedy movies like Wayne’s World and Austin Powers franchises, but the 2000s weren’t as kind to the comedian. After a string of duds, Myers starred in 2008’s The Love Guru, a “comedy” so bad, so tasteless, and so unfunny that Myers never really rebounded outside of voice roles.

Showgirls (Elizabeth Berkley)

Elizabeth Berkley seemed like a star on the rise after ending her run on Saved by the Bell in the early ‘90s, but that all came crashing down after taking the lead role in Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama, Showgirls. Sure, the movie about a young drifter finding her place in Las Vegas’ showgirl scene is considered a cult classic years later, but there’s a reason we didn’t see too much of Berkley on the big screen after this one.

Batman & Robin (Alicia Silverstone)

Alicia Silverstone was one of the “it” girls of ‘90s cinema thanks to iconic performances in the likes of Clueless, The Crush, and all those Aerosmith videos, so it only seemed natural for her to land one of the lead roles in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately for Silverstone, and everyone else involved, the movie was abysmal and resulted in a complete reboot of the franchise, one that wouldn’t arrive until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins debuted nearly a decade later.

The Master Of Disguise (Dana Carvey)

Both before and after his SNL run, Dana Carvey appeared in classics like This Is Spinal Tap and Wayne’s World. That success would run dry with the 2002 release of The Master of Disguise, a movie that showcased Carvey’s zany characters, but not much else. 

Rollerball (Chris Klein)

Remember when Chris Klein seemed like a star in the making after great performances in Election and American Pie? Well, that was all ruined with the 2002 release of Rollerball, a remake of a better and more cohesive ‘70s movie of the same name. 

Norbit (Eddie Murphy)

Some of Eddie Murphy’s best movies were those where he played multiple characters, but Norbit is no Coming to America or The Nutty Professor. This 2007 comedy saw Murphy play an unhappily married couple and was received so poorly that people are still not convinced it didn't cost him an Oscar for his Dreamgirls performance.

Superman Returns (Brandon Routh)

It’s not like Brandon Routh never acted again after playing the titular hero in Superman Returns, but it’s safe to say his career never reached great heights after the 2006 movie either. He was great as Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Routh hasn’t had a remarkable go of it after having such a grand start.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Ahmed Best)

It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace was so bad. It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Jar Jar Binks has become one of the most detested characters in the galaxy far, far away. And it’s not Ahmed Best’s fault his career was ruined by the 1999 prequel film. 

In The Cut (Meg Ryan)

Meg Ryan was coming off a string of appearing in some of the best romantic comedies of all time when she took on a more dramatic role in the 2003 thriller, In the Cut. But for some reason, Jane Campion’s thriller about a woman getting wrapped up in a series of murders just didn’t work.

Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)

Battlefield Earth, with all of its Dutch angles, terrible lines, and over-the-top performances was so bad that it canceled out all the goodwill John Travolta earned with Pulp Fiction not even a decade earlier.

Soul Man (C. Thomas Howell)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, and  Red Dawn all made C. Thomas Howell one of the brightest young Hollywood stars in the early-to-mid ‘80s, but then came Soul Man, a movie in which he wore blackface. Howell’s been in scores of movies since, but most are direct-to-video or bargain bin material.

Son Of The Mask (Jamie Kennedy)

A sequel no one wanted, Son of the Mask brought in Jamie Kennedy to try and recapture the energy of Jim Carrey more than a decade earlier. Despite his best efforts, the Malibu’s Most Wanted and Scream star just couldn’t do it (maybe the script is to blame), and he never really rebounded. 

Sahara (Matthew McConaughey)

Though not Matthew McConaughey’s worst movie, Sahara is far from being his best. Released nearly a decade before the Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective star won all kinds of awards during the peak of the “McConaissance,” this 2005 dud was one of the straws that broke the camel’s back.

Abduction (Taylor Lautner)

Remember when Taylor Lautner seemed like one of the biggest stars on the planet and then abruptly disappeared? Well, we probably have Abduction, his 2011 action thriller to blame for that. Though he would have a few movies after the Twilight saga ended the next year, but Grown Ups 2 and The Ridiculous 6 finished off what Abduction started.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch)

John Carter was supposed to be the biggest movie and Taylor Kitsch was going to become the biggest action star, but neither happened after this 2012 box office disaster happened. The Friday Night Lights star would show up some more on the small screen in the years that followed with True Detective Season 2 and the bonkers Waco limited series.

The Godfather Part III (Sofia Coppola)

Before becoming one of the big filmmakers of her time and crafting movies like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Priscilla, Sofia Coppola began as an actress, appearing in many films by her father, Francis Ford Coppola. But that acting career pretty much came to an end following the release of The Godfather Part III, in which she replaced Winona Ryder and was then torn apart by critics.

Josie And The Pussycats (Rachael Leigh Cook)

In the late ‘90s, Rachael Leigh Cook became a massive star thanks to her take on Laney Boggs in She’s All That. But then came the 2001 adaptation of Josie and the Pussycats, a movie so bad that no one was safe from its fallout outside of Rosario Dawson and Parker Posey.

The Postman (Kevin Costner)

Kevin Costner was on top of the world when he decided to direct and star in The Postman. But unlike Dances with Wolves, which earned him multiple Oscars and a ton of praise, this 1997 sci-fi epic didn’t impress anyone and set the actor back a bit. He’s since rebounded, but it’s not hard to imagine “what if” in this case.

After Earth (Jaden Smith)

With memorable performances in The Pursuit of Happyness and The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith seemed like the next second-generation star to take over Hollywood. But then came After Earth, a forgettable (at best) sci-fi thriller alongside his dad, Will Smith. 

Pinocchio (Roberto Benigni)

For a while there, it seemed like Roberto Benigni couldn’t do anything wrong as both an actor and filmmaker. Well, that all changed with his 2002 adaptation of Pinocchio, specifically the English dub, which earned a stunning 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. He’s only appeared in a handful of movies since, including the 2019 adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale.

The Passion Of The Christ (Jim Caviezel)

Though he’ll always be recognizable thanks to his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel’s career was never the same after this historic film. He’s still making movies, but not on the same level as The Thin Red Line, The Rock, or G.I. Jane, though his run on Person of Interest was impressive.

Cutthroat Island (Matthew Modine)

A few years before the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise took the pirate genre to new heights, Matthew Modine starred in 1995’s Cutthroat Island, a movie that would prove to be detrimental to his career for years to come. Modine would later find success again after working on shows like Weeds and Stranger Things, but it would take many years to get there.

Catwoman (Halle Berry)

Halle Berry was an Oscar-winning actress when she took on the lead role in Catwoman, which is often considered one of the worst superhero movies of all time. And while it would take a few years for the stink to wash off, Berry did have some fun with the experience and even accepted her own Razzy.

The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp)

The Lone Ranger somehow received an Oscar nomination, which doesn’t make sense considering it stopped Armie Hammer from becoming a massive action star and cooled off Johnny Depp’s incredible box office run. Aside from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Depp hasn’t had a whole lot of success since.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Sean Connery)

Sean Connery famously retired from acting after appearing in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a shame because the late James Bond actor’s swan song was out of tune and off-key, to say the least. This abysmal book-to-screen adaptation of one of the best graphic novels of the 20th century is often forgotten 20-plus years after its release, and it’s probably for the better.

Welcome To Mooseport (Gene Hackman)

Gene Hackman has had one of the best careers in Hollywood history, but that all came to an end after the release of Welcome to Mooseport. Hackman, who seems to be living a quiet and reclusive life these days, hasn’t been on screen since this 2004 comedy starring Ray Romano. Though not the worst movie ever made, this box office and critical dud didn’t do anyone any favors.

Howard The Duck (Lea Thompson)

An ‘80s movie that has not stood the test of time, Howard the Duck is one of those comic book movies that came out before Hollywood figured things out when it came to the genre. Though Robin Williams jumped ship and salvaged his career, Lea Thompson wasn’t as lucky and went through a tough stage before finally rebounding.

Freddy Got Fingered (Tom Green)

Freddy Got Fingered was never supposed to be a good movie, but Tom Green’s bonkers big-screen gross-fest was enough to turn people off to the idea of the MTV personality and prankster ever getting a large sum of cash ever again. Those who have seen it know why, and those who haven’t should be warned.

Chairman Of The Board (Carrot Top)

Carrot Top is still making the rounds as a prop comedian, but the eccentric showman has not been given the lead role in a movie since the disaster of Chairman of the Board. Forgettable even by ‘90s standards, this movie was made for an audience of one: its star.

Boat Trip (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Cuba Gooding Jr. in the ‘90s: Boyz n the Hood, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets. Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000s: Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Boat Trip. That last film was tasteless, awkward, and just about killed the Oscar winner’s career.

Corky Ramano (Chris Katan)

Though not everyone from SNL can become a Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, or Bill Murray, it at least seemed like Chris Katan would find some success outside of Studio 8H. However, he had to go make Corky Ramano, which is probably the worst comedy to come from the group.

The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin)

The Great Dictator is a great movie, and perhaps one of the best of Charlie Chaplin’s career. However, it now has a legacy of poking fun at Adolf Hitler during a time in which the Nazi leader was systematically exterminating tens of millions of innocent souls across the Atlantic.

As we speak, the much-discussed Superman – the first film in Chapter 1 of the DCU continuity – is filming under the watchful eye of writer/director James Gunn. And rising actor David Corenswet is playing the role of the eponymous hero. Corenswet is obviously far from the first actor to portray the character in a live-action production, as many have come before him, including Brandon Routh. The veteran actor is still highly synonymous with the role, which is why he was recently asked about the advice he’d give to his successors. Routh provided cerebral thoughts, and I hope Corenswet is taking notes.

What Did Brandon Routh Have To Say To Future Superman Actors?

It’s somewhat hard to believe that it’s been nearly two decades since Brandon Routh first donned the red cape and boots for 2006’s Superman Returns. He put in a strong performance as Clark Kent, which is why a number of people were disappointed when Routh’s sequel was scrapped. Nevertheless, he continues to speak highly of his time in the role, and he even played Supes again in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event several years ago. So, needless to say, he has quite a bit of history with one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. 

The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World star appeared at ACE Superhero Comic Con this past weekend, during which he discussed his career during a Q&A session. Later in the conversation, which was captured by Nerdtropolis, the host asked him if he had any suggestions to share for those who’d play the DC character in the future. The Iowa native paused for a moment after the question was posed, likely to gather his thoughts. He then began to talk about the value of the character’s powers – and I’m not talking about super strength, X-ray vision or flight: 

What he seems to be saying is that the Big Blue Boy Scout has the ability to save so many people. However, Brandon Routh also seems to be suggesting that through his heroics, the character should inspire others to be more proactive and be heroes in their own right. I’m not talking about being a costumed do-gooder but simply someone who chooses to do what’s right and “saves” others and themself when it’s needed. Of course, that’s not all there is to the character, as Routh shared another one of his key attributes:

The defender of Metropolis is indeed love, as he’s shown that he has a large propensity for it. Yes, the character is honest with people and will let them know if he sees them doing something wrong. Still, he doesn’t judge, which is incredibly powerful. All in all, the Dylan Dog actor shared some great observations, and I’d hope that the latest actor to suit up as the Man of Steel would heed the advice – if he ever hears it. 

Why David Corenswet Would Be Wise To Keep These Thoughts In Mind

Please don’t get me wrong, as I have a lot of confidence in James Gunn and David Corenswet’s vision for the DCU’s version of Superman. I was ecstatic over Gunn’s costume reveal, and I appreciate the small details he’s been sharing, which indicate his views on what the character stands for. Nevertheless, I still hope that the comments shared by the Returns star align with what’s being planned. Corenswet definitely looks the part, though I’m hopeful that he’ll maintain the character’s humanity. Part of that also includes Clark Kent’s desire to be a prime example of what’s possible when it comes to the sheer integrity of one’s character. 

When I keep re-reading Brandon Routh’s comments, what I really can’t stop thinking about are his comments on the “non-physical superpowers.” The character absolutely needs to help people, as that’s a core part of who he is. However, like so many of us try to do, he has to also help people help themselves. It may be a corny comparison, but the “teach a man to fish” analogy that Routh makes is appropriate. Again, this feeds back into the idea that we can all be heroes in our own right in some way.

Time will tell if David Corenswet’s performance and James Gunn’s screenplay convey those elements but, again, I’m confident in what they seem to be cooking up. As far as progress on Superman is going, in late May, Gunn confirmed that filming was a little over halfway completed. Throughout the shoot, he’s also been sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits involving some of his stars like Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, who’s playing Lois. What I found to be really special, though, is that Gunn’s been in touch with the family of the character’s late co-creator Jerry Siegel, who visited him during production. 

If you ask me, there’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to this upcoming superhero movie. I can’t wait to see the leading man take flight in the titular role and put his own stamp on the character. I’ll also keep thinking about Brandon Routh’s advice and will remain hopeful that anyone – whether they play Supes in live-action or animation – will listen and take it to heart. 

Superman is set to open in theaters on July 11 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. You can also check out Brandon Routh in Superman Returns by streaming the film with a Max subscription. 

There are some actors whose entire careers are defined by their most iconic role or by their best performance (which are not always one and the same). There are also some actors who really only have one well-known role or acclaimed performance to their name, while the majority of their career continues to live in obscurity or even ridicule. The following are some notable examples of actors who never really got to shine beyond that movie or TV show that clicked.

Sam Worthington (The Avatar Movies)

Sam Worthington's performance as Jake Sully in 2009's Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water from 2022 is not exactly "acclaimed." However, James Cameron's blockbuster sci-fi franchise is the only thing on the actor's resume that has managed to make a substantial connection with audiences and can be called a rousing success.

Hayden Christensen (Shattered Glass)

Playing Anakin Skywalker in the two latter installments of George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy has earned Hayden Christensen equal amounts of fame and ridicule that has haunted him most of his career. That is because not enough people know about 2003's intense journalism drama Shattered Glass, in which he gives his best performance as real-life fraudulent reporter Stephen Glass.

Tom Arnold (True Lies)

For years, Tom Arnold's claim to fame was his marriage to Roseanne Barr and, when reviewing his filmography, it remains what he is best known for to this day. Yet, he does have the honor of playing Arnold Schwarzenegger's right-hand man in True Lies, a role he almost did not get, if not for the insistence of writer and director James Cameron.

Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)

Brandon Routh was relatively unknown when he was cast as Clark Kent in 2006’s Superman Returns — a role that should have earned immediate entry to the A-list. While he does have an amusing reputation for playing multiple comic book characters — including Todd Ingram in the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast — his one-time donning the old red and blues remains the peak of his fame.

Linda Blair (The Exorcist)

One of the top horror movie Scream Queens of all time is undeniably Linda Blair for her Academy Award-nominated role as Regan MacNeil in 1973’s The Exorcist. However, the demonically possessed 12-year-old is still the only character most mainstream audiences associate with the actor.

Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects)

Stephen Baldwin has a scene-stealing turn as Michael McManus in the classic 1995 crime thriller, The Usual Suspects. However, because his remaining credits have never quite lived up to that performance — or the film itself — most would call him an unusual suspect for mainstream success these days.

Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense)

Haley Joel Osment is still a steadily working actor, appearing in notable films like Kevin Smith’s Tusk and hit TV shows like The Boys. Yet, any time he does show up onscreen, we would not be surprised if he still regularly identified as “the kid who saw dead people in 1999’s The Sixth Sense.”

Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls)

You could argue that Lacey Chabert really did come close to making “fetch” happen with her standout role in 2004’s Mean Girls as Gretchen Wieners. While she has made a name for herself elsewhere with voice acting and leading several Hallmark Channel originals, the gossipy plastic is still the singular defining moment of her career.

Steven Seagal (Under Siege)

Even most of the fans who consider Steven Seagal to be one of the top action movie stars of the ‘90s might agree that he really only has one true quality film to his name: Under Siege. Both a critical and commercial success, director Andrew Davis’ Oscar-nominated 1992 thriller stars Seagal as a former Navy SEAL serving as a cook on a battleship taken over by terrorists.

Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee)

Can you name another character played by Paul Hogan who is not the title character from the 1986 fish-out-of-water movie classic, Crocodile Dundee? The eponymous Outback hunter was also the brainchild of the Australian actor, whose career has been almost completely overshadowed by the role.

Roddy Piper (They Live)

To be fair, the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s main claim to fame was professional wrestling, but his subsequent film career was nowhere near close to on par with, say, Dwayne Johnson or John Cena. At least he can say that he was the star of one of John Carpenter’s best movies, They Live, in the memorable role of an impromptu alien hunter, John Nada.

Alicia Silverstone (Clueless)

Had 1997’s Batman & Robin been a hit, Alicia Silverstone could have been one of the best Batgirl actors ever and her career could have flourished from it. Instead, her breakthrough film role as Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless is the single performance she is most acclaimed and recognized for.

Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone)

Macaulay Culkin’s career beyond child stardom has certainly had its highlights, such as his role in Party Monster, his appearance on American Horror Story Season 10, and his podcast, The Bunny Ears Podcast. However, after all these years, it is still difficult to see him as anyone other than the young, mischievous Kevin McCallister from the Home Alone movies.

Rupert Grint (The Harry Potter Movies)

We do not mean to discredit Rupert Grint’s performances in the Snatch TV show, M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, or anything else he has done outside of the Harry Potter movies. However, the British actor will always be Ron Weasley in our hearts.

Jessica Alba (Sin City)

Anyone who does not love actor and entrepreneur Jessica Alba probably has not seen her performance as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in 2005’s Sin City, which is the single most acclaimed title in her filmography. She did earn a Golden Globe nomination for a breakthrough role in Dark Angel, but that short-lived sci-fi series is largely forgotten these days.

Robert Englund (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Playing Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise made Robert Englund a horror movie icon and earned him a long career of countless other spooky roles. Yet, have any of his subsequent credits — horror or otherwise — been nearly as popular as the grotesque, razor-glove-wielding boogeyman? Maybe in his dreams.

Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Edward Furlong made a stunning acting debut in the pivotal role of a teenage John Connor in one of the greatest action movies of all time, 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Unfortunately, his career never reached the same level of prowess or popularity again, which can be partially attributed to his history of substance abuse.

Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That)

Actor and model Rachael Leigh Cook has had a steady career all her life. However, none of her credits have quite stood the test of time like the 1999 teen movie favorite, She’s All That, which spawned a Netflix original gender-swapped remake, He’s All That, in which she appeared in a new role.

Anthony Perkins (Psycho)

Anthony Perkins is considered one the biggest Hollywood stars of his time, but only for one role in particular: Norman Bates in one of the greatest horror movies of all time — Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic, Psycho. He would actually reprise the murderous momma’s boy and motel manager twice more in 1983’s Psycho II and Psycho III, the latter of which he also directed three years later.

David Schwimmer (Friends)

Much of the Friends cast managed to outlive their roles on the hit sitcom with versatile projects that helped them avoid being typecast. We cannot quite say the same about David Schwimmer, whose distinct portrayal of Ross Gellar seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

Jaden Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness)

Seven-year-old Jaden Smith made a promising debut as the onscreen son of his real-life father, Will Smith, in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, but very few of his roles since have made a genuine impression on critics and audiences. That being said, the older he got, his acting roles became less frequent as he focused more on his music career.

Carrie Henn (Aliens)

If you ever wondered what happened to Newt from Aliens, she became one of the many child stars who walked away from Hollywood, but did so quicker than most, as the 1986 sci-fi classic is her only acting credit. So, in this case, we can call Carrie Henn — who went on to become a teacher — an acting “one-hit-wonder” by choice.

Alex Winter (The Bill & Ted Movies)

Alex Winter had such astonishing chemistry with Keanu Reeves as the dim-witted, titular heroes of the Bill & Ted movies. Yet, while Reeves climbed up the A-list, Winter never really found a role as popular as Bill S. Preston, Esq. He would find some success working as director in film and TV, however.

Fran Drescher (The Nanny)

Actor and comedian Fran Drescher earned rousing success when she co-created the hit sitcom The Nanny, in which she also starred as Fran Fine. The boisterous character remains her most famous role to date, as Drescher is better known today for being elected President of SAG-AFTRA in 2021.

Adam West (Batman)

The late Adam West is, undeniably, one of the most legendary live-action Batman actors, having played Bruce Wayne in the classic 1960s TV show, its feature-length spin-off, and two animated films decades later. However, he is really the only one in that club so far who can say that playing Batman is the singular defining role of his career.

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite)

As the title hero of 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite, Jon Heder gave one of the most legendarily bizarre and uniquely funny performances in a comedy movie for its time, if not all time. The success of the indie sleeper hit would garner more roles for the actor, but none that earned nearly the same acclaim or notoriety.

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm In The Middle)

Playing the fourth-wall-breaking title role of Malcolm in the Middle in the early 2000s made Frankie Muniz one of the top child stars of his time, but his subsequent success later in life was decidedly hit or miss. He still acts to this day but has also taken up a career in NASCAR racing.

Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous)

Whatever happened to Patrick Fugit — the actor who launched his career in 2000 by leading the Almost Famous cast as young, aspiring music reporter William Miller? There’s a good chance you have seen him in one of his many credits over the years — such as Gone Girl or 2022’s Babylon — but just failed to recognize him. 

Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy)

Katherine Heigl had a relatively successful run in movies, especially as the female lead of 2007’s Knocked Up, which she famously spoke negatively of. Said comments would actually have a negative impact on her career and, thus, her Emmy-winning role on in the Grey’s Anatomy cast as Dr. Izzie Stevens in the mid-2000s is still her most famous and commendable role.

Peter Ostrum (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)

At the end of 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, poor Charlie Bucket becomes wealthy after the titular chocolatier (Gene Wilder) gives his factory to him. As for the actor who plays the lucky boy, Peter Ostrum, he immediately abandoned his acting career in favor of becoming a veterinarian.

Bo Derek (10)

Bo Derek is an undisputed legend in the modeling industry, but we cannot quite say the same about her acting career. She did have one acclaimed hit to her name, however, in the form of Blake Edwards’ Oscar-nominated, 1979 rom-com, 10, opposite Dudley Moore.

Justin Chatwin (War Of The Worlds)

If you are not sure who Justin Chatwin is, there are two movies we could name that could help you identify him. There is Steven Spielberg’s 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds, in which he plays Tom Cruise’s onscreen son, and there is also 2009’s universally reviled live-action anime adaptation, Dragonball: Evolution, in which he was grossly miscast as Goku.

For the actors above who are still with us and are still interested in the craft, we hope to see them in another surefire hit soon enough.

In 2012, Arrow premiered on The CW and kicked off a shared universe of DC Comics properties on television. The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Black Lightning followed, and for nearly a decade, this franchise delivered interconnected stories that channeled the same appeal that their comic book source material had been doing for decades. Many superheroes were featured in the Arrowverse, but we’re here to talk about 32 that had major roles in the franchise.

Before going further, there are some stipulations to point out. First, these characters need to have been established in the comics as superheroes before they were introduced in the Arrowverse, hence why characters like Nia Nal/Dreamer, Sara Lance/White Canary and John Diggle/Spartan aren’t on here. Second, these characters need to be chiefly known as heroes in the comics, which is why the likes of Captain Cold, Heat Wave and Killer Frost won’t be mentioned. Finally, we’re only covering the six live-action shows that made up the main Arrowverse continuity, both pre and post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths,” so don’t go looking for people from shows like Superman & Lois and Stargirl.

Green Arrow

Arrow starred Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, and while he initially went by The Hood and The Arrow, this version of Oliver finally started going by Green Arrow in Season 4. In addition to his eight seasons leading Arrow, Amell’s Oliver participated in all the biggest Arrowverse crossover events. He died in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” but fans got to reunite with him in the Arrow series finale and The Flash episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To.”

The Flash

Oliver Queen may have ushered in the Arrowverse, but it wasn’t until Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen got struck by that bolt of lightning that this franchise started getting truly fantastical and fully embracing its superhero roots. Barry protected the citizens of Central City for nine seasons of The Flash, and he was also present for every big Arrowverse crossover event. This Barry also had the unique privilege of being the only Arrowverse hero to cross over with the DCEU, as he met Ezra Miller’s Flash in “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Supergirl

Although Supergirl originally debuted on CBS, it was established to take part in the wider Arrowverse continuity when Barry Allen traveled to the Earth of Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers late in Season 1. Those ties only grew stronger once the show moved to The CW, and from there, Kara rounded out the Arrowverse’s main trinity of superheroes with Barry and Oliver Queen. At the end of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” Kara’s Earth merged with the franchise’s main Earth, so Supergirl concluded its six-season run in the same world where the majority of her superhero cohorts now live.

Batwoman

Initially Batwoman starred Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, the same character who holds the mantle in the comics. However, following Rose’s exit post-Season 1, Ryan Wilder (seen above) was created to take over as the vigilante, with Javicia Leslie being cast to play her. Batwoman only lasted three seasons, but both Kate (later played by Wallis Day) and Ryan still stood out as important heroes before, during and after that time, with the former appearing in both the “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths crossovers,” and the latter both reprising her role on The Flash and playing an evil speedster version of Ryan called Red Death early in Season 9.

Black Lightning

When Black Lightning came along, there was absolutely nothing connecting it to the Arrowverse. Jefferson Pierce’s return to superheroing unfolded in its own corner of the multiverse, but then “Crisis on Infinite Earths” came along and merged his Earth with the main Arrowverse Earth and Supergirl’s. Cress Williams would later reprise Jefferson for an episode of The Flash Season 8, but it was across Black Lightning’s four-season run where he shined best, with no one but the allies in his immediate circle on hand to help him out.

Black Canary

Five individuals held the Black Canary mantle in the Arrowverse: Sara Lance, the Laurel Lance from Earth-1, Evelyn Sharp, Dinah Drake (seen above), and the Laurel Lance from Earth-2. Of those five, the two Laurels and Dinah were able to unleash a sonic scream on their enemies, although Earth-1’s Laurel’s came from a device rather than as a metahuman ability like the other two. There had been plans for Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy to continue respectively playing Earth-2 Laurel and Dinah alongside Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak in a Green Arrow & The Canaries spinoff, but it was never picked up.

The Atom

Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer debuted at the beginning of Arrow Season 3, where he would unveil his A.T.O.M. exosuit. After initially having been presumed dead by the end of the season, Ray resurfaced in Season 4 having been revealed to be shrunken to the size of an atom, and he was able to incorporate shrinking into his exosuit. From there, he became one of the founding Legends of Tomorrow and stuck around on that show as a series regular until midway through Season 5.

Arsenal

By Arrow Season 3, Colton Haynes’ Roy Harper, who’d already appeared in the first two seasons, had taken up archery and joined Oliver Queen in fighting crime as Arsenal, though he was also called Red Arrow by the media. Although Roy had to leave Team Arrow that same season after he masqueraded as The Arrow and faked his death, he would still pop in and out of the show throughout the rest of Arrow’s run to help out his friends. He also followed in his comic book counterpart’s footsteps by gaining a cybernetic arm.

Speedy

The second Speedy in the comics was Mia Dearden, so it was only appropriate that Willa Holland's Thea Queen, who was a loose adaptation of the character, also received that name. When Roy left Star City, he left his Arsenal costume behind, and she made adjustments to it so she could wear it out in the field and join her brother Oliver as a bow-and-arrow-wielding superhero. Eventually she embarked on a personal crusade to battle the Thanatos Guild.

Vibe

Carlos Valdés’ Cisco Ramon was already a valued member of Team Flash at the beginning as its tech genius, but after he discovered he was a metahuman capable of manipulating dimensional energy, he became Vibe. Cisco took a metahuman cure in Season 5, but he continued to fight crime as Mecha-Vibe using a suit that provided him with some of his former powers until he left in Season 7 to join A.R.G.U.S.

Superman

I know, I said I wouldn’t include anybody from Superman & Lois on this list. However, in this case, I’m talking about the Superman from Earth-38/Earth-Prime. In other words, this is the Clark Kent who appeared on Supergirl and participated in “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” We’d assumed he was also the one leading Superman & Lois until it was revealed that show is set on another Earth.

Martian Manhunter

Originally Supergirl viewers thought David Harewood was playing Hank Henshaw, the man who became Cyborg Superman in the comics. But early in Season 1, it was revealed that his character was actually J’onn J’onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter, who assumed Henshaw’s identity to try and do good as the director of the Department of Extranormal Operations. Harewood would later play the sinister Henshaw for a few episodes, but it was J’onn who stuck around for all of Supergirl as one of Kara’s most important allies.

Elongated Man

Ralph Dibny gained his elastic powers from The Thinker’s machinations in The Flash Season 4, and after being stabilized, he joined Team Flash to help them fight crime as Elongated Man. Hartley Sawyer portrayed the character through to the end of Season 6, but after the actor was fired from the show, a stand-in performer was used for the Season 7 premiere. While healing from some major burns, Ralph decided to leave Team Flash to travel the world with Sue Dearbon and dismantle various criminal organizations.

Vixen

Although Mari McCabe, the Vixen from the comics, was played by Megalyn Echikunwoke in the Vixen and The Ray animated web series, as well as an episode of Arrow, it was the character’s grandmother, Amaya Jiwe (seen above), who got more attention in the Arroverse. An original character created for Legends of Tomorrow, Amaya, played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers, was active as Vixen during World War II as a Justice Society member, and after traveling through time with the Legends for a while, she returned to her original time period at the end of Season 3. Richardson-Sellers then stuck around a few more seasons as a shapeshifter named Charlie.

Firestorm

Just like in the comics, the Arrowverse’s original Firestorm duo consisted of Robbie Amell’s Ronnie Raymond and Victor Garber’s Martin Stein, with the two being recurring characters in The Flash Season 1. However, after Ronnie died in the Season 2 premiere, Stein merged a few episodes later with Franz Drameh’s Jefferson “Jax” Jackson (seen above), and the two went on to join the Legends of Tomorrow. That’s where they stayed until Stein died in the “Crisis on Earth X” crossover, prompting Jax to leave and resume his normal life.

John Constantine

Although NBC’s Constantine series only lasted one season, Matt Ryan was able to keep playing the trenchcoat-wearing sorcerer in multiple other ways, most notably in the Arrowverse. Following a guest appearance in Arrow Season 4, he returned two years later in Legends of Tomorrow, where he eventually became part of the team and hung around until the end of Season 6. Even then, Ryan remained on the series to play Gwyn Davies, the inventor of time travel.

Kid Flash

Depicted as Iris West’s long-lost brother rather than her nephew like in the comics, Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West was introduced midway through The Flash Season 2. After Season 3’s premiere showed him as the Kid Flash of the Flashpoint timeline, the main version of Wally gained super speed when Doctor Alchemy restored his powers from that other reality. Wally exited as a series regular at the beginning of The Flash Season 4, but would later make guest appearances in Seasons 6 and 9, as well as appearing in the latter half of Legends of Tomorrow Season 3.

Jay Garrick

After it was revealed that the Jay Garrick that viewers had been following along with in The Flash Season 2 was really the sinister Zoom, the real Jay was revealed at the end of that season to be a doppelgänger of Henry Allen from Earth-3. With John Wesley Shipp having played Barry Allen in The Flash TV show from 1990 (whom he also reprised in “Elseworlds and “Crisis on Infinite Earths”), it was only fitting that he also play this veteran speedster as well.

Thunder/Blackbird

If you’re making a show about Black Lightning, then it’s only appropriate that you include his superhero daughters too. The first of them was Nafessa Williams’ Anissa Pierce, a.k.a. Thunder, although there were also various instances where she went by the moniker Blackbird. Unlike her father and sister, Anissa didn’t generate and manipulate electricity, but rather was able to manipulate her density with her breathing, giving her super strength and durability.

Lightning

Like her superhero name clearly indicates, not only did Jennifer Pierce inherit the same kind of powers as her father, but she also had the added ability to generate electricity on her own rather than just manipulate it like Jefferson. China Anne McClain played Jennifer for the majority of Black Lightning’s run, but for a good chunk of Season 4, Laura Kariuki took over the role, though this was later revealed to be an ionosphere entity who stole her identity.

Mister Terrific

After being introduced in Arrow Season 4 as a Palmer Technologies employee who worked closely with Felicity Smoak, Echo Kellum’s Curtis Holt (rather than Michael Holt, like in the comics) officially joined Team Arrow at the beginning of Season 5, taking the identity Mr. Terrific, which had previously belonged to his favorite wrestler. Curtis stuck with the team until the end of Season 6, and from there he briefly worked for A.R.G.U.S., then took a job in Washington D.C.

Wild Dog

Instead of using Jack Wheeler from the comics, Arrow gave that superhero identity to the original character Rene Ramirez, played by Rick Gonzalez. Although frequently hotheaded, Rene was nonetheless another valued member of Team Arrow for many seasons, though there was a period where he, Curtis and Dinah formed their own group. Eventually, Rene retired from being Wild Dog and became mayor of Star City by the end of the show.

XS

While XS is indeed a character from the comics, The Flash’s version of her is a melding of her and Barry Allen’s daughter, who was known as Dawn in the comics. In this show, while it’s implied that’s what Jessica Parker Kennedy’s character used to be named too, changes to the timeline led to her being named Nora, after Barry’s mother. The original version of Kennedy’s Nora was erased from the timeline after Cicada’s dagger was destroyed, but fortunately, a new version of her came into being afterward.

Impulse

Rather than being Barry Allen’s grandson like in the comics, Jordan Fisher’s Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse, is depicted as Barry and Iris West’s son, i.e. Nora’s sister. Introduced towards the end of Season 7, and a speedster just like his father and Nora, Impulse shared a special connection with Jay Garrick and had already made an enemy out of Godspeed from his time period.

Guardian

In Supergirl, the Guardian mantle was held by the Olsen siblings rather than Jim Harper or Mal Duncan. James Olsen first started fighting crime as Guardian in Season 2, with Winn Schott making him his suit and shield. Then in Season 6, one season after Mehcad Brooks stopped playing James as a series regular, Azie Tesfai’s Kelly Olsen (seen above) took over as the new Guardian, although James did don his costume one last time in the series finale.

Citizen Steel

Nick Zano’s Nate Heywood joined Legends of Tomorrow at the beginning of Season 2, gaining the ability to transform his body into steel from an experimental serum. This power is more like Colossus’ from the X-Men than the Nate from the comics, but it was a welcome one to have until mustard gas eroded the steel in Season 7, which led to him retiring from the team. This version of Nate also simply went by Steel rather than Citizen Steel, not to be confused with the John Henry Irons Steel.

Mon-El

Hailing from Daxam, a planet populated by Kryptonian offshoots, Mon-El gained the same kind of superpowers as Supergirl when he landed on Earth. However, because he was a spoiled prince from the Daxamite monarchy, it took a while for him to start behaving like a hero. Mon-El and Kara fell in love, but while Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist married in real life, it wasn’t meant to be for the characters. Mon-El ended up traveling to the 31st century and joined the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Batwing

When Batwoman began, Luke Fox initially started out working behind the scenes to help Kate Kane out, having already been keeping Wayne Tower secure on Batman’s behalf. Then in Season 2, Campus Johnson’s character began his own superhero journey, one which culminated in him constructing a supersuit and becoming Batwing, just like in the comics.

Brainiac 5

Brainiac 5 was one of Mon-El’s teammates in the Legion of Super-Heroes, and together with Saturn Girl, they traveled back to the present day in Supergirl Season 3. By the end of that season, Winn Schott decided to travel to the future to stop an AI-killing virus, Jesse Rath’s Brainiac 5, a.k.a. Brainy, stayed in the present and became one of Supergirl’s most valued allies. He also formed a romantic relationship with Nia Nal.

Hawkgirl

Although both Hawkgirl and Harman appeared in Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 following their introductions in the “Heroes Join Forces Crossover,” Ciara Renée’s Kendra Saunders unquestionably had the bigger role. After her version of Carter Hall was killed by Vandal Savage, she joined the Legends to help try to defeat the villain across time. By the end of Season 1, Kendra and a later incarnation of Carter left after Vandal was finally killed for good.

Rip Hunter

Arthur Darvill’s Rip Hunter, one of DC Comics’ greatest time travelers, assembled the Legends of Tomorrow to help him stop Vandal Savage. Season 2 saw him bring brainwashed by the Legion of Doom, but fortunately, their programming was erased, and he then decided to leave the Legends after realizing he had nothing left to teach them. He then spent the next five years of his personal timeline forming the Time Bureau, but by the end of Season 3, Rip sacrificed his stop the demon Mallus.

Jesse Quick

Rather than being Jesse Chambers like in the comics, The Flash’s version of Jesse Quick was Jesse Wells, the daughter of Earth-2’s Harrison Wells. Violett Beane's character gained her super speed after being exposed to dark matter during an attempt to restore Barry Allen’s own speed. By Season 3, she began fighting crime on Earth-2, and occasionally on Earth-1, as Jesse Quick. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Jesse was restored to life in the new multiverse created during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

While the Arrowverse is over, these 32 will be remembered as some of its most prominent superheroes, and there are plenty of others we could spend time talking about. They’re just among the many reasons why this franchise will continue being enjoyed for years to come.

While the majority of Brandon Routh’s time in the Arrowverse was spent playing Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, in late 2019 and early 2020, the actor was given the opportunity to reprise Superman, the role that made him famous worldwide. The five-part Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover on The CW picked up with this version of the Man of Steel many years after the events of Superman Returns, and he was still keeping Earth-96 safe following the recreation of the multiverse. Now one of the Arrowverse’s creators has shared that he’s been talking about bringing Routh’s Superman back for an upcoming DC TV show, and I’m really hoping this happens.

Over on his X (formerly known as Twitter), Marc Guggenheim, who created Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, chimed in after he was tagged on a thread heaping praise upon Brandon Routh’s Kingdom Come-inspired Superman suit from Crisis on Infinite Earths. When one of the fans mentioned how they wish Routh could have led a 12-episode TV adaptation of All-Star Superman, Guggenheim mentioned:

It’s been a little over four years since Crisis on Infinite Earths finished airing, but Guggenheim and Routh are still keen on the latter’s Superman flying across the small screen again and have been formulating a way to bring him back. To be clear, this doesn’t mean such a series is happening, although though since Superman & Lois is ending with Season 4, this could easily fill the void it’s leaving behind. Other live-action Superman TV shows that have aired over the decades include The Adventures of Superman, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Smallville, with Tom Welling, the star of that latter show, having also reprised his Kal-El/Clark Kent in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

When we reunited with Brandon Routh’s Superman in the crossover, it was revealed that his Earth’s Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and other friends were killed when a “reject from Gotham” gassed The Daily Planet building. Despite suffering such loss, this Superman continued to fight for what’s right, and the black background of his S crest was meant to represent how “hope cut through” even in the darkest times. However, after Earth-96 and the rest of the multiverse was restored, this Superman went back to wearing a yellow background on his crest, implying that in this new version of reality, his loved ones are still alive. 

As great as the prospect of this series that Marc Guggenheim and Brandon Routh have been talking about sounds, the one obstacle that might prevent it from ever seeing the light of day is the fact that there are various other live-action Superman projects in development. Superman: Legacy is slated for July 2025 and is considered the “true beginning” of the DC Universe’s Chapter One slate; Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Superman movie, which would star a Black lead, is still in development as an Elseworlds project; and in 2021, it was reported that Michael B. Jordan was developing a series focused on the Val-Zod version of Superman for Max. That’s a pretty crowded playing field, but even so, I do sincerely hope that Routh does get to play Superman again someday, whether it’s in this proposed series or somewhere else.

If you’d like to revisit Brandon Routh’s previous Superman outings, Superman Returns can be viewed with a Max subscription. You’ll need both that and a Netflix subscription to stream all five parts of Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Every once in a while, there is a movie that truly changes a generation and brings us a cast that is the definition of star-studded. You can’t help but look back on it and wonder, “How were there so many stars in this movie?” Well, friends, I’m here to bring you back to a movie that released in 2010 that had exactly that – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. 

The film didn’t do so well at the box office, but ended up becoming a cult classic, so much so that it was announced in 2023 that there would be an anime adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, but using the exact same cast from the film. But, where is the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast now? And what are they doing? With a cast full of stars, this is what they’ve been up to – and what you can catch them in. 

And, let me just say here – every single one of these actors is going to be in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World anime that is coming out, and reprising their roles, which is awesome.

Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim)

First up on the list is Michael Cera, who portrayed the titular character in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Cera has been in many movies and television shows since his big appearance in the adaptation, and you’ve most likely seen him somewhere. Besides continuing his main role Arrested Development, Cera also had parts in shows such as Burning Love, Drunk History, and Life and Beth. 

In terms of movies, he’s appeared in several comedies, including This Is The End, Magic Magic, The Lego Batman Movie, Sausage Party (which is getting a spinoff series) and more. Coming up, he’s going to be in Barbie, as well as a film called Dream Scenario.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers)

Next up, we have Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who portrayed Ramona Flowers. Winstead has had quite the career since her role in the cult classic. Some of her biggest movies thus far include 2011’s The Thing, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Spectacular Now, 10 Cloverfield Lane, All About Nina, Birds of Prey, and Kate, and coming up, she’s going to have a role in a new film called Moscow. 

She’s also had roles in television as well, including parts in The Returned, Brain Dead and Mercy Street. 

Kieran Culkin (Wallace Wells)

Kieran Culkin played Wallace Wells, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been hearing his name a lot lately, largely for his main role on the hit HBO show, Succession, for which he’s received critical acclaim. However, Culkin has done plenty more in movies and TV. 

With films, he’s been in Movie 43, Quitters, Infinity Baby and No Sudden Move, but on television, he also had a main role in Fargo in Season 4, as well as a big part in Go Fish. He also had a guest role in the hilarious Hulu comedy, Solar Opposites. Soon, he’s going to be in a new movie called A Real Pain. 

Chris Evans (Lucas Lee)

Chris Evans exploded onto the scene after his role as Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. While he was known for his appearances in teen comedies beforehand, after this film he took on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he held onto for almost a decade.

Besides that, he’s also appeared in films such as the hit Knives Out, Snowpiercer, Lightyear, The Gray Man on Netflix, Gifted, 2023’s Ghosted and more. He was also one of the leads in the Apple TV+ series, Defending Jacob.

Coming up, he’s going to be in Red One alongside Dwayne Johnson, and Pain Hustlers.

Anna Kendrick (Stacey Pilgrim)

Another star who blew up after Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was Anna Kendrick, who plays Stacey Pilgrim. Kendrick received a lot of acclaim for her lead role in the Pitch Perfect movie franchise, but has also appeared in films such as the last of the Twilight movies, ParaNorman, End of Watch, Life After Beth, A Simple Favour alongside Blake Lively, Alice, Darling and more. She also has one of the lead roles in the Trolls movie franchise. 

Besides movies, Kendrick has also had plenty of time on television. Not only has she hosted SNL, but she was the main star of Season 1 of Love Life, an awesome HBO Max original show that you should really watch if given the chance. Soon, she’s going to be in the next Trolls movie, Trolls Band Together, and a new movie called The Dating Game. 

Brie Larson (Natalie V. "Envy" Adams)

See what I told you, when there’s just been star after star? Brie Larson played Envy Adams and continued to shine on with even bigger roles right after. She took on the part of Captain Marvel in the MCU, and is going to be playing her again in the upcoming film, The Marvels. 

Aside from that, Larson has appeared in movies such as 21 Jump Street, Don Jon, The Spectacular Now, The Gambler, The Glass Castle and Basmati Blues. She also had a recurring guest role on Community. Aside from that, she also had a starring role in Room, a film which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. 

Coming up, she’s also going to be in Fast X, as well as an Apple TV+ series called Lessons in Chemistry.

Alison Pill (Kim Pine)

Moving on, Alison Pill played Kim Pine in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and she’s been in several films since her appearance in the cult classic. These include, but aren’t limited to, Midnight in Paris, Goon and its sequel, To Rome With Love, Zom, Hail, Caesar!, Miss Sloane, Vice, and All My Puny Sorrows. 

In terms of television, she’s had main roles in shows such as The Newsroom, The Family, Devs alongside Nick Offerman, Them on Amazon Prime, Hello Tomorrow!, and was in the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard. Coming up, Pill is going to be in a new movie called Eric Larau, so keep an eye out for that. 

Aubrey Plaza (Julie Powers)

Next up on the list, we have Aubrey Plaza, who played Julie Powers in the movie. The star blew up after the film thanks to her big role in the Parks and Recreation cast, but she’s also had big parts in movies and other television shows since then. 

Plaza’s main movies that she had done so far are 10 Years, the English dub of From Up on Poppy Hill, The End of Love, The To Do List, Monsters University, Addicted to Fresno, Dirty Grandma, Life After Beth, the reboot of Child’s Play, Happiest Season, Emily the Criminal on Netflix, Spin Me Round, and Safety Not Guaranteed, among others. 

The actress also had a voice role in the Nickelodeon show, The Legend of Korra, a role in Legion, and was a part of the Season 2 cast of The White Lotus. Coming up, she’ll be in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Olga Dies Dreaming and a film called Megalopolis.

Brandon Routh (Todd Ingram)

Next up is Brandon Routh, who played Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Some of the films he’s been in include Crooked Arrows, 400 Days, Lost in the Pacific, and Anastasia: Once Upon a Time. 

On television, Routh had a pretty prominent role in CW’s Arrowverse as The Atom, and appeared on many of the shows, but other than that, he also guest-starred in many other television series as well. Coming up, he’s going to be in the Magic: The Gathering television series, as well as a movie called The Redeemer. 

Jason Schwartzman (Gideon "G-Man" Graves)

Jason Schwartzman portrayed Gideon “G-Man” Graves in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has truly made a name for himself after the film. He’s appeared in several Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Isle of Dogs. Other than that, he’s appeared in movies such as Saving Mr. Banks, Moonrise Kingdom, Wine Country, Klaus, Sing 2, The Overnight and more. 

In television, he had a main role in Mozart in the Jungle, as well as leading Bored to Death and having a main part in Fargo Season 4. Coming up, he will also appear in Megalopolis, but will also be in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, both Spider-Verse sequels, and Asteroid City. 

Johnny Simmons ("Young" Neil Nordegraf)

Johnny Simmons played Neil Nordegraf, and has been in multiple movies and TV shows since his role in the cult classic. Movies include The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Whiplash, 21 Jump Street, The To Do List, The Late Bloomer, and more. In television, he appeared in the show Klondike, and had a main role in Girlboss. 

Mark Webber (Stephen Stills)

Moving on, we take a look at Mark Webber, who played Stephen Stills in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In films, he’s been in movies such as The End of Love, Laggies, Uncanny, Green Room, Antibirth, Flesh and Blood, and Clover. He also had a guest role on the TV show SMILF, and appeared in The Gift of the Magi. He’s soon going to be in a movie called Trigger Warning. 

Mae Whitman (Roxanne "Roxy" Richter)

Mae Whitman played Roxanne Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has had quite the career since her role in the movie. She’s appeared in films such as The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Duff, CHiPs, Freaks of Nature, and more, and also did voice roles for the Tinker Bell movie franchise and the English dub for The Wind Rises, a Hayao Miyazaki movie. 

In TV, she had a main role on Parenthood, a guest role on Drunk History, a leading part on Good Girls, and had a voice role on the underrated The Owl House. 

Ellen Wong (Knives Chau)

Ellen Wong played Knives Chau, and has since appeared in films such as Silent Knight, The Voice, The Circle, In The Life of Music, Best Sellers and more. She’s also had big roles in shows such as Combat Hospital, The Carrie Diaries, and a recurring role in GLOW on Netflix. 

Satya Bhabha (Matthew Patel)

Last but not least is Satya Bhabha, who played Matthew Patel in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. He’s appeared in movies such as Midnight’s Children, Change in the Air, The F**k-It List and more. He also had a recurring role on New Girl, as well as Sense8, and a part in the rebooted Gossip Girl. 

There are truly so many stars here and I for one can’t wait to hear all their wonderful voices again in the upcoming anime – and now I might just have some new movies and TV shows to watch or look forward to. It’s going to be a fun ride. 

Brandon Routh is headed back to television, and if you're a fan of his work in Legends of Tomorrow prior to Ray Palmer's unfortunate departure, or even The Rookie, you undoubtedly won't want to miss his next project. The actor will return to primetime network television, this time on NBC as part of one increasingly popular sci-fi series. We're going to see Routh appear on Quantum Leap soon, and he's playing a role that I can't wait to learn more about. 

Brandon Routh will play Alexander Augustine in Quantum Leap, the father of Caitlin Bassett's Addison. IGN revealed Dr. Ben Song will jump into a naval warship in 1989 during war games. Ben will have Routh's Augustine as his commanding officer and will have to help with what's said to be a "dangerous rescue mission." Routh provided a statement about his appearance in the February 28th episode, called "S.O.S," which can be seen below:   

It's interesting that this episode will include Addison's father, and I'm curious if this will answer one of the massive mysteries surrounding the NBC series thus far. We know that Ben jumped in part to save Addison, though we don't know all the details of what's going on and how he needs to save her. Is it possible that Ben will be trying to prevent something bad from happening to Addison's father? 

For example, if Addison's father had died in 1989, there's a chance that Addison might never exist. Quantum Leap hasn't given a rundown of character ages, so we don't really know if Addison was conceived before or after this event. 

In any case, it'll be interesting to see Ben interact with Alexander Augustine and for Addison to see her father at a younger age. One would think that Addison would be at an advantage and not have to call on Ziggy so much for any information on her dad, but I could be wrong. Imagine Addison finds out something unsavory about him via Ziggy, and how devastating that would be! 

Brandon Routh picked a great time to guest star on Quantum Leap, as the series recently dropped its biggest twist yet with the reveal that Ian is potentially leaping into bodies as well. At the moment, it appears that Ian is hiding something and might even be the traitor to the program that Janice Calavicci suggested could be working against them. Each week could only bring more answers, so now is the time to revisit old episodes with a Peacock Premium subscription and recall past events before Routh's big episode. 

Quantum Leap returns with a new episode on NBC on Monday, February 20th at 10:00 p.m. ET. Showrunner Martin Gero has already teased a "wild" Season 2, so anyone interested who hasn't had a chance to watch yet needs to do so to prepare.

Underdog Arrowverse series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow aired its 100th episode late last year, and it included plenty of familiar faces that used to be a part of the misfit group of heroes. Among them was Brandon Routh, who portrayed Ray Palmer a.k.a. The Atom in Arrow before shifting to the spin-off series. The actor left the show in Season 5, and although it wasn’t on good terms, he still returned for the 100th episode and he recently explained why.

Brandon Routh was a guest on Smallville alum Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast Inside of You, and during the conversation he discussed returning to the Arrowverse to partake in Legends of Tomorrow’s milestone episode. Routh’s exit wasn’t the greatest, and he opened up about why he and wife Courtney Ford wanted to return the Waverider:

It’s been revealed before that Brandon Routh’s departure from Legends of Tomorrow was one that was not up to him. While he didn’t have the best experience when he left, he seemed pretty happy to come back. 

Routh opened up about what it was like being back on set and working with his former co-stars, and it sounds like he made the right decision coming back:

Brandon Routh has opened up before how Courtney Ford's and his exit from Legends of Tomorrow was not handled very well. Their departures were somewhat complicated, as Routh did not want to leave the Arrowverse show. It’s nice that when given the opportunity to return, the actor was all for it.

Routh was quick to pick up a new role after Legends of Tomorrow. He had a short stint as a T.O. on The Rookie, portraying a very complicated officer with questionable reasoning. This year he will be lending his voice to new animated TV series Magic: The Gathering, based on the popular card game. Routh also returned to the Arrowverse once again to reprise Ray Palmer in The Flash’s big “Armageddon” event late last year.

It’s unknown whether or not Brandon Routh could return to the Arrowverse once again, since characters are known to make small appearances across shows – like David Ramsey’s John Diggle. Hopefully we’ll be seeing Ray Palmer once again soon.

The DC Extended Universe had a rocky start, but Warner Bros. has really hit its stride with the beloved characters in recent years. One of the most highly anticipated projects coming down the line is Andy Muschietti’s Flash movie, which will seemingly rip open up the multiverse. Sorry Henry Cavill, but another former Superman actor wants to return as a result of this macguffin.

The Flash movie remains largely a mystery, but it’s confirmed to be adapting the Flashpoint comic plot line. In it Ezra Miller’s title character will seemingly break the timeline, allowing for two different versions of Batman to appear. Superman Returns actor Brandon Routh seems to think this could open up the possibility of him once again playing Clark Kent. As the Legends of Tomorrow alum explained,

The man’s got a point. With the DC Extended Universe embracing wild concepts like the multiverse, perhaps we’ll get to see other iconic superhero actors return to their roles. While Brandon Routh only has one movie as Superman, perhaps this’ll change in a future blockbuster. Fingers crossed.

Brandon Routh’s comments to Comic Book are sure to inspire a number of fan theories and rumors about the future of the DCEU. With The Flash miraculously bringing back Michael Keaton’s Batman alongside Ben Affleck, it seems like just about anything could happen moving forward. And Routh is down to bring his Clark Kent back to life. But what about Henry Cavill?

Henry Cavill helped to kickstart the DCEU with Man of Steel, appearing in both of Zack Snyder’s two follow-up movies. But following the disappointing performance of Justice League’s theatrical cut, Cavill has yet to return to the role as Superman. The Enola Holmes actor has definitely expressed his interest, but now Brandon Routh has also followed suit. The Flash movie won’t actually feature either of them, instead introducing Supergirl to the franchise with actress Sasha Calle.

Aside from both Henry Cavill and Brandon Routh’s versions of Clark Kent, another Superman will soon be joining the DCEU. A project is currently being developed by Warner Bros. meant to star a Black actor, with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates tasked with putting pen to paper. Could we get a giant Kryptonian crossover event sometime in the future? Only time will tell.

The multiverse fun will begin when The Flash arrives in theaters November 4th, 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

It’s been 20 years since Smallville first made its television debut, but the love for the show seems to be stronger than ever. The Tom Welling-led series helped to usher in a new age for comic book storytelling on the small screen, as it delivered intricate story arcs and impressive action sequences. The drama established an interesting mythology for itself, though longtime fans may be equally intrigued by some off-camera information. A lot went into making the Superman prequel, and you may be surprised by some of the secrets that await behind the scenes. 

The DC Comics series has been off the air for over a decade and, in that time, fans have gotten more insight into its inner workings. And, even during its run, a number of significant tidbits were made known. So without further ado, let’s check out some behind the scenes facts you may not know about Smallville.

Smallville Creators Alfred Gough And Miles Millar Originally Pitched A Lois Lane Prequel Series

Creative duo Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who’d contributed to films like Lethal Weapon 4 and Shanghai Noon by the early 2000s, were the minds behind the hit superhero show. Like many people, the two scribes were fans of the Man of Steel and as a result, wanted to do a show connected to his world. However, their first idea actually centered on his iconic love interest, Lois Lane. 

The two revealed this in a featurette on the making of the show’s first season. The idea was to create a series that followed the would-be journalist during her college years. According to Gough, the project was envisioned as a mixture of Ally McBeal and Nancy Drew. Meanwhile, her heroic lover would’ve been an unseen character, and would’ve theoretically been a mysterious internet pen pal known only as “CK.” The idea is intriguing, but it’s safe to say the writing pair struck gold with their eventual story. Plus, with the proposed project, fans may not have gotten Erica Durance as Lois Lane.

Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh Auditioned For The Role Of Clark Kent

As you can imagine, the producers auditioned plenty of young actors for Clark Kent. Some, like Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles, were experienced, while others were a bit green, like Tom Welling himself. Another who fell into that latter category was none other than Brandon Routh, who, today, has a firm place within the DC Universe. The actor reflected on his audition during an appearance at Motor City Comic Con in 2019:

The disappointment might have been sharp at that point, but the actor would eventually find his way to the iconic role when he was cast as the lead in 2006’s Superman Returns. Of course, today, Brandon Routh is known to many as Ray Palmer/The Atom in the Arrowverse, though he did get to don his cape once more during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover.

Three Of Smallville’s Main Sets Were Housed In A Former Meat-Packing Building

Smallville, like many other TV shows, made heavy use of sets, especially during the later seasons. Nevertheless, many of them were quite impressive given the constraints of network television. There was the crystal-clad Fortress of Solitude introduced in Season 5 as well as the large Daily Planet set that would be a mainstay in the last stretch of the show. But, what you may not know is that three major sets were actually housed in an unusual location. 

The interior sets for the Kent house, the family barn and the Luthor mansion were all located in a Vancouver building that used to house a meat-packing operation. In an early 2000s special, titled Superman: The Early Years, journalist Andi Peters explored the making of the show, which included checking out the building and the sets it housed. It may seem unconventional, but it was ultimately believable.

The Exterior Location For Luther Mansion Was Also Used For A Major Marvel Franchise

The program also featured a number of visually striking exterior locations, such as the Kent farm, which actually stands in Vancouver. But, it’s hard to top the beautiful place that served as the Luthor household. The actual location is Hatley Park National Historic Site, which is located in British Columbia. According to Alfred Gough and Miles Millar in a Season 1 featurette, they wanted the Luthors to live in a place that resembled a castle. It’s a cool place, and one that was later used in the X-Men franchise as well. 

That’s right, Hatley was also used for the exterior shots in the Marvel movie series, starting with 2003’s X2: X-Men United, and would later appear in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, as well as 2016’s Deadpool and it’s 2018 sequel. The building also influenced the alternate versions of the school that existed in other installments in the series. Needless to say, this place has deep ties to comic book lore.

John Schneider Drew From His Relationship With His Son To Form The Bond Between Clark And Jonathan Kent

The role of the stern, but loving, Jonathan Kent needed a very specific actor, and John Schneider rose to the occasion in a big way. Finding the motivation to be the parent to such an extraordinary person could be difficult for many actors. But, as explained during a Season 2 featurette, Schneider actually drew on his relationship with his own son, Chasen, to inform his character’s parenting style:

It’s certainly an interesting perspective, and one that does seem to have helped him play the role. The father-son relationship was incredibly important to the series, which made it all the more tragic when Jonathan Kent passed on in Season 5.

A Smallville Season 3 Character Is Rumored To Have Originally Been Bruce Wayne

Numerous DC Comics characters appeared on Smallville over the course of its run, especially during its later seasons. However, one that ultimately eluded the show is the eventual protector of Gotham City -- Batman. Though Bruce Wayne never popped into the show, one of the show’s “urban legends” asserts that resurrected teen Adam Knight, played by Ian Somerhalder in Season 3, was originally meant to be Bruce Wayne before plans change at the last minute. 

While the show’s creatives have never confirmed this, there are a few elements of the character that imply that he was, at the very least, a tribute to Bruce. For starters, like Wayne, Adam was an orphan. He was also fluent in martial arts and was a capable computer hacker. Many also believed his name was a combination of late Batman actor Adam West and the character’s nickname, the Dark Knight. Even Ian Somerhalder stated in an archived interview that his character’s arc was changed close to filming. We’ll probably never know for sure what the exact plans were, but there’s certainly evidence to support the theory.

Lois Lane’s Introduction In Season 4 Shot Down A Wild Fan Theory About Chloe Sullivan

Many were undoubtedly excited when it was confirmed that Lois Lane would be entering Clark Kent’s life in Season 4, and Erica Durance ultimately knocked the role out of the park. The character was established as the cousin of Clark’s longtime friend, Chloe Sullivan and, as it so happens, Lane’s introduction did one major thing. According to Alfred Gough in a Season 4 featurette, it shut down the idea that budding journalist Chloe would somehow become Lane:

It was definitely an odd theory, one that would’ve been weird had it panned out. But if anything, it shows just how beloved and popular Lois is among fans.

Superman Icon Margot Kidder Quit The Show After Christopher Reeves’ Death

Smallville welcomed a number of notable guest stars over the years, such as Wonder Woman icon Lynda Carter and Supergirl actress Helen Slater. Beloved Superman actor Christopher Reeve also appeared as Dr. Virgil Swann, a scientist who helps Clark learn more about his Kryptonian heritage. And, in a sweet twist, he was joined by his former Lois Lane, the great Margot Kidder, who was being set up for a major role before she left. 

The actress played Virgil Swann’s assistant, Bridgette Crosby, who appeared in Season 4. Following the death of Christopher Reeve, the producers opted to kill off Swann and wanted Crosby to deliver the news to Clark. Kidder reportedly found this to be a “tacky” way to approach the character’s fate and felt it was disrespectful to Reeves’ memory. With this, she departed and her character was later killed off screen. Some fans likely still wish they could’ve gotten more of the actress on the show.

Laura Vandervoort’s Supergirl Was Originally Going to Be Similar To Paris Hilton

After a misdirect in Season 3, fans were finally treated to the real Kara of Krypton in the seventh season. Laura Vandervoort’s Girl of Steel quickly became a fan favorite on the show and received her fair share of heroic moments. However, had the producers gone with their original plans, her trajectory would’ve been quite different. 

Craig Byrne, the author of the Smallville official companion books, revealed in an interview for a Season 7 featurette that the show’s version of Kara was initially going to be a bit more shallow. The creative team envisioned her as a “Paris Hilton type,” who was likely deeply interested in pop culture. Ultimately, Laura Vandervoort’s delivery encouraged them to change their minds, and I think we can all be grateful for that.

A Metropolis-Centric Spinoff Starring Green Arrow And Lois Lane Was Once Being Developed

The Superman prequel series introduced a number of characters who could hold their own, so there was plenty of spinoff potential. One series regular that seemed more than set for his own series was Justin Hartley’s Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. And Hartley actually revealed a few years ago that the producers proposed a spinoff called Metropolis, which would have centered on Oliver and Lois Lane. 

However, the project didn’t gain any momentum, and the two characters remained on the series. I’m glad that the two ultimately stuck around on the parent show, but it’s hard to deny that the spinoff idea sounds intriguing. 

There’s so much to love about this show, and the cast and crew all deserve credit for making a complex and compelling show that still holds up two decades after its debut. You can revisit the superhero series, and check out the aforementioned featurettes by picking up Smallville: The Complete Series on DVD and Blu-ray now.

This past weekend at DC FanDome, we got our first look at Grant Gustin’s new costume for The Flash Season 8, with his Barry Allen now rocking the DC Comics superhero’s classic gold boots. Several days later, The CW has dropped the first trailer for the upcoming season of The Flash, and it’s all about the “Armageddon” crossover event kicking things off. A new threat has surfaced that will require Barry and the rest of Team Flash to team back up with some familiar faces, including Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer/The Atom.

As previously revealed, “Armageddon” will make up the first five episodes of The Flash Season 8, with Despero, played by Ray Donovan’s Tony Curran, arriving to wreak havoc on Earth. With just seven days to stop whatever Despero specifically has planned, Team Flash will need to turn to allies from across Arrowverse time and space to stop the alien antagonist. In Brandon Routh’s case, this marks his return as Ray Palmer since departing Legends of Tomorrow in Season 5, as well as his first time popping up on The Flash in a non-multi-show crossover capacity since Season 1, shortly after he’d debuted as The Atom on Arrow. Props to Ray for recognizing Barry’s been working out, and I also dig the Superman-style shirt rip he quickly does, harkening back to his time as the Man of Steel in Superman Returns and briefly during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Other Arrowverse allies seen lending a helping hand this trailer for The Flash Season 8 include Cress Williams’ Jefferson Williams/Black Lightning, Javicia Leslie’s Ryan Wilder/Batwoman, Kat McNamara’s Mia Queen, Osric Chau’s Ryan Choi, and Chyler Leigh’s Alex Danvers/Sentinel has also been confirmed to appear in “Armageddon.” In Jefferson and Mia’s case, this will be their first time appearing since Black Lighting and Arrow respectively ended, while Ryan Choi hasn’t been seen since “Crisis on Infinite Earths” concluded. In Ryan Wilder’s case, this will be her first time taking part in any kind of Arrowverse crossover, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of dynamic she has with Flash compared to her predecessor Kate Kane.

This trailer doesn’t shed that much extra light on what’s in store for “Armageddon,” although whatever Despero has planned evidently involves triggering almost 100 earthquakes, making “Earth-shattering” a fitting description for this crossover event. It’s also worth mentioning that Despero won’t be the only baddies surfacing throughout the first five episodes of The Flash, with Neal McDonough and Tom Cavanagh reprising Damien Darhk and Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash, respectively. We even see Cavanagh as the end of the trailer, although it’s unclear if this scene is set in the present day or back when he was living everyday life as Harrison Wells. Who knows, maybe Cavanagh is actually playing the original Harrison Wells in that scene, who was resurrected early in The Flash Season 7.

The full “Armageddon” picture will start coming together when The Flash Season 8 premieres Tuesday, November 16 on The CW. In the meantime, scan through our 2021 fall TV premiere schedule to learn when your other favorite shows are airing.

A TV series reaching its 100th episode is definitely a milestone worth celebrating, though how that’s done obviously depends on what you’re watching. For Legends of Tomorrow, it’s celebrating this accomplishment by bringing in many former cast members. We learned last week that Wentworth Miller will reprise Leonard Snart/Captain Cold for the 100th episode, i.e. Season 7’s third episode, and now six other familiar faces have been unveiled.

Along with Wentworth Miller and Legends of Tomorrow Season 7’s main cast, the series’ 100 episode will also feature the return of Arthur Darvill’s Rip Hunter, Victor Garber’s Martin Stein, Franz Drameh’s Jefferson Jackson (who made up Firestorm with Stein), Falk Hentschel’s Carter Hall/Hawkman, Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer/The Atom and Courtney Ford’s Nora Darhk. Take a look at everyone back together on the Waverider set below:

For those of you who haven’t learned yet what Legends of Tomorrow’s 100th episode holds in store, Season 7 sees the Waverider’s AI Gideon becoming human, with the character’s voice actor, Amy Louise Pemberton, also portraying her in flesh and blood form. However, in this particular episode, Gideon has a meltdown, and to reboot her, Olivia Swann’s Astra Logue and Lisseth Chavez’s Spooner Cruz delve into Gideon’s memories to help her remember the Legends. During their mental journey, Astra and Spooner will witness unseen moments from Legends of Tomorrow past, hence the presence of these former crew members.

You’ll notice that with the exception of Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford, all the former Legends of Tomorrow cast members who are returning for the 100th episode exited in Seasons 1, 2 or 3, before the show really leaned into its present-day comedic sensibilities. As co-showrunner Keto Shimizu informed EW, this milestone episode served as a way for these actors who departed years ago to enjoy Legends of Tomorrow’s “wild and playful tone” that wasn’t as strong in those earlier seasons, saying:

Bringing together so many people for Legends of Tomorrow’s 100th episode certainly wasn’t easy, especially since the show shoots in Vancouver, Canada, and international visitors have to quarantine for two weeks upon entering the country. As such, co-showrunner Phil Klemmer revealed that they did “cast first and wrote second,” since who would be available would dictate what Gideon’s memories would be. After getting as much of Season 7’s third episode “on the board” as possible ahead of casting, Klemmer and the writing team moved to hashing out this season’s fourth episode. Once that was done, the returning actors for the 100th episode had been nailed down, allowing the writers to finish the story.

Phil Klemmer also mentioned how they would’ve “loved” to get people like Ciara Renée’s Hawkgirl, Dominic Purcell’s Heat Wave and Casper Crump’s Vandal Savage back for Legends of Tomorrow’s 100th episode, but this is still an impressive lineup that’s been assembled. While Purcell exited as a series regular at the end of Season 6, it’s been indicated he’ll recur during Season 7, so presumably Legends of Tomorrow fans don’t have to worry about this season being entirely Heat Wave-less. And sure, it would nice to see other familiar faces, like Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Keiyan Lonsdale, but seven former cast members alongside Season 7’s main cast is nothing to scoff at. From what’s been revealed so far, the 100th episode is shaping up to be something special, even by this show’s standards.

Legends of Tomorrow Season 7 premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET on The CW, and the 100th episode will play at the same time on October 27. Be sure to browse through our fall 2021 TV premiere schedule to discover when your other favorite shows are airing.

Brandon Routh is heading to streaming television after stints on The CW's Legends of Tomorrow and ABC's The Rookie, and it's safe to say that his new project will take him in some very different directions than the DC Comics superhero series and Nathan Fillion-led crime drama. Routh landed a role on an upcoming Netflix project that will involve his voice talents rather than live action. Prepare for Brandon Routh as star of Magic: The Gathering!

An animated TV series based on the popular Magic: The Gathering card game has been developing for more than two years now, and it has finally taken a big step forward with the announcement that Brandon Routh will be voicing none other than Gideon Jura (who is definitely not the Gideon that Routh interacted with as Ray Palmer on Legends of Tomorrow). Routh, who is apparently a big fan of the game himself, shared the news in a video on the Netflix Geeked Twitter account, saying:

Brandon Routh went on to reiterate that he loves the world of Magic: The Gathering and is "very excited to be a part of this animated series" and he'll "see you around the multiverse" in 2022. All things considered, it's fun to learn that Routh landed the role of Gideon as such a big fan of Magic, and Henry Cavill over on another Netflix series can probably relate to the feeling of winning a starring role on something you already love!

Word broke of this Magic: The Gathering TV show back in June 2019, with the big news that Joe and Anthony Russo of the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be helming it. Just last week, however, Deadline reported that the Russo brothers and their team of writers actually left development of the series early on in an amicable but apparently definitive split. Jeff Kline, known for Transformers: Prime, took the helm.

That news seemed like it could indicate Magic: The Gathering had a ways to go in making real progress toward a premiere on Netflix, so Brandon Routh announcing his casting has to be a reassuring reveal for any viewers who have been waiting for the streamer's take on the Magic universe. It's not clear just when in 2022 the show could premiere, but having a premiere window is still better than going another couple years with little in the way of big news!

Besides, as an animated series, Magic: The Gathering is less likely to be set back by any potential production shutdowns, although hopefully shutdowns throughout the entertainment industry won't have to happen again. For now, it's a waiting game to find out more about the series. There are plenty of projects featuring Brandon Routh streaming on Netflix, however, with Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, and The Flash all available.

The Rookie is finally on the way back to ABC after a long hiatus, and the upcoming third season will see the debut of an Arrowverse alum to play a new character who isn't going to fit right in with the rest of the characters. Brandon Routh, who played Ray Palmer for five seasons of the Arrowverse's Legends of Tomorrow, has landed a role on The Rookie that definitely won't pit him against any time travel shenanigans.

Brandon Routh will play an eleven-year veteran of the LAPD by the name of Doug Stanton in Season 3, according to Deadline, and Stanton's opinions will be "polarizing" at the station. Routh is currently slated to appear in four episodes of The Rookie, but Stanton's arc has the potential to extend to the full season. Routh will make his Rookie debut in the fourth episode of Season 3, which should air in either late January or early February 2021, barring any big breaks early in the season.

The Rookie will be Brandon Routh's big return to TV following the end of his starring run on Legends of Tomorrow. Routh actually made his Arrowverse debut over in the third season of Arrow and was one of the longest-running major Arrowverse heroes by the end of his final season of Legends. Ray Palmer willingly left the time travel adventures behind to start a new life with his new wife (played by Routh's real-life spouse Courtney Ford), but Routh himself didn't actually want to leave Legends.

A big question is what Brandon Routh's polarizing new character means for The Rookie. The second season finale ended on the twist of Nathan Fillion's John Nolan being framed for a crime he didn't commit, and showrunner Alexi Hawley already teased that the situation is going to put everything to the test in Season 3, and Nolan will have to go above and beyond to clear his name.

Depending on just how The Rookie plays the aftermath of the cliffhanger, Nolan might still be in a sticky situation by the time Brandon Routh debuts in the fourth episode of Season 3. That said, The Rookie is still a procedural, so I wouldn't be surprised if the show is more or less back to business as usual after the first episode or two of the new season.

With Brandon Routh's character coming in with the potential for a full-season arc, it's possible that he will begin a new storyline for The Rookie rather than enter a storyline that is already ongoing. Only time will tell, but all signs point toward The Rookie going in some intriguing directions in Season 3. The show remained in production despite some positive COVID-19 tests.

The Rookie returns for Season 3 on Sunday, January 3 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. In the meantime, you can find the full first two seasons streaming on Hulu. To see Brandon Routh in action as a superhero, check him out as Ray Palmer in the first five seasons of Legends of Tomorrow streaming on Netflix. For what to watch and when to watch it in the new year, be sure to stop by our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

Following the release of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in 1987, Superman was absent from the big screen for nearly two decades. Then Superman Returns rolled around, a spiritual sequel to the first two Christopher Reeve-led Superman movies that starred Brandon Routh as Kal-El/Clark Kent. Superman Returns was intended to launch a new film series for DC Comics’ Man of Steel, but by the end of the 2000s, the prospects for a sequel were dead.

Brandon Routh has spoken before about how much it pained him to see Superman Returns 2’s chances of happening slowly dwindle, noting how the first movie’s box office performance wasn’t as impressive as anticipated. Recently, Routh provided more context for why the sequel was shelved, saying the following to Geek House Show:

Money is definitely a key factor when it comes to making decisions in Hollywood, and while Superman Returns collecting $391 million worldwide would have been an incredible haul for a smaller-budgeted movie, it wasn’t enough to impress the Warner Bros executives. Granted, there had been talk about moving forward with Superman Returns 2, with the “New Krypton” landmass that Superman threw into space being brought back into play, and villains like Brainiac and Bizarro possibly being used. However, Superman Returns’ disappointing financial performance, followed by several interested parties leaving WB, resulted in the studio deciding by 2009 to throw in the towel on this particular project.

However, Superman fans didn’t have to wait another two decades to see Superman back in theaters. After Superman Returns 2’s collapse, Warner Bros decided to press the reboot button on the character, eventually resulting in Man of Steel’s release in 2013 and Henry Cavill occupying the eponymous role. Admittedly, we’re now back in a place where Superman’s cinematic future is uncertain, but for now, it seems like Cavill’s version of the character will eventually return, though not necessarily in his own movie.

Luckily for Brandon Routh, Superman Returns didn’t make his first and only time contributing to the DC landscape. In 2013, he joined the Arrowverse as Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, a role he would occupy for the next seven years, primarily on Legends of Tomorrow. More importantly, Routh finally received the opportunity to play Superman again last year in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event, with his version of the character now wearing a Kingdom Come-inspired costume.

“Crisis on Infinite Earths” ended with a new multiverse being established, and Earth-96, where Brandon Routh’s Superman resides, was among the previously existing Earths brought back into existence. So the door’s open for this iteration of Superman to possibly return, be it in the Arrowverse or elsewhere. Routh has also expressed interested in appearing in The Flash movie, which is delving into multiversal craziness through the inclusion of both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton’s versions of Batman.

Rest assured, if it’s officially announced that Brandon Routh will play Superman again, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. In the meantime, look through our DC movies guide to learn what this corner of the superhero market has coming down the creative pipeline.

It’s been 10 years since Scott Pilgrim vs. The World released in theaters. It was a different time back then with many big actors, like Chris Evans and Brie Larson, still in the early stages of their now successful careers. But after 10 years, could Scott Pilgrim get a sequel? Brandon Routh, who played Todd Ingram, thinks it’s unlikely. Here’s why.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had enormous hype leading up to its release and received generally favorable reviews from critics (though not from everyone), but that didn’t lead to box office success. And since then it’s garnered a loyal cult following. Brandon Routh was recently asked by the Geek House Show what he thinks the likelihood of a Scott Pilgrim sequel would be from 1 to 10, and Brandon Routh picked 1 and gave a quick explanation:

This is fair. I think Brandon Routh is probably right. While it would be cool to have a sequel, it’s doubtful a Scott Pilgrim sequel would be able to get off the ground for a number of reasons aside from what the Legends of Tomorrow actor said.

For one, its box office numbers were arguably too low to justify a sequel. Secondly, it’s hard to imagine Edgar Wright wanting to do it since he’s moved on to other gigs. And on top of all that, the cast is ten years older and in totally different stages of their careers. It would make much more sense for a studio to reboot the whole thing and start over, but that might be a tough sell to fans as well.

While a Scott Pilgrim sequel is unlikely, that doesn’t mean you can’t see the cast reunite. This summer much of the cast, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Cera, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh, among others, came together in a video for a table read for the 10th anniversary of the movie. Brie Larson wasn’t able to make it, but she showed her support for the film in other ways.

Even though Brandon Routh thinks it's unlikely Scott Pilgrim vs. The World could get a sequel, it's still fun to think about what that might look like if they actually decided to move forward with one. But what do you think? Do you want a Scott Pilgrim vs. The World sequel? Let us know in the comments!

While Brandon Routh spent the last six years leaving his stamp on DC Comics lore playing Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, in Legends of Tomorrow and the rest of The CW’s Arrowverse, the actor’s first time venturing through the DC landscape was playing the Man of Steel himself in Superman Returns. Routh recently reprised his version of Superman in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” and much like that TV crossover, the upcoming Flash movie will also be engaging in multiverse shenanigans.

So is there a chance we could see Brandon Routh play Superman again in The Flash? The actor is certainly game for this to happen, as he said recently said the following to Geek House Show:

We’ve known for years now that The Flash would be adapting Flashpoint, the 2011 storyline that saw Barry Allen drastically changing the main DC timeline when he traveled back in time to save his mother from being murdered. However, since it was announced that Michael Keaton is expected to reprise the Batman we last saw in 1992’s Batman Returns, and following the news Ben Affleck will also be back to play his version of Batman, it seems that rather than exploring one changed timeline, The Flash might see the Scarlet Speedster actually exploring other realities.

Should that be the case, there’s definitely room for Brandon Routh’s Superman to return… again. It was established in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” that Routh’s Superman lives on Earth-96, and it was lucky enough to be one of the Earths re-established following the formation of the new multiverse. So while it’s unclear if Routh’s Superman remembers his time teaming up with the CW heroes (including Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman), one could easily create a scenario where Flash crosses paths with that incarnation of the Kryptonian hero.

Back when Superman Returns came out, the plan was for Brandon Routh to reprise Superman in a sequel. Unfortunately for him, Superman Returns did not make as much money as Warner Bros hoped, so the prospect of Superman Returns 2 come to fruition slowly died. WB eventually decided to reboot the Superman property with 2013’s Man of Steel, which saw Henry Cavill taking over the role.

13 years after Superman Returns’ release, Brandon Routh finally got to don the cape again for “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” which saw the hero now wearing a Kingdom Come-inspired costume and still struggling with the deaths of many friends and loved ones, including Lois Lane, following an attack on The Daily Planet. The end of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” subtly indicated this Superman is now in a more hopeful state of mind, and Routh is clearly ready to bring the character back to the big screen.

For now, outside of featuring two different types of Batman, it’s unclear what other DC heroes will be featured alongside The Flash’s eponymous protagonist, whether it’s other DCEU mainstays, familiar faces from DC film past or even brand-new incarnations. Along with Ezra Miller of course reprising Barry Allen, The Flash is also reportedly looking to have Billy Crudup reprise Barry’s father, Henry Allen.

The Flash will race into theaters on November 4, 2022. Don’t forget to look through our comprehensive guide detailing what other DC movies are in development.

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The last son of Krypton had the honor (and curse?) of being the first superhero to spawn a franchise of blockbusters back in the ‘70s with Christopher Reeves’ portrayal. Superman movies have remained a staple in Hollywood over the years, but not without some growing pains. Even as a mustachioed Henry Cavill joined Zack Snyder to reveal the upcoming exciting return of the Man of Steel for the filmmaker’s long-awaited version of Justice League coming to HBO Max, Warner Bros is technically at a stand still with Kal-El.

There have been a ton of Superman projects that were in the works at one time but never made it far enough into production. What's surprising is the amount of esteemed filmmakers that have been at the center of these scrapped projects on the hero in the past 30 years. Let's go through them:

Jonathan Lemkin’s Superman Reborn

Back in the early ‘90s after The Death of Superman comic book crossover event made waves, Warner Bros was shopping for a comeback for the superhero. The studio purchased the storyline from DC and hired Jonathan Lemkin (Devil’s Advocate, Lethal Weapon 4) to write a script. Lemkin came up with a storyline that involved Superman losing a massive fight with Doomsday. Just as he reaches his death, his life force goes through Lois Lane and she ends up being impregnated with his child through virgin birth. Yes. This was an actual Superman script.

Lois’ child quickly grows into an adult in the matter of a few weeks as a resurrected Superman who finishes the job for Sups. Warner Bros reportedly passed on the script because it had too many similarities with Bruce’s arc in Batman Forever, according to The Greatest Sci-fi Movies Never Made. Hey I don’t see it, but there you have it, that's the story of why Superman Reborn never got past the script process.

Kevin Smith And Tim Burton’s Superman Lives with Nicolas Cage

Script-writing duties were then placed into the hands of Kevin Smith, who had broken out with Clerks and Mallrats at the time. His film called Superman Lives also included Doomsday, but under the orders of Brainiac and Lex Luthor. The villains outsmart Superman by blocking the Sun (the source of his powers) from him. But he is then resurrected by the Eradicator, a Kryptonian robot, and becomes sheathed in a robotic suit to take down Brainiac.

Following his work on the Batman movies, Tim Burton was hired to direct the script and Nicolas Cage came on board to play Superman. Smith had originally thought up Ben Affleck for the role and some other frequent collaborators in key roles such as Michael Rooker as Lex Luthor and Jason Mewes as Brainiac. Big names such as Kevin Spacey, Sandra Bullock and Chris Rock were ultimately approached, but it was later put on hold for being too expensive. Burton moved on to Sleepy Hollow and its since become one of the most famous movies that never happened.

Wolfgang Peterson’s Batman vs. Superman

Wolfgang Peterson, the director of Das Boot and Outbreak was once attached to making a previous Batman vs. Superman team-up film in 2001 based off an idea from Seven writer Andrew Kevin Walker. The pitch followed a newly divorced Superman and a newlywed Batman, who has lost Robin, Alfred and Gordan and hung up his cape. When the Joker murders his new wife, Bruce blames his best man Sups for heartbreak and a rivalry forms.

It was set to shoot in 2003 ahead of its summer 2004 release date before Warner Bros changed their minds and decided to focus on independent Batman and Superman projects. Wolfgang Petersen revealed that Christian Bale was in the running for Superman to MTV back in 2010. One writer Akiva Goldsman decided to add a fun Easter Egg in I Am Legend for the cancelled film: a poster of the logo (peek the above image).

J.J. Abrams and Brett Ratner’s Superman: Flyby

Before he did Star Trek or Star Wars and even before LOST, J.J. Abrams almost wrote a Superman movie. Back in 2002, Abrams was hired to write a new origin movie for Clark Kent following his early success with Armageddon, Felicity and Alias. At first his script was put on hold for the Batman vs. Superman script, but once he turned in a rewrite then the former was placed on hold. Rush Hour director Brett Ratner was hired to direct, Christopher Reeve was put on as a consultant and actors including Paul Walker, Brendan Fraser and Jude Law were considered.

The script kept Krypton standing after Kal-El’s journey to Earth. It centered on Jor-El’s evil brother Kata-Zor who sends Jor-El to prison and launches his son to Earth. Once Superman becomes popular on the planet, Kata-Zor and three of his partners venture to Earth to defeat him. Clark dies and finds himself with his dad Jor-El in Kryptonian heaven (who committed suicide in prison). Superman somehow gets resurrected and goes back to Earth to finish the job. Over the years, some awesome storyboards have been revealed about the project that never was. Ratner left due to casting difficulties and Charlie’s Angels’ director McG came on board before Bryan Singer was replaced to make 2006’s Superman Returns.

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns 2 with Brandon Routh

Superman Returns made some money for Warner Bros, but not enough for the studio to pursue the planned 2009 sequel Superman Returns 2: The Man of Steel. Months before the release of Superman Returns, the sequel was announced with the core cast set to return and Bryan Singer back as director. The movie was expected to finally bring Brainiac to the big screen and introduce Metallo.

Singer instead went on to make Valkyrie instead and plans for Christopher Nolan’s Man of Steel reboot began to take shape. Brandon Routh never got to reprise his version of Kal-El in another movie, but the actor did recently resume the role in Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event in 2019 alongside Smallville’s Tom Welling.

George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal with D.J. Cotrona

Another especially high-profile Superman project that never happened is George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal. The movie to be directed by the Mad Max: Fury Road filmmaker was also in development following Superman Returns and would have offered a fresh new take on the superhero genre. D.J. Cotrona was hired to play Superman, Armie Hammer was to be Batman, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Adam Brody as Flash, Common as Green Lantern, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Martian Manhunter, Jay Baruchel as Maxwell Lord and Teresa Palmer would play Talia Al Ghul.

Cotrona described it as “allegorical, like a story of Greek Gods” and Brody thinks it would have “been a classic.” This movie fell through the cracks due to ill timing. Warner Bros wanted more work to be done on the script just as the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike was in effect. Oddly enough, Cotrona and Brody both suited up in the third act of Shazam! As adult superhero versions of Billy Batson’s adopted brothers.

Man of Steel 2?

It took seven years between Superman Returns and Man of Steel, but many would agree it was worth the wait. Henry Cavill was an incredible choice for the role and Zack Snyder’s vision for the character was an exciting one. In 2014, a sequel was announced to be in the works (with the potential of George Miller helming even a possibility). It was reported that Man of Steel was part of a three-film arc until plans to bring Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League took priority over another standalone flick.

Back in 2018, it was rumored that Henry Cavill was done with the DC universe and other comic book projects were being moved ahead of another Man of Steel movie. In late 2019, Cavill assured fans that he has “not given up the role” and updated the status of the hero’s future as “you’ll see”. The actor does have a packed schedule between The Witcher and an upcoming Sherlock Holmes film, but perhaps the character will find regained interest with 2021’s release of Snyder Cut?

It's been no easy journey for Superman movies. What do you think? If you could save on Man of Steel project, which one would you like to see? Vote in our poll below.

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Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Legends of Tomorrow episode “Romeo v. Juliet: Dawn of Justness.”

Legends of Tomorrow saw Ray and Nora get a fairytale ending in last week’s episode, finally saying “I do” and committing to be together through thick and thin. Before Damien Dahrk headed out, he promised (read: threatened) to kill Ray if he didn’t do right by his daughter and leave the Waverider for good. She deserved some normalcy, right? So, Ray spent his final episode saying goodbye to his friends, but there was one person Ray didn’t bid farewell to and Brandon Routh recently explained how much of a “missed opportunity” it was.

Months ahead of Legends of Tomorrow’s fifth season, it was announced that Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford would be leaving the show as series regulars. Though Routh is clear that it wasn’t his choice to go, Season 5’s “Romeo v. Juliet: Dawn of Justness” was the final time he and Ford played Ray Palmer and Nora Dahrk, respectively, at least for now. However, while Ray got to have a one-on-one goodbye scene with Sara and Nate, Ray didn’t share a moment to bid adieu to Mick, one of the original team members. Speaking with TVLine, Routh revealed his thoughts about it. Here’s what he had to say:

Outside of Nate, Ray didn’t get to have very many heartfelt conversations with most of his Waverider teammates. Most of the episode was spent figuring out how Ray would tell Nate, his best friend on the ship, about his leaving to start a new life with Nora. While Ray did get a chance to speak privately with Caity Lotz’s Sara, Brandon Routh explained that he had to hold back during their chat and how difficult that was emotionally. In his words:

Personally, I don’t think Ray got enough time with anyone, including Nate. I think the entire episode felt rushed, with the plot leading to Ray and Nora’s exits rather abruptly. Legends of Tomorrow’s fifth season is only seven episodes in at this point and I don’t see why Ray’s departure couldn’t have been given more time to build toward a more emotional culmination of his journey. Like Nate told Ray before they said their final goodbyes, “This sucks.”

Legends of Tomorrow airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET. As an aside, the series’ production won’t be affected by the coronavirus pandemic the way other shows have been since they wrapped filming a while back. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our midseason schedule.

Brandon Routh’s time on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is coming to an end, as the actor is set to depart the show. Tonight’s episode will mark his final appearance as a series regular along with co-star Courtney Ford who is also leaving the team. Routh has become a fan favorite as quirky scientist Ray Palmer, who goes by the superhero moniker Atom. However, Routh’s first foray into the DC Universe was 2006’s Superman Returns in which he played the titular hero.

Routh recently got the chance to reprise his role as the Man of Steel during the massive “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. The actor opened up to Entertainment Weekly about the feeling of uncertainty he had heading into the fifth season of Legends of Tomorrow. This, however, disappeared after he was offered the chance to play Superman again, which is something he credits the fans for:

Seeing Brandon Routh suit up as Superman in the Arrowverse was exciting, especially given the fact that the character has been so close to his heart. This is only made more meaningful by the fact that Routh is heading out the door, which was a decision made by the producers.

Routh was revealed to be revisiting the iconic character during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con last summer. The Clark Kent featured in the crossover was the same from Superman Returns, but he was depicted as a somewhat grim character who had experienced his fair share of loss since the events of the film.

This new Kingdom Come-inspired Kal-El proved to be a hit with fans and viewers. This popularity has even led some to lobby for a spinoff miniseries centered on the character.

Years before the Arrowverse became a reality, Brandon Routh was expected to once again take to the skies in a theatrical sequel. Those plans slowly fizzled out, and the film spent years in development hell before officially being shelved.

Routh would get another chance with DC after guest starring as Ray Palmer in an episode of Arrow. This would pave the way for him headlining Legends of Tomorrow alongside his own eclectic cast of characters.

Seeing Brandon Routh leave the show will be bittersweet for many viewers but, hopefully, he’ll receive a worthy send-off. Routh’s last episode, “Romeo v Juliet: Dawn of Justness", airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.

Legends of Tomorrow took many by surprise with the announcement that Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford would be leaving the show in Season 5. Routh has been on the superhero series since the beginning as Ray Palmer, while Ford’s Nora Darhk made her debut back in Season 3. Complicating the duo’s exit is the fact that the real-life married couple did not want to leave.

Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford’s exit is entirely a Legends of Tomorrow idea. The series’ co-showrunner, Phil Klemmer, opened up about the reasons behind their departure. He described time on the Waverider as not being a “permanent home.” Reflecting on leaving their current residence, Ford told TV Guide:

Fans are nearing the point of saying goodbye to Ray and Norah. Last year, Brandon Routh shared a post commemorating the end of filming and talked about the “growing pains.” Fast forward, and it is clear that Routh and Ford did not want to leave the show. Last month, Routh confirmed that much in a comment on Instagram.

The emotions surrounding the couple’s exit have now become more public. Courtney Ford’s comments come after her husband said his exit was “not well-handled” in an interview on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast. The couple has been on the show together and will exit together, which means they have each other to lean on. On how that journey is going, Ford said:

It is a lot to come to grips with and it's nice that Lizzo has helped! As Courtney Ford points out, it is a process. Brandon Routh has been Ray Palmer beyond his stint on Legends of Tomorrow, having originated the role on Arrow, which ended itself earlier this year. I remember when he made his debut, and Routh’s performance was so refreshing.

Hopefully, Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh can reprise their roles in the Arrow-verse after their run on Legends of Tomorrow. After all, that interconnected superhero universe lives on. For now, though, Routh and Ford’s time is nearing its end. In his interview, Routh revealed that the couple learned they would be leaving before production started on Season 5, it's clear, though, that getting used to the news is taking some time.

Fans have had a while to brace themselves, and now the reality is about to hit. At least there has been one highlight for Brandon Routh before the end of his and Courtney Ford’s run on Legends of Tomorrow. Before Routh ended his term as Ray Palmer, he got a chance to play Golden Era Superman for the latest Arrow-verse crossover: “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Now viewers will get to see what ending Legends of Tomorrow has in store for Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh’s characters. Will Norah Darhk and Ray Palmer live happily ever after? Stay tuned!

New episodes of Legends of Tomorrow air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. You can relive Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh’s time on Legends of Tomorrow via past seasons currently streaming on Netflix, alongside new content for 2020. For more on what you can watch on the small screen right now, there are also this winter and spring’s premieres.

When Brandon Routh signed on to play one of the most famous characters of all time, he probably knew he’d be in for a wild ride. But he couldn’t have predicted the anticlimactic run he’d experience following the release of Superman Returns -- or how stressful it would be to wait for a sequel that would never come.

Brandon Routh played Clark Kent in 2006’s Superman Returns -- a film that seemed destined to kickstart a 21st Century franchise for the iconic DC Comics hero. Despite positive reviews and fan response and a strong performance at the box office, a seemingly inevitable sequel never panned out. And during a conversation on Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum, Brandon Routh revealed that he was left a bit baffled at how it all played out:

The actor’s disappointment over not being able to reprise the role on the big screen is understandable. At least it wasn’t the end of his career as a DC Comics superhero. In 2014, he began an extended stint playing Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, in the CW’s Arrow-verse TV series. Guest appearances on Arrow and The Flash led to a starring role in Legends of Tomorrow in 2016.

And thanks to his small screen superhero endeavors, it turns out that Superman Returns wasn’t the last time Brandon Routh wore the iconic blue and red suit. In December 2019 and January 2020, he once again portrayed Clark Kent in the epic Arrow-verse crossover event, “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Despite the fact that he was finally able to don Clark Kent’s supersuit one last time, it looks like Brandon Routh has once again found himself at a career crossroad that he wasn’t exactly planning on. Last year, news broke that the fifth season of Legends of Tomorrow would be the last to feature Ray Palmer, and, thus, Brandon Routh. In his conversation with Michael Rosenbaum, the actor stated that he felt the series did not handle his exit well. He’ll hang up his suit again (at least, for now) when his last episode of Legends of Tomorrow airs on March 17.

Prior to the start of Legends of Tomorrow’s fifth season, the announcement came that Brandon Routh and real-life wife Courtney Ford would be leaving the Arrow-verse show in Season 5. As Ray Palmer, Routh has been a staple of the show since its inception and he even got to play both Ray and Superman in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover. However, Routh recently spoke up about leaving Legends of Tomorrow behind and how his exit as Ray was “not well-handled.”

When the news broke that Brandon Routh was leaving the series, it took fans by surprise. Last month, Legends of Tomorrow showrunner Phil Klemmer revealed why they decided to write out Ray and Nora in Season 5, stating that the Waverider was only ever meant as “a halfway home” on their life’s journey. However, during an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum’s “Inside of You” podcast, Routh revealed that he was told he was leaving before Season 5 began filming and that he’s still working to process the decision. Here’s what he had to say:

Ouch. It sure sounds like Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford were blindsided by the news. While Routh doesn’t expand upon the details regarding how the situation was mishandled, the actor has been honest about the decision to leave being taken out of his hands. In fact, he said as much when he replied to an Instagram comment with “not my choice” after a fan suggested that he could change his mind and stay on Legends of Tomorrow.

Personally, I was sad to hear the news about the actor’s departure. Ray has been a wonderful addition to the Arrow-verse since his introduction on Arrow all those years ago. To see him go out like this when his story seems far from over is frustrating. Brandon Routh continued, saying that the situation was tough because he had gotten the news, but he still had to make the best of things with the limited time he had. In his words:

Honestly, I’m still pretty shocked about it, too. Brandon Routh filmed his last episode for Legends of Tomorrow back in October and posted a touching goodbye, stating how grateful he was for the cast and crew for making the last five seasons so memorable. While Routh isn’t the first actor to leave the time-travelling show, he was one of three original cast members left and his presence on the show will be greatly missed.

Legends of Tomorrow returns with a new episode on Tuesday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 midseason schedule.

Legends of Tomorrow fans were dealt quite a blow when it was announced that the superhero drama would be losing two key characters, one of whom is an original. Brandon Routh and his co-star (and real-life wife), Courtney Ford, will be exiting in Season 5. They will be taking Ray Palmer and Nora Darhk with them. It turns out that Routh did not want to leave, though.

On Instagram, Brandon Routh promoted Legends of Tomorrow with a picture of him and his co-star Nick Zano (Nate Heywood/Steel). In the caption, Routh warned there were not too many episodes of #SteelATOM left. Over in the comments section, user “johnwilsoncomicsguy” said that Routh could change his mind, and not leave the show.

Brandon Routh responded, “Not my choice,” with a downcast emoji. Not his choice! As in, it was not Routh’s idea to leave Legends of Tomorrow? It seems to be confirmation that the surprising exit of Routh’s Ray was not the actor's idea. But, there were clues that Routh leaving might not have been his idea before his Instagram comment.

Brandon Routh’s response comes after Legends of Tomorrow’s co-showrunner, Phil Klemmer, explained the reasons behind Ray and Nora’s departures. Klemmer’s explanation did not directly mention Routh or Courtney Ford requesting to leave. Instead, he described the exits occurring along the lines of a natural evolution for the characters and the show.

This exit from the Arrow-verse was apparently not decided by an actor ready to move on. At least, former Superman Brandon Routh was apparently not raring to go. Legends of Tomorrow’s decision comes despite Routh being one of the show’s core original characters and an active member of the Arrow-verse.

Brandon Routh has been super busy in the Arrow-verse during its current cycle. Routh portrayed one of several versions of Superman in the crossover “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” He has also played Ray Palmer on Legends of Tomorrow during its fifth season, which will now be his last. Following news of his Legends of Tomorrow exit, Routh shared a moving farewell message with fans.

Sadly, it seems that Brandon Routh’s goodbye was a story-dictated one. Will this seeming confirmation about Routh's departure change fans' feelings surrounding his exit? Fans tend to get when an actor is ready to move on, but learning that a show chose to move on without the actor is another thing altogether.

Now that Brandon Routh will be available after his Legends of Tomorrow stint ends, fans will have to see where he turns up next. At least Routh got a chance to play Superman one more time via the Arrow-verse. I greatly enjoyed Routh’s Ray Palmer when he was on Arrow, and he is a great actor. Hopefully, he ends up somewhere else on television soon.

New episodes of Legends of Tomorrow air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Time will tell how, exactly, Ray and Nora exit the show. Until then, you can relive their time on Legends of Tomorrow via past seasons currently streaming on Netflix along with new content in 2020. In other television viewing opportunities, there are this winter and spring’s premieres.

After three episodes, the Arrow-verse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover has already become arguably the biggest and weirdest superhero TV event ever, thanks to its destructive storyline and its endless list of DC TV cameos. Brandon Routh got to take on one of the most memorable cameos, as it were, by complementing his time as Legends of Tomorrow's Ray Palmer with a return to portraying the Man of Steel, though one slightly revised from his Superman Returns hero.

Appearing so far in both the Batwoman and The Flash installments of the latest "Crisis" crossover, Brandon Routh donned a new-to-live-action super-suit as Earth-96's Superman, which is the Arrow-verse's take on the Superman Returns hero with some inspiration from his arc in the comic miniseries Kingdom Come. Though things took a turn going into network TV's winter hiatus, fans are no doubt hoping that Routh's reprisal of the DC icon might spark something further in the future.

When Brandon Routh was asked if this could be his final performance as Superman, here's how he answered:

Brandon Routh gave Den of Geek quite the well-balanced answer there, embracing the closure while also tipping his hat (or his forehead curl) to a possible reprisal. By all means, it sounds like the actor put a lot of consideration into doubling up his screen time as Earth-96's Superman, since it obviously isn't a role that anyone takes lightly.

In the 13 years since Superman Returns was released to the kind of box office numbers that don't demand instant sequels, though the film has gained a fairly massive fanbase over the years. His history with the character is obviously what got fans initially pumped when Routh joined the Arrow-verse as pre-Atom Ray Palmer, and ever since, there have been fan-driven conversations about whether or not he'd suit up as Supes for one of the crossovers. Appearances from Dean Cain and the casting of Tyler Hoechlin as Supergirl's Cousin of Steel only helped fuel the fire, so it was awesome when the news broke that it was finally happening for "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

Unfortunately, Brandon Routh is exiting Legends of Tomorrow as Season 5 gets underway, so Arrow-verse fans won't have much to look forward to from the actor's superhero skillset in the near future. As such, one can only imagine that the fanbase will call out that much louder for Routh to return to play Superman on the big screen.

A few years ago, and no one would have thought a reality could exist where Brandon Routh would once again be a cinematic Superman. However, with Warner Bros. and DC's post-Justice League efforts up in the air, it's not clear if The Witcher star Henry Cavill will return to his Man of Steel role for a sequel, or if the studios will seek out new talent as they did with Robert Pattinson's post-Affleck Batman. Might there be room for an ex-Superman actor who still looks amazing in the suit?

While the Arrow-verse is moving forward with its Superman & Lois Lane spinoff going into 2020, that show will obviously feature Tyler Hoechlin's Kryptonian. What will the future hold for Brandon Routh's Superman? We'll have to wait for the conclusion of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover when the shows return in 2020.

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The Arrow-verse shows on The CW have always pulled out as many stops as possible when planning the annual mega-crossovers that feature heroes from all the superhero series banding together to save the world. But, as we know, this year's crossover will be bigger than usual, with five shows (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow) all getting their own hours of the event, and Black Lightning finally getting a chance to join the fight, as well as the official Arrow-verse.

While there have been many cool things announced for Crisis on Infinite Earths, few were quite as exciting as hearing that Legends of Tomorrow's Brandon Routh would get the opportunity to revisit the character that first brought him to the attention of people around the world: Superman. While there are still plenty of secrets being held about Routh's version of the iconic character for Crisis, we do know that, even though he'll be joined by current Arrow-verse Superman Tyler Hoechlin and former CW Man of Steel Tom Welling, Routh made quite an impression when he showed up in that famous supersuit.

Brandon Routh, who will also be playing his LOT character Ray Palmer / Atom for the crossover, made such an impact, in fact, that several of his co-stars were blown away by him. David Ramsey, who we all know and love as Arrow's John Diggle / Spartan, even went so far as to say that Routh will be our "golden era Superman" for Crisis on Infinite Earths:

Well, David Ramsey was clearly very impressed with Brandon Routh's appearance as Superman, wasn't he? And, I mean, since you can see Routh in character above, can you really blame him? It looks like he was definitely able to get back to that best-of-the-good-guys attitude and add on some worldly growth and wisdom. Plus, as the internet is telling me that Brandon Routh is only 6'2", it would seem that standing ramrod straight in a Superman costume, arms akimbo, adds several stately inches to one's height. All the better to quietly intimidate bad guys, I suppose.

We don't know just yet how big of a part Routh's seemingly older and wiser Superman will have in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, but from the looks of the photos that have been released, we can at least count on him showing up in Part 2 (Batwoman) and Part 3 (The Flash). Even if that's all we get of his first time reprising Superman since he played the character in 2006's Superman Returns, it sounds like it's going to be a wondrous thing to behold.

Of course, we also don't know just how this "golden era Superman" ended up looking just like Ray Palmer. It's one thing to have different versions of Flash look like Barry's Earth-1 dad, at least they're all human. Superman, as we know, is actually an alien, so if Ray crosses paths with whatever Earth's Clark Kent looks just like him, he's probably going to have some very big questions for his naturally superpowered doppelgänger.

Speaking of the two different Brandon Routh characters we're going to get in Crisis on Infinite Earths, according to Carlos Valdes (The Flash's Cisco Ramon / Vibe) watching Routh embody both of them was a real treat:

As Carlos Valdes told TV Guide, this season will be the last for Brandon Routh (and at least one other character) on Legends of Tomorrow, so fans should have even more fun watching him play Ray and Superman in this crossover.

Crisis on Infinite Earths (and its two Brandon Routh characters) will kick off with Supergirl on December 8, then carry over into Batwoman and The Flash before winter hiatus, then wrap up on Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow when the shows return in January.

Legends of Tomorrow will lose one of its few remaining original cast members in Season 5 with the departure of Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer, as well as one other member of the Legends ensemble. Routh has been part of the Arrow-verse since way back in Arrow Season 3, before helping launch Legends as the second Arrow-verse spinoff. As longtime viewers can attest, Legends was originally pretty dark, gritty, and occasionally depressing. The Legends of the last couple seasons is all but unrecognizable, if not for the Waverider and characters who stuck around!

The shift was drastic and seemingly quite popular with fans, who may get enough gloom and doom on Arrow and even The Flash in recent years. The loss of Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer could cast some gloom on Season 5 if Ray doesn't get a happy ending, but Routh himself was full of praise in a goodbye message he posted on his final day of filming. He acknowledged how far the show came, and more:

Fans aren't the only ones who appreciated the shift from gloomy early Legends of Tomorrow to the bonkers, hilarious, and heartfelt Legends of Tomorrow that it has become by this point. Brandon Routh was gracious in his message, and I for one hope that this is a sign that he'll be ready to return to the Waverider someday, whether as a guest star or something more regular.

That Brandon Routh's last day of filming was October 25 suggests that Ray (and presumably Nora as well, if they leave together) exits Legends of Tomorrow prior to the end of Season 5. It's difficult to guess how exactly Legends will write him out, but I'm choosing to believe that it won't be in any kind of permanent way!

How Brandon Routh's Kingdom Come Superman Could Shake Up The Arrow-Verse For Crossover

The "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, which will feature Brandon Routh in a very non-Ray Palmer way, has been filming; hopefully this timing doesn't mean Ray is going to die. With Oliver Queen and now Barry Allen possibly dying in "Crisis," Ray on top would make it even harder!

For now, we can focus on the positive. Brandon Routh shared some photos from Legends of Tomorrow on Instagram, along with the touching message. Take a look:

Legends apparently had a farewell for Brandon Routh, including a cake and a box decorated with some seriously throwback pictures. Remember when Ray and Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl, were a thing? Oh, Season 1!

Legends of Tomorrow returns for Season 5 in 2020, but you don't have to wait until next year for a fix of The CW's Arrow-verse. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and newcomer Batwoman are all airing episodes in the fall, and both Arrow and The Flash are hard at work setting up the "Crisis on Infinite Earths." Maybe a little too hard at work for The Flash, but hopefully Arrow has already proved that "Crisis" is going to be amazing.

The Arrow-verse is pulling out all the super-stops for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover between its five shows, and a whole lot of news is releasing about the event despite the fact that it doesn't premiere until December. Some of the biggest "Crisis" news was the reveal that Brandon Routh -- a.k.a. Ray Palmer of the Arrow-verse -- would be playing Superman again for the first time since 2006's Superman Returns feature film. Well, it turns out fans won't have to wait until December to see Ray in red and blue!

Check out the first look at Brandon Routh back in the Superman suit for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover:

Look, I love Legends of Tomorrow's Ray Palmer as much as anybody nowadays, but this pic definitely has me asking "Ray who?" Brandon Routh will be playing one of three Supermen for the "Crisis" crossover, with the Arrow-verse's regular Superman played by Tyler Hoechlin on board and Tom Welling reprising his role as Clark Kent nearly a decade after the end of Smallville on The CW.

This particular Superman suit isn't especially armored, and there are some super-abs peeking through. My favorite thing about the poster is actually that Brandon Routh has the single Superman curl kinda sorta on his forehead. Still, there are more questions than answers about Routh as Superman at this point.

How much of Brandon Routh as Superman will fans get in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover? The Tyler Hoechlin version of Superman is arguably the most likely to be the main Superman of the crossover event, though Routh is an Arrow-verse regular, and it's entirely possible that the Routh Superman and Tom Welling Superman will be more cameos than actual characters.

Surely the crossover can't pack the crossover with characterization for every single DC alum who will be joining "Crisis," and it's not like all Arrow-verse fans will have seen Superman Returns or Smallville or even Batman: The Animated Series, although everybody totally should watch Batman: The Animated Series at some point, in my book.

Besides, I imagine Brandon Routh will spend more time playing Ray Palmer than Superman, as this upcoming season of Legends of Tomorrow will be his (as well as one other's) last season as a regular.

What leg(s) of the crossover will Brandon Routh appear in as Superman? I'd put my money on the Legends of Tomorrow episode, which also happens to be the last of the crossover's five episodes and won't air until January as the second half of a two-hour block that begins with Arrow. If he's Superman only briefly, it would track that he appeared in the Legends leg.

Will this new Superman who looks strangely like Ray Palmer be taken seriously or played for laughs? After all, this isn't just a case of two humans looking alike, and it's pretty confirmed that Ray isn't from Krypton. (No, not that Krypton.) How can a Ray Palmer from another Earth also be a Kryptonian? This is the same problem facing Erica Durance for the crossover. She played Lois Lane on Smallville years before she landed the role of Kara's mom on Supergirl, and she'll be in the crossover as Lois.

Hopefully The CW continues to release details about "Crisis on Infinite Earths" during the long wait until December. In the meantime, at least you can watch four of the five Arrow-verse series. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Batwoman all premiere their newest (and in Arrow's case, last) season in October on The CW. Be sure to tune in for a mega taste of superhero action on the small screen!

Legends of Tomorrow is going to get a lot less legendary in the upcoming fifth season on The CW. The show will lose one of its few remaining original stars in Brandon Routh, who has played Ray Palmer ever since the third season of Arrow, after which he moved over to help launch Legends. He's not the only series regular leaving Legends in Season 5 either. Courtney Ford is also bowing out.

Real-life married couple Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford play in-show love interests Ray Palmer and Nora Darhk on the show. Ford was bumped up to series regular status in Season 4 after recurring in Season 3. The two actors will leave because a creative decision was made to finish up their storyline on the series, according to Deadline, which may mean a happily-ever-after for the unusual but surprisingly adorable couple.

Ray has been pretty unlucky in love ever since he had the misfortune of falling for somebody who was already in love with Oliver Queen over on Arrow, and while you really wouldn't think that he'd finally get a happy ending from the daughter of supervillain Damien Darhk, when has Legends of Tomorrow ever done things in the normal way?

Of course, we can't rule out Ray and Nora leaving for a less heartwarming reason. I could see one of them quitting the time travel life if the other is lost, leaving together for some mission, or something darker than riding off into the sunset. That said, Legends of Tomorrow executive producers Phil Klemmer, Grainne Godfree, and Keto Shimizu released a statement about the departures, saying this:

Those don't sound like the words of executive producers who intend to break hearts in how they write out a pair of fan-favorite characters! Legends of Tomorrow has found ways to bring back plenty of characters who left the series. If this is a show that could bring back Maisie Richardson-Sellers after how it sent her off at the end of Season 3, I think it can do pretty much anything.

Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford are reportedly expected to film their last episode as regulars on Legends of Tomorrow in October. Considering Legends doesn't return for Season 5 until 2020, we may not want to count on too many episodes before Ray and Nora take their leave. Routh will have a very interesting part to play in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, at least!

Both Brandon Routh and Courtney do sound like they would be willing to reprise their roles on Legends of Tomorrow. They said this in statements regarding their departures:

With the departure of Brandon Routh, Legends of Tomorrow will be down to only two actors who are left from the founding team of time-travelers: Caity Lotz, who plays Sara Lance, and Dominic Purcell, who plays Mick Rory. Honestly, if you'd told me back in 2016 that Mick Rory would outlast everybody except for Sara -- especially considering the series launched with such a focus on the Hawks -- then I would not have believed it.

That said, I hope Mick's not going anywhere any time soon, especially since we're losing Ray's brand of humor. The day I have to say goodbye to firebug/secret romance novelist Mick Rory on Legends of Tomorrow will be a sad day indeed. Hopefully he's not too devastated by the departure of Haircut!

Four of the five Arrow-verse series will premiere on The CW in the fall, with Legends holding off until midseason. That doesn't mean the Legends will be absent from the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, however, and Brandon Routh will be looking pretty different as puts the Superman suit back on.

Every year, The CW's mega-crossover events are able to all the more weird and wild, and the upcoming "Crisis on Infinite Earths" has the potential to be the biggest TV crossover ever. Helping that distinction out is the news that Legends of Tomorrow star Brandon Routh will FINALLY get to honor his previous superhero work from Superman Returns with a second spin at playing the Man of Steel. Yeah, we're getting not just one, but two different versions of TV Superman on The CW this fall.

How in the world(s) is this going to happen? To be expected, the creative powers that be aren't giving up the ghost when it comes to specific details. It's being reported, though, that both Tyler Hoechlin and Brandon Routh will be suiting up as Superman across two different time frames. Naturally, we don't know which time frames.

Considering Tyler Hoechlin's Superman is already established during the current timeline on Supergirl, it would make a lot of sense for Brandon Routh's hero to be the one showing up in the past or the future. Not to mention the fact that Routh plays a time-traveling hero on Legends of Tomorrow, which regularly dips back to memorable moments in history.

Will the Legends' mission in "Crisis on Infinite Earths" take the team back in time to a point when...Superman was around? That wouldn't necessarily make much sense, unless of course Brandon Routh will be confirmed as Earth-1's version of Superman. That would be huge, both for the show's narrative and for eager viewers.

Though the Arrow-verse has made multiple mentions of Bruce Wayne (and possibly Batman) existing on Earth-1, Supergirl is the main hub of Superman-related references. As such, it's easy to assume that Earth-1 might not have had any superpowered aliens living among the metahumans and regular folks. But depending on how Brandon Routh's Superman factors into things, that assumption could be rendered as hogwash.

6 Arrow-verse Heroes Who Could Die In Crisis On Infinite Earths

On the flip side, the Arrow-verse might try and sell Brandon Routh's Superman as an aged-up version of Tyler Hoechlin's. The logistics there are as fuzzy as can be, and the former is only eight years older than the latter, but it's still a possibility.

While we're talking possibilities, I'd be remiss in not wondering if Brandon Routh will actually be reprising the very same Superman that he played in Superman Returns, thus introducing that reality into the TV multiverse. No doubt, that would be the most surreal and arguably absurd way to handle things, but "surreal and absurd" is Legends of Tomorrow's middle name.

No one is saying yet which episode (or episodes) that Brandon Routh or Tyler Hoechlin will appear in as Superman, nor whether or not they will share the screen together. It is worth stating, though, that Routh is confirmed by Deadline to appear as Legends of Tomorrow's Ray Palmer, as Superman, and as mind-mannered Clark Kent. Quite the powerful trifecta there.

While waiting to hear more about how all this will get explained during the crossover, fans can take the time to think about how Brandon Routh's Superman is going to look when he shows up. Will it be a carbon copy look of his Superman Returns visage? Will he be an older and wizened Man of Steel? Will he get a Bizarro look? I can't wait!

Plus, Melissa Benoist showed off her new duds for Supergirl Season 5, so can we expect to see a costume upgrade for Tyler Hoechlin as well? Here's hoping.

The Arrow-verse shows will all return to The CW in October, with the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover kicking off just ahead of the winter hiatus with three episodes. Unlike past crossovers, though, this one will pick back up again after the dramas return in the new year, with two more episodes to close this "Crisis" out.

Before he began providing the voice for Robotman on Doom Patrol, Brendan Fraser took a shot at the biggest DC superhero there is: Superman. Fraser auditioned to play Superman in the film that would become Superman Returns, and though he didn't get the part, at least he got a story out of the whole experience -- and even got to wear the Superman costume. Here's what Fraser said about trying out for the role.

Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes ever created and he's had a lot of movies that did and didn't make it to theaters. Plenty of actors came close to playing the Last Son of Krypton, the most infamous of which was Nicolas Cage in a project from Tim Burton that ultimately didn't see the light of day. Warner Bros. eventually tried to make another Superman movie, one in which Brendan Fraser came close to nabbing the title role.

Brendan Fraser told SYFY Wire that he almost got the role of Superman for the film that would eventually become Superman Returns. At the time, controversial director Brett Ratner was attached to helm the film based off a screenplay written by J.J. Abrams.

As Brendan Fraser recounts, he got to the phase where he was wearing the costume for test footage, but ultimately the role would go to Brandon Routh. Additionally, J.J. Abrams' script went unused, but according to Fraser, it was pretty cool and felt like Shakespeare in space.

Brett Ratner would eventually leave the project and another controversial director, Bryan Singer, would take over. Superman Returns ultimately didn't spark much of a fire, even though it was initially well-received by critics. It's remembered now as a pretty boring Superman movie, so maybe Fraser didn't miss out on much here.

Brendan Fraser would eventually get his chance at another DC character. He currently voices Robotman on DC Universe's Doom Patrol series. Doom Patrol has gotten pretty good reviews and the performances have gotten a thumbs up, so it all has a way of working out in the end.

You can watch new episodes of Doom Patrol on the DC Universe streaming service. As for Superman? Henry Cavill still has the job on the big screen for the DCEU. For now.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 5 of Legends of Tomorrow Season 4, called "Tagumo Attacks!!!"

Legends of Tomorrow delivered a Darhk twist at the end of Season 3 when Damien Darhk died but Nora Darhk escaped the Time Bureau thanks to the gift of the time stone from Ray. In theory, Nora was to stay out of the limelight in Season 4 lest she be apprehended by the Time Bureau and locked up for her crimes when she was under her father's (and Mallus') influence. Ray brought her back into the action in "Tagumo Attacks!!!" when Constantine needed some magical assistance.

Given that Nora had been working as a waitress at a renaissance fair to avoid using her magic and therefore risk falling into darkness like her father, she was reluctant to engage in a kind of magic that usually requires the draining of a life force. Ray found a technological substitute for life force, but it was still dangerous for Nora. Ultimately, she decided to use her magic to save Constantine, then used the time stone to travel to the Time Bureau, where she was immediately arrested.

Ray was shocked at her decision, but Nora was determined to pay for her crimes and perhaps start to redeem herself. The decision could be quite impactful for the rest of the season. Brandon Routh, who plays Ray Palmer, had this to say about the lasting effects of Nora's twist decision:

Nora may have made her decision for altruistic reasons, but that doesn't mean she won't benefit from it in the long run. Her decision to risk her own recovery by helping Constantine when he certainly would have died means that the Legends will have reason to give her the benefit of the doubt and eventually trust her. Admittedly, Constantine is still a reluctant member of the team who isn't falling all over himself to make it official. Still, Nora can likely count the Waverider crew as her allies moving forward.

Ray's faith in Nora almost certainly played a role in her feeling the strength to save Constantine without falling into darkness, and it's difficult to imagine her turning herself into the Time Bureau if not for how he helped her. Unfortunately for Ray, who has clearly (and endearingly) been smitten with Nora, turning herself into the Time Bureau means no more spur-of-the-moment adventures with the Legends.

Brandon Routh went on during CinemaBlend and other outlets' visit to the Legends of Tomorrow set to say this about the future of Ray and Nora:

The course of true love never did run smooth, but that course can be altered when it comes to the Legends! Ray won't let a little thing like Nora's incarceration by the Time Bureau put a stop on their funny little relationship, no matter how it develops. Although Brandon Routh didn't drop any details about Ray's visits to Nora, we can apparently expect shrinking to play a part. Fortunately, Courtney Ford, who plays Nora and just so happens to be married to Brandon Routh, shared a bit more information.

According to Courtney Ford, Nora and Ray will start writing each other letters. It sounds like their relationship should be a bright spot for both characters, which can only be a good thing for Nora now that she's no longer free. Ford elaborated on what it means for Nora to have made her decision to turn herself in:

Using her magic to save somebody who hadn't been able to save her was a bold and brave move by Nora, and it bodes well for her continued development throughout the season. It's also a good sign that Nora seems aware of how unhealthy her relationship with her father had been. As long as she can distinguish between good and bad dynamics, there are reasons to hope that her recovery will be ongoing.

The question that remains is whether she really can continue the recovery process. A lot may depend on the goings-on at the Time Bureau. "Tagumo Attacks!!!" revealed a dark side to the Time Bureau, and we can only cross our fingers that the darkness there doesn't infect Nora. Courtney Ford shared her thoughts on Nora's process:

Tune in to The CW on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET to find out what's in store next for Nora, Ray, and the rest of the Legends on Legends of Tomorrow. The Legends won't be part of this year's big multi-show crossover, but they'll have an event of their own to keep the action going. For more viewing options in the not-too-distant future, check out our midseason TV premiere guide.

Arrow-verse fans have just a few short months of waiting before their favorite DC shows are back on television, which means production is at last getting underway for each returning series. As such, Legends of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz recently hit up on social media to share photos with her cast mates to give the show's fans their first look at Season 4 in production.

Caity Lotz may have just proven that putting together a collaborative group photo, where everyone on the Legends of Tomorrow cast is ready and smiling, might be a harder task to pull off than stopping a time demon. As the show's team leader and chief photographer of this photoshoot, Lotz has to take a lion's share of the pose-ability blame here. A candid group shot like this rarely looks flattering for anyone already, and amusingly enough, Lotz twice managed to not even look at her camera even though she's taking the pics. Is that one of the lesser known side effects of being brought back by a Lazarus Pit?

There is one bit of weirdness with this Legends of Tomorrow photo that fans may have already noticed. No one is suited up in the photo, save Matt Ryan being ready to rock our mystical socks as John Constantine. Either that guy sleeps in a trenchcoat, or he's in the process of filming something for his character, with everyone else having less to do at that moment. Ryan appears to be the least attentive for Lotz's photo session in the pictures above, although he was the only other person ready when co-star Brandon Routh took his own photo.

Routh kept alive Caity Lotz's streak of "looking away from the lens" and somehow managed to lop half of his own face out of the frame. These pictures are so slapdash, it's understandable if some Legends of Tomorrow fans feel they've been scripted to feel as amateur night as the group was in Season 1, when they were all getting to know each other. At the same time, any group of actors who collaboratively decide to upload a series of bad photos to social media must be having a blast on set, which could mean good things for the set's vibe going into Season 4. Can any production on Earth involving Beebo possibly be anything less than amazing? I think not.

Legends of Tomorrow returns to The CW for Season 4 on Monday, October 22, at 9 p.m. ET. That's still a good while to wait, so check out our superhero premiere guide in the meantime and watch some other hero shows to pass the time. For more on Legends of Tomorrow, read up on which actress is going to be spending a lot more time on set this season.Those who would rather save their superhero watching for the fall season can instead check out our summer premiere guide, which is stacked with all the big premieres over the next couple of months.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Legends of Tomorrow. Don't read any further if you are not up to date on the titular team's latest time travel adventures!

Despite all of the setbacks that have occurred this season, things are finally starting to look up on Legends of Tomorrow. The team has managed to reprogram Rip Hunter back to his old self, and they can now continue their mission to prevent the Spear of Destiny from falling into the hands of the Legion of Doom. Sadly, it sounds like they aren't going to be successful in that endeavor, and the "Doomsworld" episode that will debut later this month will trap our heroes in a new, hellish reality. Brandon Routh explained:

Quick, think of the absolute worst thing that could happen to you based on everything you love and hold dear. Now imagine that a trio of psychotic supervillains (we're still waiting for Leonard Snart to show up properly) have used a magic spear to turn that imaginary horror into a complete reality. According to Brandon Routh's recent comments to EW, that's exactly what we're going to see occur on the "Doomsworld" episode of Legends of Tomorrow on March 28. Rather than suffer physical torture, the entire team will simply be forced to live through their worst nightmares.

This revelation pretty much guarantees that the Legion of Doom is going to get its hands on the rest of the Spear of Destiny, which might spell doom (pun intended) for Commander Steel during his mission on Apollo 13 during next week's episode. It also means that the team will eventually need to get it back. After all, time travel cannot undo the changes made by the spear, which means they will need to use the spear itself to fix history.

One significant aspect of this development that has us curious is the thought of the other types of personal hell we will see created for the Legends. For Rip, this could involve the possible return of Vandal Savage. For Sara Lance, it could see her returned to her life as a mere college student in Star City. Honestly, the possibilities are practically endless. The only thing that we know is that we're going to see these heroes at their lowest, and that means they're going to have to work as a team to fix this mess.

We will just have to wait and see what these personal hells look like when "Doomsworld" airs on March 28. Legends of Tomorrow airs every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.

Check out our midseason premiere guide for a more in-depth look at all of the spring debuts left in 2017.

While The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel finally faced off against one another earlier this year in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, fan desire to see that battle take place has existed for many years. For as long as the World's Finest partnership has existed, comic book fans have loved the idea of them facing off against one another. One of the most intriguing versions of this face off is the hypothetical fight between Christian Bale's Batman, and Brandon Routh's Superman. While this fight never actually took place on the silver screen, a new fan trailer has debuted to show us what it might have looked like. Check it out below.

That fan trailer is a phenomenal example of what could have happened if cohesive superhero universes had started just a little bit sooner. Borrowing footage liberally from The Dark Knight trilogy, Superman Returns, and Dawn of Justice, the preview shows us a version of Batman V Superman fronted by the predecessors of Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. If you have seen Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, then you already have a pretty clear understanding as to how the whole thing plays out. Batman fears what Superman is capable of, Superman has to contend with the negative public perception of his exploits, and Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey in this version) is secretly plotting behind the scenes. The trailer even cuts Wonder Woman in on the action for a few awesome shots. All in all, it's pretty badass.

Right off the bat (pun very much intended) it's abundantly clear that quite a bit of love went into the creation of this trailer. It doesn't just feature footage from a bunch of different DC movies; the editor also manipulated many of the shots to insert brand new effects and characters into certain sequences. It's obviously a labor of love, and it most certainly paid off in the end.

There's one very important element that this trailer nails that Batman V Superman ultimately did not: tone. This preview offers a very dark version of Batman -- in keeping with what fans should generally expect -- but Routh's Superman feels endlessly more likeable than Cavill's. It's an important distinction to make, because (even though there's plenty of darkness) the trailer presents audiences with enough lightness that the fake film doesn't feel overbearing. Let's hope Zack Snyder takes a few pointers from this with his upcoming Justice League movie.

What do you think of this fan trailer? Do you consider it a tonal improvement over the real Batman V Superman, or do you prefer Zack Snyder's work? Let us know what you think in the comments section below! The DCEU Batman and Superman will reunite when Justice League hits theaters on November 17, 2017.

The addition of Melissa Benoist and Supergirl to The CW's DC universe has meant the potential for bigger superhero crossovers than ever. Legends of Tomorrow actor and former Superman Returns star Brandon Routh just shared a pic he took with Benoist. It doesn't give much away about what we can expect from this year's big CW DC crossover, but it's positively Super. Check it out!

What could be better than the former Superman and the current Supergirl bonding over a cup of Bulletproof coffee? Superman and Supergirl are two characters who cannot be stopped by any bullet unless it's made of Kryptonite, and they presumably have super-metabolisms to let them drink all the butter-infused java they want. Even if Routh plays a different superhero nowadays, it should be easy for some of us to see him as Superman in the photo with Melissa Benoist, and not just because he's not wearing any glasses to conceal his identity. Superman Returns was never the most well-received superhero flick to hit theaters, but the problem was never that Brandon Routh didn't look the part.

Of course, it would be worth getting excited about the photo even if it didn't have the Super flair. The pic is yet another glimpse at what's to come in the epic CW DC crossover that will pit our heroes up against the alien race known as the Dominators, who are best known in DC Comics for their invasion of Earth because of their worry about the growing population of metahumans. The Flash has spent the last two seasons introducing metahumans from two different Earths, and Legends of Tomorrow even has a couple on the team.

The good guys may need all the help they can get from Kara as a friendly alien, and it looks like she'll be interacting with Ray Palmer at some point. It should be interesting to see if she has some connection to the Dominators or if she just comes over to help. If the latter, she may be able to bond with Oliver Queen over being sucked into trouble due to Earth-1 metahuman shenanigans.

Interestingly, it seems that there will be some breaks in the action as the heroes fight the Dominators. Kara is wearing her daywear, with her identity-concealing spectacles in place. She won't be flying around battling other aliens the whole time. Who knows? Maybe she and Ray will be able to share coffee in character. Brandon Routh isn't wearing his Atom suit.

Hopefully any interactions between Kara and Ray go well enough that Kara introduces him to her cousin at some point. Even Brandon Routh is on board for scenes with Supergirl's new version of Superman, played by Tyler Hoechlin. A former Superman, current Superman, and current Supergirl all in a scene together could be fun and fitting with Supergirl's trend of casting folks from past DC Comic movies.

Check out our fall TV schedule to see when you can catch all the superhero shows on The CW.

Outside of the spinoff-filled procedural universes that Dick Wolf built up on NBC, nowhere on TV is better equipped to put forth fan-pleasing crossovers than the CW's DC shows, and it's only going to get bigger and bolder in the upcoming fall season. Legends of Tomorrow star Brandon Routh was asked for his thoughts on Supergirl's recent casting of Tyler Hoechlin as Superman on Supergirl, and his response pretty much necessitates a future crossover between the two shows.

If somebody can get me a hold of a boombox, I will go and stand outside the offices of Greg Berlanti and the rest while the Superman theme blasts out of the speakers. Some of the most fun aspects of The CW's comic book shows come when the writers decide to pay homage to the subgenre's pop culture impact through different references and easter eggs. And what could be cooler in this particular case than having TV's newest version of the Man of Steel sharing screentime with the star of 2006's Superman Returns?

Oh, probably by having Supergirl's Dean Cain, who played Supes in Lois & Clark in the 1990s, also appearing in that scene. And then if Henry Cavill and Tom Welling would walk through while having a conversation as one of Christopher Reeve's other movies played in the background, well that all would probably be cooler. But we take what we can get from these things, and having just two past and present Superman actors in the same scene will work.

Brandon Routh, who was answering a fan for a Reddit AMA, wasn't even going far outside the realms of reality in bringing up that potential meet-up between Ray Palmer and Kal-el. After all, Supergirl's new home at The CW gives the former CBS drama a much better chance for temporary character swaps than it had in the past, when it took some effort to get The Flash in the Girl of Steel's world. And we know we're getting a mega-crossover that will slam all four shows' characters together, so even if Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl aren't part of an exclusive crossover pairing, maybe the writers can slip a wink-wink scene with Routh and Hoechlin into the overall mash-up.

While Supergirl had previously made claims that Superman wouldn't be a part of the show as a major force, the iconic comic hero creeped through Season 1 in different ways, and Season 2 will be the first time we get a face-to-face look at an adult version. Legends of Tomorrow had no such arbitrary rules over what characters would be introduced, and the time-traveling drama has had zero problems bringing characters into and out of the action with reckless abandon. Maybe one of those fleeting peeps will be Superman at some point.

Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 will premiere on Thursday, October 13, while Supergirl will debut its own Season 2 on Monday, October 9, both on The CW.

Season 1 of Legends of Tomorrow focused all of its attention on fighting Vandal Savage and his many plots to become ruler of the world by 2166. With the Season 1 Big Bad now a thing of the past, there will clearly need to be another supervillain for the team to fight. Now, actor Brandon Routh, who plays Ray Palmer/Atom on the show, has let it be known that the show might shake things up for Season 2 when it comes to how the Legends interact with the new threat that's coming their way.

In a video posted to the DC Entertainment YouTube page, Brandon Routh spoke with them about some ways that Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 will be different from Season 1. From his interview, it sounds like the show will be bringing in some smaller villains to round things out so that the team isn't always focused on the shenanigans of one evil genius. And, that's a very good thing.

While Season 1 of Legends of Tomorrow certainly had some high points, one of the unfortunate lows was the show's complete reliance on the activities of immortal baddie Vandal Savage across time. While the team did encounter other adversaries during the first season, most of them were indirectly (or directly) related to Vandal Savage. We found out in the finale that the damn Time Masters, who'd unleashed Chronos, the Hunters and the Pilgrim to apprehend or outright kill the Legends, were actually working with Savage the whole time. This, of course, means that any bounty hunter sent by them is still sort of connected to that undying ass.

Legends of Tomorrow spent way too much time tying everything in the first season to Vandal Savage. Out of the series' 16 episodes in Season 1, there were only a couple of episodes that didn't directly involve him. And, as it just so happens, those were the best episodes in the season. It didn't take long for Savage to become a huge drag. One of the reasons that his appearance pulled the show down was that he was just too hard to kill. I know, the Big Bad is supposed to be hard as all hell to kill so that he/she/it lasts all season and gives the good guys as much trouble as possible. But, when you have a team of eight (nine if you separate Firestorm) heroes and only one of them can kill the bad guy, and only with artifacts from a very specific point in time, that might be a bit too difficult. As a result, we have to watch our protagonists chasing Savage around time and losing, often pitifully, at every turn.

On top of that, the secondary villains that Legends of Tomorrow showed audiences weren't very compelling. The team encounters Valentina Vostok in the Soviet Union in 1986. Once she discovers that Martin Stein is one half of Firestorm, she goes power mad, enters a reactor to absorb energy from the thermal core and forces him to merge with her. All that was needed to take her down was for Jefferson to talk to Professor Stein and get him to un-merge with her. Then she implodes. That's it? All that it took was for the two halves of Firestorm to communicate with each other to take down someone crazy enough to absorb nuclear energy? What kind of bad guy is crazy but stupid? That's too easy and no fun at all.

In 2046 the team ran afoul of Grant Wilson, the son of Slade Wilson/Deathstroke. As Arrow taught us, Deathstroke was no joke, but his son was quite a bit easier to defeat. And, let's be honest, when you're dealing with a team made of people with superpowers, assassin training, high tech suits and fancy weapons, how hard is it going to be for them to defeat a gang of thugs, even if the thugs are some pretty tough guys. Do you have a gun that can freeze people to death? No. Get outta here, son.

When the Legends tried to hide out from the Hunters in 1871, they had to help protect a town from the Stillwater gang. After Jefferson is taken captive by the gang, they settle everything with, wait for it...a duel. Say what? The Legends of Tomorrow, who are supposed to be working their way toward being some of the baddest asses that history has ever seen, settle things with an old fashioned duel? Sorry, that's just lame. Especially since the Hunters showed up and gave the town a taste of wild future tech anyway. Ray could have just blown the gang up, but no, there had to be an Old West duel. Actually, that may have been a smart play on the show's part. When they can solve a problem with a duel, that makes everything Vandal Savage throws at them seem just that much more intimidating.

So, we know that Legends of Tomorrow will have to really bring their A-game when coming up with secondary bad guys for Season 2 (and for coming up with ways to have the team defeat them), but what about the Big Bad? What does the overarching villain need to have that will make them feel like a bigger player? I'd start with someone who actually feels imposing. Vandal Savage never felt like more than a sneering brat who couldn't get the girl he wanted, so he went all take-over-the-world on everyone. The show's main villain shouldn't just be around all the time to make the point that they're a serious threat. They should loom large even when other serious threats keep the team occupied. And for the main bad guy to have that kind of impact, the villain-of-the-week simply has to be tougher. They need to be harder to take down, smarter, stronger and meaner than the smaller villains we saw in Season 1.

Look, deciding to have more threats on Legends of Tomorrow is a definite step in the right direction. It'll keep the audience (and the heroes) on their toes on a weekly basis. Having one major bad guy who's basically related to all the smaller bad guys only allows fans to get tired of the challenges the team faces. We need them to have to really flex their creative muscles when they face a challenge, otherwise we get to know everyone's go-to moves, and we'll get bored. That same lack of creativity can then show in the episode structure, as evidenced by some of the weak ways conflicts were handled in Season 1. Not to mention the sometimes dumb ways the Legends acted in trying to solve their problems. (No, having Jefferson chat up a white girl in a small town in 1958 is not a good idea. You should all know better.)

Well, it won't be too long before we can see what Legends of Tomorrow has up its time-traveling sleeve for Season 2. Let's all hope that the show's all-around villain game is much stronger, because we can only get a better show for it.

Brandon Routh, one of the stars of the CW's Legends of Tomorrow, recently played the Xbox One version of DC Universe Online. They remade some of the characters he's played from movies and TV in the form of characters within DCUO, and Routh took his alter ego the Atom for a spin.

The video was posted up over on the official DC Universe YouTube channel. Brandon Routh doesn't actually start getting into critiquing his roles as various comic book incarnations until the minute and 31 second mark, but once he gets into it we get to hear his quips about the characters he's played over the years. From his guest appearance on the NBC show Chuck to his small but memorable role in Scott Pilgrim vs The World, all the way to his nostalgic portrayal of the Man of Steel in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, Routh uses DC Universe to stroll down memory lane.

Later into the video Routh begins to create his own character, going through some rather wacky combinations while tidbits of information about the actor pops up on screen. Such facts include his love for college basketball, which results in him putting his character in some sneakers and socks because he makes it known that you never know when you're going to stop to have a game of basketball while out fighting crime. I'm sure Batman and Superman never thought about that while putting together their costumes.

We get some fun facts throughout the character creation process in DC Universe Online, including that there are more than 2,000 different style combinations that players can choose from, and that the game caters missions to players based on their moral alignment of being either a hero or a villain.

I was always torn on the way DC Universe Online handled missions as opposed to Champions Online. Both games had their pros and cons, but I didn't like how you were basically typecast in your role of hero or villain as opposed to shaping your character through their alignments and how they handled missions. It just seems like it would have been cool to straddle that line between hero and villain by being able to make choices that swayed the barometer of morality, something that actually makes up a strong part of Batman and Superman's story arc.

The video finishes up with Brandon Routh getting to take control of the Atom, recreated to look like the one from the television show Legends of Tomorrow. The Atom ends up taking on the Scarecrow and his henchman, and then later faces off against Bane but doesn't fare too well in the match up, finding himself beaten into a pulp by the Venom-fueled mercenary.

I think the biggest takeaway from the playthrough was the fact that it was advertising DC Universe Online for the Xbox One. For the longest the game was exclusive to the PlayStation consoles when it was developed by Sony Online Entertainment. But after Sony let go of the studio and renamed it to Daybreak Game Company, they were no longer beholden to keeping their properties as PlayStation (and PC) exclusives. In result DC Universe Online is now on the Xbox One.

Brandon Routh may not have been able to beat Bane on the Xbox One version of the super hero MMO, but he's still kicking butt and taking names on the Legends of Tomorrow TV show.

Brandon Routh made his debut as Ray Palmer in Arrow Season 3, and by the episode “Nanda Parbat,” he finally finished his A.T.O.M. suit and became a superhero like his comic book counterpart. As The Atom, Ray is set to be one of the lead characters in Legends of Tomorrow, which means we’ll be seeing more of that suit in action come 2016. While not at the level of Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man suits, it’s obvious a lot of time and care went into designing Ray’s A.T.O.M. uniform, but it turns out that suit is more expensive than most of us would have guessed.

When asked by DCLegendsTV if there are any challenges to using Atom on a weekly TV series, executive producer Phil Klemmer said the main concern is damaging the expensive A.T.O.M. suit, which evidently costs more than a typical house. According to Klemmer:

It costs more than the average American home?! Granted, the CW may have a decent-sized budget to divvy up between its shows, but spending that much on the A.T.O.M. suit is frankly astounding. Until this revelation, I assumed the most money spent on a single character on Arrow or The Flash (aside from Barry Allen and his super speed) was bringing Gorilla Grodd to life in four Flash episodes. I could be wrong, but it appears the A.T.O.M. suit blows that out of the water.

With all the other visual effects going into Legends of Tomorrow, from Martin Stein turning into Firestorm to Kendra Saunders becoming Hawkgirl, it’s no wonder Klemmer and the production team are careful with using Routh in the actual suit. If it were to be badly damaged, repairing it might use up a big chunk of their budget, which is why it makes sense to use a digital double whenever possible. Of course, as Keeper said, Routh is obviously irreplaceable…but it doesn’t hurt to practice discretion over which scenes he should actually be costumed. It’s also worth noting that Legends of Tomorrow will finally feature Ray shrinking, so the dangers of damaging that suit and Routh being injured will presumably be slightly reduced in the spinoff given more use of CGI.

Fans will be able to catch up with Ray during Arrow Season 4, which premieres Wednesday, October 7 on The CW. As for Legends of Tomorrow, it’s scheduled to hit the air sometime midseason next year.

This season on Arrow, fans were introduced to Ray Palmer, the genius inventor who bought Queen Consolidated and relabeled it Palmer Technologies. While he’s mostly been kept away from the main story lines outside of his interactions with Felicity, it’s obvious that Ray is being set up for something big.

First there was his initiative to rebrand Starling City as Star City. Then we caught him looking at a holographic projection of a red and blue exoskeleton. Finally, in the midseason finale, he revealed his motives to Felicity: he wants to use the “A.T.O.M. (Advanced Technology Operating Mechanism) suit” to protect the citizens of Starling City. Comic book fans are familiar with Ray’s superhero career as The Atom, and if the events mentioned are any indication, Ray Palmer will not only be crucial to the rest of the season, but the entire series overall.

For those not familiar with the comic book version of the character, Ray fights crime using a belt that harnesses the power of a dwarf star remnant, allowing him not only to shrink but also manipulate his weight. While the shrinking applications are probably going to be more complicated on Arrow, it looks as if Ray is heading in the same direction, although he also mentioned shrinking other military technology as well. This will come in handy against the main antagonist this season: Ra’s al Ghul. It’s going to take more than brute force to defeat the League of Assassins leader. Oliver tried that in “The Climb,” and that ended with him getting stabbed and kicked off a cliff. What Oliver and Team Arrow need is ingenuity and outside-the-box thinking to take him down. That’s where Ray comes in. His inventions will somehow give them an edge against the League of Assassins leader and their forces.

I can picture a scenario where Oliver has another meeting with Ra’s and manages to sneak a miniaturized weapon to use against him given to him by Ray. Or, if they really wanted to kick things up a notch, Oliver could actually sneak Ray in, and the witty genius could assist him in fighting the other assassins. Granted, Ray’s fighting skills aren’t great, but the A.T.O.M. suit and Queen Consolidated weapons should help out. Ray has already endured tragedy from one Starling City invasion, so if he has the opportunity to stop the League of Assassins (or another group of villains) from causing more damage, he’ll spring into action. The Felicity love triangle won’t prevent him from helping out the Starling City vigilante. At the very least, it’s likely Ray will discover Oliver’s secret identity and become an unofficial member of Team Arrow by the end of the season.

Beyond Season 3 though, Ray can continue to be an important presence on Arrow. Unless the show promotes Brandon Routh to the main cast, we wouldn’t be able to see Ray too often, but assuming he’s still using the A.T.O.M. suit to fight crime in Starling City or somewhere else, he and Oliver can keep teaming up. Aside from Arsenal and the Canaries (Sara and Laurel), there haven’t been many vigilantes in Starling City who are on the up-and-up, so including Ray on that list would be a good move.

However, just imagine Ray putting his creativity to work improving the team’s equipment. Oliver already has several trick arrows at his disposal, but just imagine how Ray could improve them, specifically by packing miniaturized weapons and devices into the arrowheads. If the show is looking for a Cisco Ramon-type character, Ray Palmer is definitely the guy to fill that vacancy. Whether it’s as a superhero ally or a gadget making brainiac, Ray is surely being set up for big things on Arrow.

Oh, and here’s hoping that we also get Ray to visit The Flash at some point, even if it’s just to replicate this cover.

Seriously, wouldn’t that be amazing?

While DC Comics and Warner Bros. have moved on with their big screen interpretation of the Man of Steel, there are pockets of fans who are still complaining about the first time the character got rebooted: Bryan Singer’s 2006 film Superman Returns. While the movie received largely positive reviews and made nearly $400 million at the global box office, there are still many who continue to complain about the fact that the titular hero never throws a punch or Lex Luthor’s underwhelming evil plot. Still, though, even after nearly a decade no fan has actually ever tried to confront star Brandon Routh about it face-to-face.

Phoning in as a guest on The DJ Tanner Show to promote his appearance in the upcoming third season of Arrow, Routh revealed during the interview that he has yet to find anyone who will actually complain about Superman Returns to his face. Asked by the hosts how he deals with negative responses from some of the more rabid Superman fans, the actor bluntly explained that "nobody has had the balls" to actually rage about the movie in his presence.

But don’t take that to mean that Routh has never actually heard any critiques about his performance in Superman Returns. As he explained on the show,

Going further, he added that there’s simply no way that they can appease absolutely everybody, but that he knows that "there’s an overwhelming number of people who enjoyed the film," and that’s who he made the movie for.

In the years since Superman Returns we’ve seen Brandon Routh replaced by Henry Cavill as the new silver screen Man of Tomorrow, but Routh is hardly done playing superhero characters – even those within the DC canon. In the upcoming season of Arrow he will be playing Ray Palmer, perhaps better known as the shrinking costumed vigilante The Atom. The character is expected to play a fairly large role in multiple episodes of the show and will be both a business competitor for Oliver Queen and a possible love interest for Oliver’s close ally, Felicity Smoak. We first got a glimpse at him in the trailer that was unveiled this summer during San Diego Comic-Con.

Arrow Season 3 will be airing its first episode on The CW on October 8th.

Brandon Routh is headed back to DC territory, though he won't be playing Superman this time around. Routh played Superman in Bryan Singer's 2006 film Superman Returns, but in Arrow, he has been cast to play the role of Ray Palmer -- also known in the DC universe as Atom -- in Season 3 of the CW series.

Deadline reports that Brandon Routh will play Arrow Season 3's "main recurring guest star," in the role of Ray Palmer, "a scientist and inventor who will play an unexpected role the lives of Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak as the new owner of Queen Consolidated." Routh's deal has him set for fourteen episodes.

This article contains spoilers/references to Season 2 of Arrow so read on with caution if you're not caught up!

With Summer Glau's Isobel out of the picture as of the end of Season 2, that does leave an opening for someone to take over Queen Consolidated. It would be nice of Oliver could regain control of his family's company, but the alternative is that someone good would run the business. And that's not such a bad thing, when we consider how busy Oliver is these days, trying to save Starling and what not.

As for the mention of the "unexpected role" Ray Palmer will play in the lives of Oliver and Felicity, that may be a nod to Palmer's arrival and/or his acquisition of the company, where Oliver and Felicity work when they aren't busy thwarting evil. Then again, there's also the obvious twist that Ray Palmer is or will become Atom, and that his superhuman ability to shrink himself down will come into play at some point.

There's also the matter of Felicity's personal life, which is apparently very relevant here as Deadline's report says he'll be a love interest to Oliver's trusted friend. This is not at all surprising, considering Palmer sounds like just her type, being brainy, not to mention looking like Brandon Routh. In the wake of Oliver and Felicity's amazing Season 2 finale tension, and the fact that Barry Allen will likely be busy with his own stuff on The Flash, the timing seems perfect for a romance, and Felicity is long overdue for a proper romantic arc.

As for Routh, as mentioned, Brandon Routh is no stranger to the DC universe, having played Clark Kent and Superman in the 2006 feature film Superman Returns. Since then, he's appeared in Chuck, Partners and Crackle's thriller series Chosen. He also appeared in Fox's unfortunately short-lived comedy Enlisted. It'll be interesting to see his take on Ray Palmer, and how the character fits into the show -- and how long he sticks around!

Moviedom – or, the easily excitable comic-geek fan base – is lathered up for Man of Steel. Count me amongst their ranks. Everything we’ve heard about Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot has us trembling with anticipation for a brand-new, big-screen Superman adventure.

In fact, it’s starting to feel like 2006 all over again … and we all know how that worked out.

In 2006, Bryan Singer resurrected the Man of Steel for the wildly anticipated Superman Returns. It was going to be a return to the Golden Age of Richard Donner – a Superman movie that helped wash away the bitter aftertaste left by two lackluster Superman sequels and a rebirth for DC Comics’ classic hero. Truth, justice and the American Way were about to roar back into theaters.

Then we saw the movie, and it managed to disappoint (for various reasons). Singer himself has said in years since that he feels the movie – and its heavy-handed Christ analogies – caught the summer popcorn audience off guard.

“This was a story about Christ -- it's all about sacrifice: The world, I hear their cries. So what happens? He gets the knife in the side and later he falls to the earth in the shape of a crucifix,” Singer once told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was kind of nailing you on the head, but I enjoyed that, because I've always found the myth of Christ compelling and moving. So I hoped to do my own take, which is heavy s--- for a summer movie."

The movie, over time, has attracted more and more detractors, to the point that many now say Snyder’s film is meant to correct the mistakes of Singer … and that's a mistake in itself. Revisiting Superman Return in preparation for Snyder’s reboot, I found that there are three things this worthy chapter in Superman’s cinematic legacy absolutely nailed – and yes, three things it probably should have corrected in the rewrite stage.

1. Singer Kept Superman’s Trademark Theme Song

No one can say Singer’s Superman Returns got off to a slow start. John Ottman recreated John Williams’ signature Superman themes– arguably Williams’ best symphonic compositions – and played it at full blast over a soaring opening credit sequence that started with Marlon Brando’s Superman monologue, then carried audience members through the darkest corners of outer space as our hero returned to planet Earth.

2. Singer Upped the Action

It’s true Superman still didn’t punch anyone in Superman Returns -- a criticism, I believe, that indirectly led to the hiring of the action-savvy Snyder for Man of Steel in the first place – but Singer absolutely took advantage of advanced technological tools to put Kal-El (Brandon Routh) in the middle of some memorable set pieces that won’t look dated years from now. Have you popped in Superman II recently? The Niagara Falls “rescue” is embarrassing. But Superman Returns' mid-air rescue of a jumbo jet, the catching of the Daily Planet globe, and the launching of Lex Luthor’s “continent” into outer space are worthy sequences of a super Superman movie.

3. Singer Explored Superman’s Impact on Our Society

And what would happen to us in his absence. Beyond Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) winning a Pulitzer Prize, Superman’s 5-year journey to Krypton’s remains and back dropped the world into turmoil. Kal-El’s presence alone should have a deep impact on our planet and its society. When you have an all-powerful force of justice policing the planet, who’s going to commit a crime? There are deeper themes at play in the Superman mythology that Singer tried to explore. At times, he went off the deep end into religious symbolism. But there have been suggestions in Snyder’s marketing materials that say he and screenwriter David Goyer will explore the hope Superman brings to our nation … and I think that was touched on in Superman Returns.

Now, where did he go wrong?

1. He Gave Superman a Kid

Nodding to the fact that Lois and Clark had sex, Singer gives Superman a super-powered kid. Do you know what that makes Clark? A deadbeat dad who can’t be around to take care of his own child. This is the cinematic equvalent of painting one’s self into a corner. There’s nowhere a subsequent Superman film can go from here, because you’ll ALWAYS have to answer the question of, “Yeah, but what about Superman’s son?” It’s a narrative dead end, and one that has been ditched for Man of Steel.

2. He Gave Lex Luthor a Lame Land Scheme

Real estate? In the middle of the ocean? That looked like the back alley of a seedy city? No one was going to live on Lex Luthor’s new continent. The scheme made no sense. And by making Luthor – armed with Kryptonite – the main antagonist in Superman Returns, Singer borrowed heavily from Donner’s blueprint, when he needed to think way outside of the box. That’s why Man of Steel allegedly has NO Lex Luthor and NO Kryptonite. And finally …

3. Singer Revered Donner Too Much

If you watch Superman Returns shortly after watching Donner’s original Superman, you realize that Singer’s movie is more than an homage – it’s a blatant rip off. So many scenes in Singer’s remake act as a mirror image to Donner’s effort, from the night flight with Lois to the crime-spree montage that has Superman flexing his powers. Luthor’s villainy and the lack of a decent fight link the two films, as well. Most of us wanted Singer to move Superman forward, not replicate his past. I’m praying Man of Steel moves this legend forward, because he has been flying in circles for far too long.

As the befuddled football player with a song in his heart, Glee star Cory Monteith became a TV heartthrob. But now that Finn Hudson has graduated from McKinley High, Monteith's role on the show will likely be scaled back, which allows this All-American-looking Canadian actor a chance to try his hand at movie stardom.

Previously, Monteith has snagged supporting roles in teen-aimed features like Final Destination 3 and Monte Carlo, but Variety reports he has signed for a more mature feature called McCanick. An action drama from Bleiberg Entertainment, the film will focus on hotheaded narcotics officer Eugene "Mack" McCanick, who becomes wildly obsessed with a seemingly harmless criminal who has been released from prison. Over the course of a long, hot day, McCanick and his partner track this peculiar perp, encountering violence and uncovering a dark secret from Mack's past.

Monteith has signed on to play the mysterious man, while the often intimidating character actor David Morse (Disturbia) will play McCanick, and Superman Returns's Brandon Routh his partner. Josh C. Waller, director of the little known horror flick Raze, will helm, bringing to life the original screenplay penned by Daniel Noah (Max Rose). Rather than attempting a flashy non-stop action approach, McCanick will follow in the vein of 70s cop pics like The French Connection and Serpico, focusing primarily on tormented cop character study, punctuated by scenes of stirring action.

Morse is a riveting performer, so I'm confident he can shoulder such a reportedly intense emotional arc. The question will be if Routh and Monteith can keep up. Both could use the jolt a thriller like this could give their career. Routh is still paying the unfair punishment of years of unremarkable opportunities following the lackluster box office of Superman Returns, and Monteith needs to move fast lest Hollywood brand him a goody goody gleek for the rest of his relevancy. If done right, McCanick could prove a good turning point for each of its leading men.

McCanick shoots this September in Philadelphia.

Underdog sports movies are a dime a dozen. But underdog sports movies set on the lacrosse field are not, so we’re marginally interested in Steve Rash’s Crooked Arrows, especially now that it has locked up its leading man.

Or should I say leading Superman? Brandon Routh, former man of steel, has signed on for the film which, according to Variety, will follow a Native American high school lacrosse team that’s ordered to join a private league occupied by snooty, rich-kid teams. Ah, so it’s the old “snobs versus slobs” formula, only with Native Americans and lacrosse-stick gags.

I’m pulling for Routh, who was a good Superman in Bryan Singer’s unfairly maligned effort and is still trying to catch a break. His small supporting role as a powerful vegan in Scott Pilgrim was amusing, but his Dylan Dog adaptation was dead on arrival. I’m not sure he’s the right guy to play “the tribal chairman's part-Native American entrepreneurial son,” as the trade suggests, but I’m hoping he brings energy and humor to the role of the motley team’s coach. Maybe a little of Gene Hackman from Hoosiers, or a Meatballs-era Bill Murray? As for Rash, he once directed Can’t Buy Me Love (so there’s hope) and Pauley Shore’s Son-In-Law (so that hope is limited, at best).