In a new interview with Screen Rant, Wolé Parks, who plays John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel, was asked about the reports that the show had to come to an end due to Warner Bros. Discovery not wanting competing Superman products in the marketplace, as the new Superman movie is on its way. Parks, who has been part of Superman & Lois since the beginning, explained his perspective on the situation, sharing the following:
Wolé Parks: That’s a great question. I’m going to tell you. I know as much as you do. It’s all rumors of speculation. Do I believe it? Sure, of course, why not? Would DC want a clean slate? James Gunn has this very big Superman project coming out, and it seems like everything right now is a universe. You look at HBO and, I just watched The Penguin, which was amazing and that show is based on Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe and, then The Batman 2, whenever that comes out. So it seems like very much they’re like, ‘We want these worlds’ and, and they were like, ‘Look, we’re kind of maybe tired of the CW version of it,’ Regardless of the quality of the show. These decisions [are] well above my pay grade. I have no control over it. Like I said, did it suck? Would we have like to go at least another season or two more? Of course, but you live with what you what you get.
What Wolé Parks’ Superman & Lois Comments Mean For The Show
Ever since DC Studios was launched, multiple DC projects across various platforms have been brought to an end in a similar way to Superman & Lois. Max’s Titans and Doom Patrol also ended after only four seasons, even though there were clearly more stories to be told with the respective series. In the case of the lead-up to the Superman & Lois season 4 finale, Warner Bros. Discovery could easily have been involved with the show’s premature finish, but there is also The CW to take into account.
The new owners of The CW, Nexstar, have made it clear that they are going in a different direction with the network by focusing less on original programming, including shows like Superman & Lois. Once the sale was put in motion for The CW, other Arrowverse shows like Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow were canceled, while Gotham Knights and Naomi didn’t go past their respective season 1 run. While Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans for DC could factor in, The CW had already put their new strategy into effect, which means it makes sense as to why Superman & Lois wasn’t renewed for season 5.
Our Take On Wolé Parks’ Superman & Lois Comments
As frustrating as it is to see Superman & Lois season 4, episode 10 be the final hour of the series when there could have been more seasons, Parks’ comments on what not only Warner Bros. Discovery but the industry itself is doing with IPs right now make a lot of sense. Despite the circumstances, Superman & Lois season 4 had a powerful ending that allowed it to stand out from the other DC TV shows on The CW. With the Arrowverse era over through the Superman & Lois series finale, the next chapter of DC will take its place with Gunn’s DC Universe.
