Superman & Lois To Get Extra-Long 90-Minutes Premiere Episode
Superman & Lois, the newest addition to The CW's Arrowverse of DC shows, will begin with an extended 90-minute premiere on February 23.
Superman & Lois, the Arrowverse’s newest addition, will begin with a special extended 90-minute premiere on February 23. The series will be an interesting experiment for The CW’s DC programming, as it looks to have a notably different tone than the shows that have come before. Superman & Lois is also beginning at an uncertain time for the franchise when marquee series like Arrow, Black Lightning, and Supergirl have either recently ended or announced cancellation plans.
Superman & Lois will focus on the eponymous couple and their two sons trying to live a peaceful life in Clark Kent’s hometown of Smallville. The story is set much later than most past onscreen outings for the famous Kryptonian, opening up some exciting possibilities. Presumably, the show will be a bit less action-focused than past Arrowverse (CWverse), with the family dynamic being the center of the narrative.
Fans will get an extended look at that family dynamic during the series’ premiere, which The CW has recently announced will be an extended 90-minute special. The premiere will be followed by a 30-minute behind-the-scenes event called Superman & Lois: Legacy of Hope, which will give a glimpse into the season to come and discuss the main characters’ cultural significance. As a result of the extended air time for Superman & Lois, The Flash season 7’s premiere date has been pushed from February 23 to March 2.
With many stalwarts of the Arrowverse ending and The Flash likely not long for this world either, Superman & Lois could quickly become a pillar of the franchise alongside Batwoman. Of course, that future depends on how successful the first season is. Superman hasn’t exactly been a major presence in the Arrowverse so far, and the nature of the show seems to be notably different than its predecessors. That means a direct transfer of viewers from other Arrowverse series is far from guaranteed, though Supergirl fans are probably the most likely to make the jump.
At the moment, much of DC’s televised future seems wrapped up in HBO Max. DCEU shows like Peacemaker will tie directly into the current theatrical releases, and the platform now hosts former DC Universe shows like Titans and Doom Patrol. While the streaming shows don’t necessarily have to compete with the Arrowverse, Warner Bros. is putting the brunt of its efforts into streaming for the time being. That leaves The CW’s projects in a questionable state – one that will hopefully be aided by the extended premiere of Superman & Lois on February 23.
Source: The CW