Jon Cryer, known for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in the Arrowverse series “Supergirl” and the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, will not be reprising his role in the upcoming third season of “Superman & Lois”. In response to a fan on Twitter, Cryer stated that the show is currently holding auditions for the role of Luthor, indicating that the production is looking for a new actor to take on the iconic role.
Cryer made his debut as Luthor in “Supergirl” season 4 and returned for seasons 5 and 6. He also played a significant part in the 2019 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. His portrayal of the character earned him critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Cryer’s departure is not the only casting change for “Superman & Lois” season 3. In August 2022, Warner Bros. Television announced that Jordan Elsass would be leaving the series, leading to the search for a new actor to play Jonathan Kent. Australian actor Michael Bishop was eventually cast in the role, marking his first major television role in the United States. Bishop’s previous credits include the Disney Channel Original Movie “Spin” and Australian productions “Grace Beside Me” and “Swinging Safari”.
All New Universe
Despite these recastings, “Superman & Lois” showrunner Todd Helbing remains open to the idea of Arrowverse alumni appearing on the show. However, he has stated that these actors would need to portray new versions of their characters to fit with the alternate universe setting of the series. In a recent interview, Helbing used Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl as an example, stating, “It would not be the Supergirl from the Arrowverse, it would be our version so we would invent a new backstory for her.”
This approach could potentially keep the Arrowverse alive after the conclusion of its last remaining core series, “The Flash”, in 2023. Arrow star David Ramsay, who portrays John Diggle in both the mainstream Arrowverse and the “Superman & Lois” continuity, suggested that the series could continue the stories of fan-favorite characters through their alternate universe counterparts. “The idea is perhaps there’s a world where we can explore the Flash, or maybe just Barry Allen. Maybe he is Flash, maybe he isn’t. Is Oliver Queen alive? Maybe he is. Maybe the ring is still there?” he said.
“Superman & Lois” season 3 is set to premiere on The CW on March 14, 2023. Fans will have to wait and see who will be taking on the role of Lex Luthor in the upcoming season.
