The worlds ofSmallville,Superman & Lois, andLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermancollide as the Clark Kent stars come together for a specialDCTV photo. When it comes to retelling iconic superheroes through live-action, Superman continues to get re-imagined for every generation. Krypton’s last son’s constant media portrayal naturally leads to the DC icon’s fanbase constantly growing all over the world, especially given how manyactors have now played Superman in live-action.
At the recentFan Expo Portland (via WellingDuranceFans), several DC TV actors were present to greet fans for photo-ops as well as panels, which included multiple actors who have played Superman in live-action TV shows. Serving as the latest stars to have led a live-action Superman television series,Welling, Hoechlin, and Cain united for a Superman-themed photo at the convention. Check it out below.
Cain portrayed the DC icon throughLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which ran for four seasons before its cancelation by ABC. Welling played a young Man of Steel onSmallvillefor a full decade and reprised the role for a special cameo in 2019 during Arrowverse’sCrisis on Infinite Earthscrossover event. After getting his start in the Arrowverse through theSupergirlTV show, Hoechlin would go on to headlineSuperman & Lois, which ended its run in December 2024 on The CW.
What The Superman Actor Photo Means For The DC Hero’s Live-Action Legacy
Photo moments like the one Welling, Hoechlin, and Cain just haddemonstrate the history of Superman on the small screen, and subsequently the importance of these TV projects in reinforcing Superman’s legacy. While massive Hollywood blockbuster movies can, naturally, work with more resources, including having bigger budgets and higher production value, fans only get to spend about two hours with characters. However,SupermanTV shows, whether it is live-action or even through animation, have more time to spend with Clark Kent and the characters in his life, thus gaining much audience investment over time.
In the case ofWelling’sSmallvillelegacy, the actor got to develop his version of the Man of Steel for ten seasons, making it the longest-running superhero show of all time. For Cain’sLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanand Hoechlin’sSuperman & Lois,they also got to show how compelling it can be to highlight the Man of Tomorrow’s duties as both a superhero and a journalist. That is why Superman, as a character, will always belong just as much to the world of television as he does cinematically.
How Tom Welling, Dean Cain & Tyler Hoechlin Helped Cement Superman’s Live-Action Legacy
Throughout a decade’s worth of storytelling inSmallville,Welling’s Clark got the benefit of having multiple layers and aspects explored with him that sometimes don’t get covered in other Superman media. Welling’s interpretation of the popular DC hero was also allowed to be one of the most relatable versions, seeing him deal with teenage problems like regular people while also coming to terms with his Kryptonian heritage. That’s why bythe end of theSmallvilleseries finale, the transition into him being Superman was incredibly rewarding, as the story had steadily built to this point for 10 seasons.
WithLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,Cain’s incarnation stood out by putting Clark as his “real” identity, while Superman was the disguise. Cain’s Clark/Superman is also one of the best examples in DC media history in terms of nailing the mild-mannered aspect of the character, rather than bumbling that sometimes gets mistaken as mild-mannered. It’s still disappointing that the series was the onlySupermanTV show that never got a proper ending, as the season 4 finale ended on a cliffhanger that set up Lois Lane and Clark’s new life as parents for season 5.
Hoechlin’s hero inSuperman & Loisis one of the most unique portrayals in Clark’s entire live-action history. Rather than starting out with Clark just beginning as a superhero, Hoechlin played a more veteran Superman, who had also reached the point where he is married to Lois and is the father of twins. A big moment fortheSuperman & Loisseries finale- and for the hero’s overall legacy -is the fact that Clark’s story was fully completed in its last episode, as fans saw Clark die at old age after having lived a long life.
Our Take On The Superman Actor Photo
It’s always fun when actors who have played the same character across the decades get to meet up in real life,as it always becomes a fun crossover in itself, especially for a beloved franchise like Superman. Whether or not on-screen crossovers will happen in this capacity ever again remains to be seen, especially as the next theatrical Superman is on his way in James Gunn’s DC Universe. Luckily, fans can always reliveSmallville,Superman & Lois, andLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanthrough home media releases and streaming.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
Superman & Lois
Superman & Lois follows the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and journalist Lois Lane as they navigate the strains of contemporary parenthood while confronting threats from supervillains and alien invaders, blending personal challenges with heroic responsibilities in this 2021 television series.
