Superman & Lois

Superman & Lois is the 2021 live-action TV series for The CW based on the DC Comics characters Superman and Lois Lane. It is an indirect spin-off of the Supergirl TV series, which was set in the so-called Arrowverse. However, this series is established as happening in a reality that is separate from the Arrowverse.

The show stars Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch as the world’s most famous Super Hero and comic books’ most famous journalist as they deal with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society.

Both Hoechlin and Tulloch have already appeared as these iconic characters in multiple episodes of The CW’s various DC superhero series, including the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. However, the versions of the characters that appear in this show are established as inhabiting an alternate Earth, separate from the one seen in the Arrowverse shows. On this Earth, Superman is the only superhuman hero on the planet.

The CW provides this synopsis for season one:

After years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, the world’s most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent and comic books’ most famous journalist, Lois Lane, come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever – dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society. Complicating the already daunting job of raising two boys, Clark and Lois must also concern themselves with whether or not their sons Jonathan (Jordan Elsass, Little Fires Everywhere) and Jordan (Alexander Garfin, The Peanuts Movie) could inherit their father’s Kryptonian superpowers as they grow older. Returning to Smallville to handle some Kent family business, Clark and Lois are reacquainted with Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui, Entourage), a local loan officer who also happens to be Clark’s first love, and her Fire Chief husband Kyle Cushing (Erik Valdez, Graceland).

The adults aren’t the only ones rediscovering old friendships in Smallville as the Kent sons are reacquainted with Lana and Kyle’s rebellious daughter, Sarah (Inde Navarrette, Wander Darkly). Of course, there’s never a dull moment in the life of a superhero, especially with Lois’ father, General Samuel Lane (Dylan Walsh, Nip/Tuck) looking for Superman to vanquish a villain or save the day at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, Superman and Lois’ return to idyllic Smallville is set to be upended when both a mysterious stranger (Wolé Parks, All American) and impassioned self-made mogul Morgan Edge (Adam Rayner, Tyrant) enter their lives. 

Through much of seasons one and two, viewers were left to wonder if the series was set in the Arrowverse, and if Supergirl might make an appearance. However, the season two finale included a key piece of dialogue from General Lane, where he recounts seeing alternate Earths where there are many heroes, adding that this Earth only has one. This clearly established this series is in a separate reality from the Arrowverse.

Before the start of production on season three, Elsass dropped out of the cast of the series. In September 2022 by actor Michael Bishop was hired to assume the role of Jonathan Kent.

Based on the characters from DC created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman & Lois is written and executive produced by Todd Helbing (The Flash) and executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Geoff Johns. The series is from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.