Annette O'Toole did a fantastic job playing Martha Kent in Smallville
, but she raises an excellent point about one of the biggest missed opportunities of the show's run. Smallville first began airing on TV back in 2001, and from the first episode, it was clear that the show was onto something special. Instead of exploring the story of the Man of Steel, all grown up and saving the world from Metropolis, the series took a closer look at the early years for Clark Kent.
Long before donning his suit, Clark grows up in the not-so quiet town of Smallville, along with his adoring adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. The series is a wonderful exploration of Clark Kent's life and his long journey to becoming the world's Superman, as he tries to juggle the stresses of being a teenager and a high schooler, while also developing superhuman powers. The show also paid tribute to the long-lasting legacy of this hero whose origins extend all the way back to 1938.
Smallville Included Superman: The Movie's Original Lana Lang And Clark Kent Actors
The Perfect Superman Reuinion Was A Missed Opportunity
While there were several early adaptations of Superman for theaters, the most successful and popular early iteration saw Christopher Reeve take on the role in 1978. Reeve was the perfect casting for this larger than life role, and the excitement and enthusiasm for his casting as the titular hero led to multiple sequels with him returning to the role. In 1983, he donned the suit again for Superman III, one of the less popular sequels, but still an important part of his legacy. And in that film, he starred opposite a young woman by the name of Annette O'Toole.
With a large and dynamic cast, Smallville featured an incredible assortment of characters, both adapted and original, some of which were underserved.
Reeve obviously reprized his role as Clark Kent/Superman, but O'Toole was cast as a new love interest, Lana Lang, Clark's childhood sweetheart. Their chemistry was palpable, and with Lois Lane absent for much of the film, the two have an opportunity to reconnect after many years apart. While they don't end up together, the connection they share is special, and the relationship is one that remains an important part of that history for the films and stories, but despite both Lana Lang and Clark Kent's actors appearing in Smallville, the pair did not reunite in the show.
Martha Kent Knew The Potential For A Lana And Clark Reunion
Annette O'Toole enjoyed a prominent position in Smallville, being cast as the mother of young Clark Kent. This role saw the actress remain a prominent part of the show for the first six seasons, and returning again in later seasons of the show. Meanwhile, Christopher Reeve, the man who made Superman real for so many people, was cast in a minor cameo role as Dr. Virgil Swann. This role was perfect for the aging actor, as he had suffered a traumatic accident years earlier that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, Reeve continued to act and his role in Smallville was a perfect tribute to the hero, except for one incredible oversight highlighted by O'Toole (via The Daily Planet).
“I was so disappointed. I thought what a missed opportunity. I don’t know how they would have made it work but to have the chance to have the ex-Lana Lang and ex-Clark Kent / Superman together again, you just have to take it.”
Smallville had its own versions of Clark Kent and Lana Lang, played by Tom Welling and Kristin Kreuk, but when they brought back Reeves in a new role, it could have been a perfect moment to reunite the actor with his former flame from Superman III. Unfortunately, the actors did not see each other, and a precious moment that could have been perfect came just shy of that. Despite this, the two episodes where Reeve appears are touching, and feel like an official passing of the baton to Tom Welling in Smallville.
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Smallville is a Superhero television series based on the Superman Comic Book series created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This television release was developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The premise revolves around a young Clark Kent as he arrives on Earth and attempts to live his life while simultaneously keeping his friends, family, and those around him safe thanks to his superpowers.
English (US) ·