Prepare for an exciting new chapter as a fresh interpretation of Superman is set to debut this week. After a lengthy hiatus from the big screen following the intense and realistic portrayal by Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill, James Gunn is ready to reintroduce Clark Kent in a way that embodies hope and justice. Gunn, known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy, promises that this rendition won’t merely present Superman as a typical hero; instead, it will delve into profound themes including identity, moral boundaries, public perception, and the complexities of immigration, all through the lens of DC’s iconic character. This film isn’t the only recent superhero adaptation tackling significant social issues; Elizabeth Tulloch, who portrayed Lois Lane in Superman & Lois, believes that the CW series skillfully balanced uplifting storytelling with realistic challenges facing the beloved characters.

In an enlightening interview with Collider’s Aidan Kelley, Tulloch reflected on the legacy of Superman & Lois. The series concluded late last year after a successful four-season run, culminating in a heartfelt finale that brought together Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) and his cherished partner for one last poignant moment. Throughout its airing, the show adopted a familial and relatable perspective on the superhero couple, focusing on their life after returning to Smallville with their two sons. Despite continuing to face classic adversaries like Lex Luthor, Bizarro, and Doomsday, Clark and Lois also confronted the everyday hurdles of life, including reconnecting with old friends and parenting two teenagers, each with their own unique struggles.

Unlike other superhero series on The CW, Superman & Lois, brought to life by creatives Greg Berlanti and Todd Helbing, garnered widespread acclaim across all four seasons due to its ability to transcend expectations. While the action elements were present, the show was particularly praised for its emotionally resonant family dynamics, portraying the Kents as they navigated deeply personal challenges, including health issues like cancer and social anxiety. Tulloch expressed her pride in moving beyond traditional Arrowverse narratives, embracing storylines that, despite featuring a heroic alien in blue tights, resonate with audiences on a personal level:

“One of the things I’m proudest of, besides the show being so incredibly well-received from the get-go, is, I think people were anticipating it to be one way, and we technically weren’t a part of the Arrowverse, which was sort of confusing, but we started there. Superman & Lois wasn’t a part of it. We were on a different Earth, which I still don’t really understand. I usually have Tyler [Hoechlin] answer that question when we’re at Comic-Con or something, and it pops up. But I will say, our entire team of writers, led by Todd Helbing and Brent Fletcher, tackled some really tough subjects. We tackled social anxiety, especially in Season 1, with our kid. Obviously, Lois’ breast cancer storyline in Season 3 was a really big deal. I was initially worried about the whole cancer storyline when they first pitched it to me, but it ends up being something that, at almost every Comic-Con I do or when I meet fans, really touched them personally. They’re seeing that on a superhero show when it’s something that, ‘I’ve been dealing with, or my mom’s been dealing with, or my sister, my girlfriend…’ Or guys. Men get breast cancer, too. That’s what I’m really proud of.”

Elizabeth Tulloch Celebrates How ‘Superman & Lois’ Depicts Clark and Lois’s Parenting Journey

Regrettably, Superman & Lois was unable to explore all the rich narratives it had in store. The producers initially envisioned a seven-season arc that would delve deeper into the Kent family’s adventures, but executives were hesitant to have a remnant of the CW universe operate alongside DC’s ambitious rebranding efforts under James Gunn and Peter Safran. While Tulloch mourns the untold stories that could have emerged, she takes pride in being part of the first live-action adaptation of Superman that showcases Clark and Lois as parents. The portrayal of their sons, Jonathan and Jordan, grappling with the potential inheritance of superpowers added a significant layer to the already complex dynamics of working parents depicted in the series. Additionally, she expressed immense pride in what the production achieved within the constraints of a limited budget, especially during the uncertain final season:

“They really wrote a grounded version of Clark and Lois that people can relate to. Obviously, we haven’t seen a live-action version of them as parents before. That will go down in history as we were the first to have done that. I’m sure it’ll pop up again. Our Season 4 has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and we were dealing with huge budget cuts, cast cuts, not knowing if we were going to finish this early. There were certain storylines, like with Brainiac, that we really wanted to do, that we didn’t get to do. So, that’s kind of a bummer. But we were really happy we got to at least get an amazing version of Doomsday. We ended with an amazing version of Doomsday. I’m really proud of our Doomsday. We have the best VFX team, and we got to end with Lex Luthor. So, even though we didn’t get to all the storylines that I know they’d initially planned for, the fans really loved the final season. So, I’m really happy.”

Tulloch also attributes much of the show’s success to Helbing, who infused his own parenting experiences into the storytelling as co-creator and showrunner. “Todd Helbing, who created Superman & Lois, gets it,” she remarked. “He also has two young sons. He’s a family guy.” In her portrayal of Superman’s classic optimistic essence, she drew inspiration from the iconic story crafted by Richard Donner in 1978. This blend of influences helped create a narrative that remained true to the comic books while simultaneously resonating as a family drama. Even prior to Gunn’s film, Tulloch noted that the show aimed to restore the character’s signature optimism, even introducing Kal-El’s loyal companion:

“Yeah, I didn’t have a lot of exposure, but I know that some fans were wanting the more hopeful, optimistic version back, and I feel like that’s what Tyler and our showrunners delivered. Then, of course, they’re talking a lot about Krypto in the new Superman, but we threw in a Krypto at the very last minute ourselves, who was really cute and apparently having the same issues that they were having on the movie, which is that any time Tyler was lying down, the golden retriever would just start kissing his face, and he wasn’t supposed to do that. [Laughs]”

Superman & Lois is currently available for streaming on Max. Fans can look forward to the next live-action Superman film directed by Gunn, which is set to be released in theaters on July 11.