Tom Welling Talks About “Crisis on Infinite Earths”

Tom Welling as Clark Kent

A video of the Vancouver FanExpo 2020 panel with Tom Welling has been posted to YouTube. During the panel he discussed being contacted to return as Clark Kent for The CW’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, why he agreed to be part of it, and why he doesn’t like the idea of wearing superhero costumes.

“I got on the phone, and they had this idea for me to come back in this crossover, in this Multiverse. And I was like ‘What? What’s a Multiverse?'” Tom then goes on to talk about how he looked for a reason why he shouldn’t do the crossover, but the idea was so cool that he just had to do it.

“I liked the idea of him being with Lois. And I don’t know if anybody picked up on this, but somehow I got in the back of my head that I wanted to act more like Jonathan Kent, in that scene that I did Clark, because that’s his father, and that’s probably who he would have been influenced by.”

Tom reiterated that he had no interest in ever putting on the Superman costume. In fact, if The CW had approached him about putting on the costume for the “Crisis” crossover he would have hung up the phone immediately.

While Tom has no knowledge of a “Smallville” reunion TV series, he did say that he and Michael Rosenbaum would be interested in lending their voices to an animated version of the Season 11 “Smallville” comic book series.

Tom Welling
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Superman2878
February 19, 2020 12:04 am

WB, can you please make an animated Smallville season 11 series or an animated film?

afriend
afriend
February 19, 2020 12:22 am
Reply to  Superman2878

Before or after the Earth-96 special?

afriend
afriend
February 19, 2020 12:16 am

And that’s why I hated his scene. After ten years and 218 episodes, I think we’re owed it, if you know what I mean.

Superman2878
February 19, 2020 12:46 am
Reply to  afriend

Yeah I would have really really liked to have seen Tom in the suit as well. I really liked seeing him back in the role though. As for the animated series or animated film, it could be either or for me. Maybe even both before and after the Earth-96 special. They could even make a story that wasn’t shown from the comics. I’m not picky. Just as long as we would have one. 🙂

MattComics
MattComics
February 19, 2020 11:03 am
Reply to  afriend

. Putting Welling’s apparently militant aversion to the costume aside for a moment and just thinking about the story, truly seeing Clark in costume allows the viewer to actually SEE the character crossing the finish line.

eblue83
eblue83
February 19, 2020 4:37 pm
Reply to  afriend

I think we are all ultimately disappointed because we loved him so much in the role.

MattComics
MattComics
February 19, 2020 9:44 am

“Tom reiterated that he had no interest in ever putting on the Superman costume. In fact, if The CW had approached him about putting on the costume for the “Crisis” crossover he would have hung up the phone immediately.” Of course he would only come back if Clark wasn’t Superman at all. I really do not agree with the whole sentiment of “Oh once he becomes Superman everything is easy for him.” That’s a level of willful ignorance about the character I would expect from some trolltastic Punisher or Wolverine fanboy, not a guy who played Clark Kent for 10… Read more »

Superman2878
February 19, 2020 9:55 am
Reply to  MattComics

Did he say that he would be interested in voicing his version of Clark that was from the season 11 comic series? If so then we could at least see his version of Superman in some form. Even if it was in animated form. I hope it happens.

eblue83
eblue83
February 19, 2020 4:31 pm

Let’s be honest about what this was, it was a glorified cameo. It was great to see him back, but it served no purpose or influence to the outcome whatsoever. Missed opportunity.

Superman2878
February 20, 2020 2:03 am
Reply to  eblue83

True. It was a missed opportunity. And I do wish that he filmed more scenes. Still, I’m glad that we got to see his Clark and Erica’s Lois one last time. 🙂 I don’t know if they will ever make a season 11 animated series or animated film. If they do, great. I’ll happily watch it with a bucket of buttered popcorn and a soda. 🙂
I don’t know if it will ever happen though. I guess it’s just one of those things that only time will tell.

Seph1r0th
Seph1r0th
February 19, 2020 6:50 pm

I love Tom Welling but it’s getting really annoying to hear him constantly be so flippant and indifferent about the Superman mythology that he played a pretty big role in for a decade. I get that he’s just an actor playing a fictional character but he almost always makes snarky comments in these interviews and appearances to make sure everyone knows how much he really doesn’t give a crap about the character or his history. His whole demeanor when talking about Superman has always rubbed me the wrong way and it makes him seem extremely ungrateful for a role that… Read more »

Kal-Elvis
February 19, 2020 10:03 pm

Well, I thought his scene in Crisis was fun. That said, I don’t really care to see him in another Super-related anything, frankly. Smallville was “ok” for me, and the ending felt like a cop out. We all kinda knew Tom was the reason, and this absolutely clinches it. If others want an animated season 11, then to those who do: I hope you enjoy it if you get it. Truly. For me, though: if he’s this averse to Superman, then I can’t see it going well, and I won’t bother watching. There are enough people who actually enjoy the… Read more »

Superman2878
February 20, 2020 1:52 am
Reply to  Kal-Elvis

Speaking of Brandon’s Superman,
WB please make a Brandon Routh Superman series on HBO or on HBO max. I just had to say it. 😉

The_News_Editor
The_News_Editor
February 20, 2020 5:04 am
Reply to  Kal-Elvis

I agree with you, Kal-Elvis. It was a cop-out and quite frankly, I have no desire to see Tom Welling within a mile of anything Superman related and this would surprise my younger self who was a huge fan and defender of the show until the last episode.

And quite frankly, I do not care about an animated season 11 if Tom Welling is attached to it.

Besides, I wanted to see a life-action of his character being Superman, not an animated one.

The_News_Editor
The_News_Editor
February 20, 2020 4:58 am

I have to agree with a lot of the others. The fans really wanted to see Tom Welling actually wear the Superman suit.

It is a disservice to the fans. After 10 long years of being a huge fan of the show and seeing every other character wear their uniform and fly, how come at the very end we never actually got to see Clark become Superman?

And then years later, he still refuses? I’m sorry, but it’s a slapped in the face to fans.

Superman2878
February 20, 2020 1:46 pm

I can see why some fans are upset and disappointed that Tom still didn’t wear the Superman suit for the crossover event and only had a few minutes in the event. I understand where they are coming from. I too was also disappointed as well that we didn’t get to see him actually play Superman and that we didn’t get to see a trio of Superman actors playing the role of Superman at the same time helping to protect and save the multiverse from the Anti-monitor. However, and I can only speak for myself when I say this, but even… Read more »

Steve Eden
Steve Eden
February 21, 2020 6:27 pm

I look at it this way.

We wanted Tom to give us closure.

Mission accomplished.

I thought it was a great was a great way to end it. Besides, it is obvious we will never see him in costume. Take the good with the bad.

Of course, there could STILL be a story about his kids getting Kryptonian powers and… Uh… wait a minute… oh yeah… Already being done with the new guy. Oh well!

Superman2878
February 21, 2020 8:16 pm
Reply to  Steve Eden

The glass half full view. I can agree with that. 🙂