Brandon Routh and Tyler Hoechlin snapped a photo in their Superman costume Tuesday when they met up for the annual Arrowverse crossover. The two actors took a photo in front of the Daily Planet sign while on a break from shooting. Titled “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, fans received a hint that they’ll be seeing double, possibly triple, of their favorite characters in the crossover.
Since 2014 the Arrowverse has held a crossover event where superheroes of their DC TV shows band together to fight a big villain. Currently, the Arrowverse lineup is Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman. Possibly the most ambitious crossover yet since five out of the six Arrowverse shows will be contributing an episode for this massive event. While Black Lightning will not be dedicating an episode from their season, characters from the show will participate throughout the crossover.
Eight years ago Smallville fans said goodbye to their Superman, played by Tom Welling. When Clark Kent revealed his Superman suit in the final seconds of the show, fans thought that would be the last time they saw their Superman suit up. Good news for Smallville fans as Tom Welling and Erica Durance, playing Lois Lane, will be reuniting in the Arrowverse annual crossover event. This reprisal of her character will not be Durance’s first appearance in the Arrowverse as she guest-starred in Supergirl as the heroine’s mother.
Welling will be donning the suit with fellow Superman actors Hoechlin and Routh. Currently, Hoechlin appears in Supergirl, and this will be his second appearance in a crossover event. Routh now stars in Legends of Tomorrow as the loveable genius Ray Palmer. He will be going back to his roots and putting on the suit for the first time since the 2008 film Superman Returns.
To the surprise of fans, it was announced in August that Routh and Courtney Ford, his wife and love interest in the show, would be leaving Legends of Tomorrow. Routh’s character started in Arrow but jumped ship to the Waiverider and quickly became a fan favorite. In a statement to Deadline, Routh said, “I’m saddened to see Ray’s journey end for now but wish my Legends family well.” Today and tomorrow fans will be using the hashtag #ThankYouCourtneyFord and #ThankYouBrandonRouth to show their love and thanks for the passion Routh and Ford have put into their characters. Routh and Ford are expected to wrap their final episodes sometime in October.
Arrowverse fans know that the crossover is usually a place to say goodbye to their favorite characters. With Arrow coming to an end in its seventh season, fans are prepared for a lot of tears. But, with so many shows involved, it’s only to be expected that other Arrowverse shows will use this crossover to clean house. The “Crisis on Infinite Earths” starts Sunday, December 8 at 8/7c. and will conclude Tuesday, January 14, 9/8c. Will your favorite character survive this television spectacle? Comment below and let us know who you think will make it out of this calamity!