Smallville Behind The Scene : Proses Casting

Tidak seperti kebanyakan film serial, yang biasanya memerlukan waktu selama kurang lebih empat minggu untuk casting, Gough dan Millar memerlukan lima bulan. Pada Oktober 2000, dua produser ini mulai mencari tiga pemeran utama, dan telah memilih sutradara casting di sepuluh kota berbeda. Sebenarnya ada delapan pemain tetap dalam film serial ini, tetapi sejak season pertama empat anggota dari pemain tetap itu diceritakan keluar dari film serial ini, sementara lima aktor baru disewa sebagai pemain tetap sebagai pengganti untuk season-season berikutnya.

Para Pemain Utama

"Dia tidak bisa memilih untuk mempunyai kekuatan-kekuatan supernya atau tidak. Semuanya itu dipercayakan kepadanya dan dia harus berhadapan dengan fakta ini." Tom Welling on Clark Kent[52]

Tom Welling memerankan Clark Kent, anak muda dengan kemampuan super,yang mencoba menemukan tempatnya dalam kehidupan ini setelah ia menemukan bahwa dirinya adalah alien. Dia menggunakan kekuatannya untuk menolong orang lain yang ada dalam bahaya. Masalah Clark dalam season pertama adalah tidak mampu membagi rahasianya kepada siapapun. Dia hanya ingin menjadi normal. Clark takut membuka rahasia kepada Lana, karena takut kalau Lana menolaknya setelah dia tahu kebenarannya. Setelah berbulan-bulan, David Nutter mencoba mencari pemeran Clark dengan melihat foto-foto para aktor dan akhirnya terpikat dengan foto Tom. Dia bertanya mengenai Tom, sutradara kasting mengatakan manager Tom tidak ingin dia memerankan karakter ini karena bisa melukai kariernya dalam film feature. Setelah percakapan dengan manager Welling, Nutter meminta dia membaca naskah untuk syuting percobaan, dan menyakinkan dia untuk mengambil bagian. Dari salah satu audisinya, setelah dia membaca naskah adegan di pemakaman dengan Kristin Kreuk; studio berpikir mereka mempunyai ikatan yang bagus. Welling percaya kekurangtahuannya terhadap mitologi Superman menolong penampilannya karena Gough dan Milllar telah merancang serial ini sehingga mitologi sebelumnya tidaklah penting.

Kristin Kreuk memerankan Lana Lang, gadis tetangga. Dia adalah gadis cantik dan populer yang benar-benar kesepian. Dia mempunyai "kekosongan di hati" karena kehilangan orangtuanya,dan merasakan empati dari semua orang. Dia merasa terhubung dengan Clark. Gough dan Millar sebenarnya mencoba mencari seseorang untuk peran Clark Kent,tapi Kristin Kreuk yang pertama dicasting sebagai Lana Lang. Sutradara Casting Coren Mayrs mengirimi David Nutter, sutradara syuting percobaan, rekaman dari 69 orang dan orang kedua adalah Kristin Kreuk. Mereka sangat begitu menyukai rekaman audisinya sehingga mereka dengan segera menunjukkan dia ke studio. Kristin Kreuk tidak akan kembali menjadi pemain tetap dalam season delapan.

Michael Rosenbaum memerankan Lex Luthor, anak milyader yang dikirim ke Smallville untuk menjalankan pabrik pupuk lokal. Setelah Clark menyelamatkan hidupnya, mereka dengan cepat menjadi teman. Lex mencoba untuk menjadi pahlawan, tetapi motivasinya biasanya dikarenakan rasa penasaran akan hal-hal yang tidak bisa dijelaskan,seperti hari saat Clark menyelamatkan dirinya saat tenggelam. Pencariannya akan cinta tanpa syarat, sesuatu yang pernah diberikan ibunya sebelum dia meninggal. Selama perkembangan serial ini, persahabatannya dengan Clark menegang dan dia beralih ke sisi jahat, membuat dirinya terasing dari temannya. Lex Luthor versi Smallville tidak dimaksudkan sebagai awal dari peran komedi yang diperankan Gene Hackman; dia lebih cenderung menyenangkan dan rapuh. Peran ini susah untuk dicasting, seperti tidak seorangpun bisa setuju pada apa yang mereka sukai mengenai karakter ini. Gough dan Millar menginginkan komedian yang memerankan karakter ini, karena menurut mereka komedian selalu ingin menyenangkan dan dicintai di saat yang bersamaan. Michael diaudisi dua kali. Merasa audisi pertamanya kurang serius, Rosenbaum membawakan dua setengah halaman adegan, yang menunjukkan karakter lucu,karismatik, atau mengancam. Audisinya berjalan begitu baik sehingga semua orang yakin bahwa dialah orangnya. Setelah tujuh season dengan film serial ini, Rosenbaum mengumumkan bahwa dia tidak akan kembali untuk season delapan, walau terbuka untuk tampil sebagai bintang tamu.

Allison Mack memerankan Chloe Sullivan, salah satu sahabat Clark. Dia mencintai Clark, walau perasaannya bertepuk sebelah tangan. Editor koran sekolah, rasa penasaran sebagai wartawannya-selalu ingin mengungkap dusta dan mengetahui kebenaran-mengakibatkan ketegangan dengan teman-temannya, terutama saat dia menyelidiki masa lalu Clark. Dia cerdas dan mandiri, tetapi juga terasing dari sekolahnya selama season pertama. Setelah belajar mengenal Smallvile dari sutradara casting, Dee Dee Bradley, Allison Mack berpikir tentang audisi untuk peran Lana Lang. Tetapi akhirnya Mack diaudisi dua kali untuk peran Chloe. Karakter ini diciptakan hanya untuk film serial ini dan awalnya dibuat mempunyai latar belakang etnik sebelum Mack memerankannya. Salah satu alasan kenapa dia dicasting untuk peran ini karena menurut Gough dan Millar dia mempunyai kemampuan langka untuk membawakan " bongkahan besar penjelasan-penjelasan" dalam percakapan sehari-hari. Saat Michael meninggalkan serial ini, Mack menggunakan ini sebagai kesempatan, mengatakan bahwa dia akan meninggalkan serial ini kecuali dia digaji lebih tinggi untuk season delapan. Akhirnya dia memang mendapatkannya keinginannya dan menandatangani kontrak untuk terus tampil di setiap episode.

Sam Jones III memerankan Pete Ross, sahabat Clark yang lain. Dia membenci keluarga Luthor karena dia melihat keluarga Luthor mencuri bisnis krim jagung keluarganya. Dia adalah orang pertama yang Clark dengan sukarela memberitahukan rahasianya. Dia jatuh cinta kepada Chloe, tapi dia menyimpan perasaannya karena cinta segitiga antara Clark-Lana-Chloe yang muncul. Pete Ross diceritakan keluar saat akhir season ketiga. Sam Jones III, yang memerankan Pete Ross, adalah aktor terakhir yang dikasting. Gough dan Millar melihat Jones empat hari sebelum mereka mulai syuting untuk percobaan Smallville. Di komik, Pete Ross adalah orang kaukasia dan sang produser memilih Jones, yang merupakan orang Afrika-Amerika, bertentangan dengan mitologi.

"...Saya merasa Martha tidak memiliki figur seorang ibu untuk dirinya saat dia tumbuh. Itulah sebabnya menjadi seorang ibu penting untuknya. Dan itu menjadi "buku gambar" akan jenis ibu yang dia inginkan(untuk dirinya). " Annette O’Toole on Martha Kent[65]

Annette O’Toole memerankan Martha Kent, Ibu angkat Clark. Dia, bersama dengan suaminya Jonathan, memberikan saran bijaksana mengenai bagaimana menanggulangi kemampuannya yang terus bertumbuh. Annette menemukan latar belakangnya sendiri pada karakter ini, dalam usahanya menolong Annette mengindentifikasikan perannya. Dalam pandangannya, Martha sebenarnya dari Metropolis, tetapi dia meninggalkan tempat itu karena dia merasa “terlalu palsu”. O’Toole juga percaya Martha membuat Lex bersimpati, karena kehilangan yang Lex rasakan saat kecil (ibu dan rambutnya). Menurut Annette,Martha selalu memberikan Lex” perasaan ragu (tapi menguntungkan)” bahkan saat dia menggapai titik yang membuatnya menyeberang ke sisi jahat. Dalam season lima, dia mengambil kursi senat. Ini membuatnya menjadi senator Amerika di Washington, D.C di season 6, dan karakternya keluar dari film serial ini di season 7. Cynthia Ettinger sebenarnya yang dicasting untuk memerankan Martha, tetapi selama syuting percobaan semua orang menyadari bahwa dia tidak tepat untuk peran ini, termasuk Ettinger sendiri. Annette O’Toole sebenarnya sedang akan syuting film serial The Huntress saat diadakan casting ulang untuk peran Martha. Ternyata film serial The Huntress dibatalkan, yang akhirnya memberikan kepada Annette kesempatan untuk bergabung dengan para pemain Smallville. Sebelumnya Annette memerankan Lana Lang di Superman III.

John Schneider memerankan Jonathan Kent, ayah angkat Clark. Dia mempunyai keinginan kuat untuk melindungi rahasia anaknya. Menurut Schneider, Jonathan mempunyai “kemauan sempurna” untuk dipenjara, atau lebih buruk, untuk melindungi anaknya. Schneider juga percaya ,”Hal terakhir yang penting dalam kehidupan Jonathan Kent adalah dirinya sendiri.” John Schneider diceritakan keluar dari film serial saat episode ke-100, dimana digambarkan dia meninggal karena serangan jantung saat malam kemenangannya dalam pemilihan senat. Millar dan Gough menginginkan wajah yang terkenal untuk Smallville. Gough dan Milllar menyukai ide untuk mengkasting John sebagai Jonathan karena Schneider telah dikenal sebagai Bo Duke dari Film The Dukes of Hazzard, yang Gough lihat mampu meningkatkan kepercayaan bahwa dia mampu mengurus sebuah peternakan.

Eric Johnson memerankan Whitney Fordman, kekasih Lana, yang cemburu karena pertemanan Lana dan Clark, bertindak keterlaluan dengan memperplonco Clark. Dia akhirnya berdamai dengan Clark sebelum bergabung dengan Marinir. Kristin Kreuk merasa para penonton tidak terlalu mengenal karakter ini, karena dia hanya terlihat melalui mata Clark. Whitney keluar di akhir season pertama sesuai naskah, tetapi dia tampil sebagai cameo dalam episode kedua “Visage”, dimana di sana terungkap dia meninggal dalam pertempuran di luar negeri, dan di season empat, selama flashback di tahun pertama Clark masuk SMA. Eric Johnson menunjukkan kepuasannya karena cara penulis menangani keluarnya Whitney (dari film ini), dengan memberikan karakter ini kematian sebagai seorang pahlawan. Johnson diaudisi untuk peran Lex dan Clark, sebelum akhirnya dicasting untuk peran Whitney Fordman. Saat produser memanggilnya dalam satu audisi lagi, setelah tidak menerimanya untuk memerankan karakter utama, Johnson memberitahu mereka bahwa jika mereka menginginkan dia maka mereka perlu membawanya untuk tes di depan kamera. Setelah tes di depan kamera, Johnson diterima dan menghabiskan hanya satu hari untuk syuting adegan bagiannya untuk syuting percobaan.

Para Pemain Tambahan

John Glover memerankan Lionel Luthor, ayah Lex. Lionel bertanggung jawab untuk membuat keluarga Kent mampu mengadopsi Clark tanpa perlu hubungan kekerabatan legal atau pertanyaan mengenai asal-usul Clark. Glover mencoba untuk membuat Lionel setangguh usahanya “membuat Lex lebih tangguh”. Karakter ini dibuat untuk “keluar dengan caranya sendiri, menguji Lex, sehingga Lex bisa membuktikan diri”. Glover melihat bahwa Lionel adalah seorang yang berkuasa dan kaya yang merasa kecewa dengan anaknya. Tujuan Glover di season pertama adalah untuk menunjukkan usaha Lionel membuat Lex lebih tangguh. Motto Lionel menurut Glover, berkaitan dengan usaha membesarkan Lex, “Tidak ada resiko, tidak ada penghargaan” Lionel diciptakan khusus untuk film serial ini sebagai tandingan dari keluarga Kent, orang yang “berpengalaman membesarkan anaknya dengan cara ekstrim” John akhirnya menjadi pemain tetap di season kedua setelah menjadi bintang tamu di season pertama. Dia menjadi pemain tetap sampai di season ketujuh dimana dia dibunuh Lex dalam episode “Descent”

Erica Durance memerankan Lois Lane, saudara sepupu Chloe. Dia datang ke Smallville menyelidiki kematian Chloe. Dia tinggal dengan keluarga Kent sementara dia berada di Smallville. Durance adalah bintang tamu yang hadir dalam beberapa episode selama season empat, tetapi telah menjadi pemain tetap sejak season lima.

Jensen Ackles memerankan Jason Teague, pacar Lana di season empat. Dia mengikuti Lana ke Smallville, dari Paris, Perancis, dan mengambil posisi sebagai asisten pelatih football. Dia dipecat pihak sekolah saat hubungannya dengan Lana terungkap. Di akhir season, terungkap bahwa dia telah bekerja dengan ibunya untuk melacak tiga batu Krypton. Ackles mendapat respon bagus di season empat dan akan dikontrak untuk season lima, tetapi akhinya dalam skenario ditulis karakternya meninggal karena dia akan bermain dalam serial Supernatural.

Aaron Ashmore memerankan Jimmy Olsen : pacar Chloe yang seseorang fotografer; dia juga bekerja di Daily Planet. Ashmore merupakan bintang tamu yang mengisi beberapa episode di season enam tapi menjadi pemain tetap di season tujuh.

Laura Vandervoort memerankan Kara, sepupu Clark. Dia dikirim untuk mencari Kal-El, tetapi terkurung dalam ruang animasi tertutup selama delapan belas tahun. Saat dam yang menyimpan pesawat luar angkasa jebol di akhir season enam,”Phantom”, dia bebas. Dia mempunyai semua kemampuan Clark, malah kemampuan yang Clark belum miliki, termasuk kemampuan untuk terbang. Gough menyatakan bahwa dia tidak akan memakai kostum Supergirl menurut versi apapun. Di akhir season tujuh, Kara terperangkap di Dimensi Phantom. Vandervoort tidak akan kembali sebagai pemain tetap untuk season delapan.

Justin Hartley memerankan Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, CEO Queen Industries dan pemimpin sekelompok kecil manusia super. Hartley adalah bintang tamu yang mengisi beberapa episode dalam season enam dan tujuh, tetapi akan menjadi pemain tetap di season delapan.

Samuel Witwer akan memerankan Davis Bloome di season delapan. Dia adalah orang menyenangkan yang berjuang secara paramedic melawan sifat-sifat jahat yang menghalangi dirinya.

Cassidy Freeman akan memerankan Tess Mercer, pengganti Lex yang telah dipilih dengan teliti untuk menjadi CEO di LuthorCorp di season delapan.

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English

Cast

Main article: Characters of Smallville

Unlike most shows, which generally get about four weeks of casting, Gough and Millar had five months.^[5] In October 2000, the two producers began their search for the three lead roles, and had casting directors in ten different cities.^[7] There were originally eight series regulars, but since the first season four members of the original cast were written off the show, while five new actors were hired as series regulars during the succeeding seasons.

Original cast

"He hasn’t been able to choose whether or not he has these abilities. All this responsibility has just been thrust on him, and he has to deal with it." Tom Welling on Clark Kent[52]

Tom Welling portrays Clark Kent, a young man with superhuman abilities,who tries to find his place in life after discovering he is an alien. He uses his abilities to help others in danger. Clark’s problem in season one is not being able to share his secret with anyone. He just wants to be normal. Clark is afraid to open up to Lana, for fear that she will not accept him if she knows the truth.^[52] After months of scouting, Tom Welling was cast as Clark Kent.^[52] David Nutter was looking through pictures of actors and stumbled upon Tom Welling’s image. When he asked about Welling, the casting director said Welling’s manager didn’t want him to do the role, because it could hurt his feature film career. After a conversation with Welling’s manager, Nutter got him to read the script for the pilot, which convinced him to do the part.^[8] For one of his auditions, he read the graveyard scene with Kristin Kreuk; the network thought they had "great chemistry".^[5] Welling believes his lack of knowledge of the Superman mythology helps his performance because Gough and Millar have set up the series so that the previous mythology is not important.^[52]

Kristin Kreuk portrays Lana Lang, the girl next door. She is the "beautiful, popular girl who is really lonely."^[53] She has a "hole in her heart," because of the loss of her parents, and feels empathy for everyone. She feels connected to Clark.^[53] Gough and Millar were initially trying to find someone for the role of Clark Kent, but Kristin Kreuk was the first to be cast, as Lana Lang. Casting director Coreen Mayrs sent David Nutter, the director of the pilot episode, a tape of 69 people and the second person on the tape was Kristin Kreuk.^[8] They loved her audition tape so much they immediately showed her to the network.^[5] Kristin Kreuk will not be returning as a regular cast member in season eight.^[54]

Michael Rosenbaum portrays Lex Luthor, a billionaire’s son sent to Smallville to run the local fertilizer plant. After Clark saves his life, the two become quick friends.^[11] Lex tries to be a hero, but his motives are usually driven by curiosity for the unexplained, like the day Clark rescued him from drowning. He is searching for that unconditional love, something his mother had for him before her death.^[55] As the series has progressed, his friendship with Clark became strained and he has taken a darker turn in personality, alienating himself from his friend. Smallville’s Lex Luthor was not supposed to be a precursor to the more comedic role performed by Gene Hackman; he was meant to be likeable and vulnerable.^[55] The role was hard to cast, as no one could agree on who they liked for the role. Gough and Millar wanted to cast a comedian for the series, on the belief that comedians always want to "please and be loved at the same time."^[5] Michael Rosenbaum auditioned for Lex Luthor twice. Feeling he didn’t take his first audition seriously, Rosenbaum outlined a two-and-a-half-page scene, indicating all the places to be funny, charismatic, or menacing.^[55] His audition went so well that everyone agreed he was "the guy".^[5] After seven seasons with the show, Rosenbaum announced that he would not be returning for the eighth season, though open to appearing as an occasional guest.^[56][54]

Allison Mack portrays Chloe Sullivan, one of Clark’s best friends. She is in love with Clark, although the feeling isn’t reciprocated.^[57] Editor of the school newspaper, her journalistic curiosity ;’’e2’’80’rdblquote always wanting to "expose falsehoods" and "know the truth"^[58] ;’’e2’’80’rdblquote causes tension with her friends, especially when she is digging in Clark’s past.^[59] She is intelligent and independent, but also an outcast in the school during season one.^[58] After learning about Smallville from the show’s casting director, Dee Dee Bradley, Allison Mack thought about auditioning for the role of Lana Lang. Mack instead auditioned twice for the role of Chloe Sullivan.^[58] The character was created just for the series,^[5] and was intended to have an ethnic background before Mack was hired.^[58] Part of the reason she was cast was because Gough and Millar felt she had a "rare ability to deliver large chunks of expositionary ^[sic] dialogue conversationally".^[5] When Rosenbaum left the show, Mack used this as leverage, saying she would leave unless she earned a higher salary for season eight. The gambit paid off, and she signed a new contract to continue appearing in every episode.^[60]

Sam Jones III portrays Pete Ross, another of Clark’s best friends. He hates the Luthors for what he sees as their thievery of his family’s creamed corn business.^[61] He is the first person Clark voluntarily informs of his secret.^[62] He is in love with Chloe,^[63] which he keeps to himself because of the Clark-Lana-Chloe love triangle already taking place.^[64] Pete Ross was written out of the series at the end of season three. Sam Jones III, who portrayed Pete Ross, was the last of the series regulars to be cast. Gough and Millar saw Jones four days before they began filming for the pilot.^[64] In the comics, Pete Ross is Caucasian, and the producers chose to cast Jones, who is African-American, against the mythology.^[64]

"...I have the feeling that she didn’t have a mother growing up they’ve never introduced a mother for her. That’s why being a mother is so important to her and being the ’picture book’ kind of mother at that." Annette O’Toole on Martha Kent[65]

Annette O’Toole portrays Martha Kent, Clark’s adopted mother. She, along with her husband Jonathan, give Clark sage advice about how to cope with his growing abilities. Annette O’Toole devised her own background for the character, in an effort to help her identify with the role. In her vision, Martha was originally from Metropolis, but she left because she felt it was "too phony".^[65] O’Toole also believes Martha carries sympathy for Lex, because of all the loss he endured as a child (his mother and his hair). According to O’Toole, Martha will always give Lex "the benefit of the doubt," even when he reaches the point that he has crossed to the "dark side".^[65] In season five, she takes a state senate seat.^[66] This leads to a job as US Senator in Washington, D.C. in season six, and the character’s exit from the show.^[67] Cynthia Ettinger was originally cast as Martha Kent, but during filming everyone realized that she was not right for the role, including Ettinger.^[5] Annette O’Toole was committed to the television series The Huntress when Ettinger was filming the original pilot. Around the time the creators were looking to recast the role of Martha Kent, The Huntress was canceled, which allowed O’Toole to join the cast of Smallville.^[65] O’Toole had previously portrayed Lana Lang in Superman III

John Schneider portrays Jonathan Kent, Clark’s adopted father. He goes to great lengths to protect his son’s secret. According to Schneider, Jonathan is "perfectly willing to go to jail, or worse, to protect his son."^[69] Schneider also believes, "The least important person in Jonathan Kent’s life is Jonathan Kent."^[69] John Schneider was written out of the show on the series’ 100th episode, with Jonathan dying of a heart attack the night of his election victory.^[70] Millar and Gough wanted a recognizable face for Smallville. Gough and Millar loved the idea of casting John Schneider as Jonathan Kent, because Schneider was already known as Bo Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard,^[71] which Gough saw as adding belief that he could have grown up running a farm.^[5]

Eric Johnson portrays Whitney Fordman, Lana’s boyfriend, who becomes jealous of Clark and Lana’s budding friendship, going so far as to haze Clark.^[11] He eventually reconciles with Clark, before joining the Marines.^[72] Kristin Kreuk feels audiences did not get to know the character, because he was only seen through Clark’s eyes.^[53] Whitney was written out of the show in the first season’s finale, but he made cameo appearances in the season two episode "Visage", where it is revealed he died in combat overseas, and the season four episode "Facade", during a flashback to Clark’s freshman year. Eric Johnson has expressed his pleasure in the way the writers handled Whitney’s departure, by giving the character the exit of a hero.^[73] Johnson auditioned for the roles of Lex and Clark, before finally being cast as Whitney Fordman.^[74] When the producers called him in for one more audition, after passing on him for the major roles, Johnson informed them that if they wanted him then they would need to bring him in for a screen-test. After the screen-test, Johnson was cast and spent only one day filming his scenes for the pilot.^[74]

Additional cast

John Glover portrays Lionel Luthor, Lex’s father. Lionel is responsible for the Kents being able to adopt Clark without any legal ramifications or questions of his origins.^[59] Glover tried to make Lionel appear as though he was trying to "toughen [Lex] up". The character is made to "go out of his way, to give [Lex] tests, so [Lex] can prove himself." Glover saw the character as someone who was a rich and powerful business man, disappointed in his son. Glover’s goal, for season one, was to show Lionel’s attempts to make Lex tougher; he interprets the character’s motto, in regards to raising Lex, as "no risk, no rewards."^[75] Lionel was created specifically for the show, to provide a parallel to the Kents, as an "experiment in extreme parenting."^[5] In season two, John Glover, who had been a recurring guest on the show in season one, became a part of the regular cast. He remained a series regular through season seven, until he was murdered by Lex in the episode "Descent".^[76]

Erica Durance portrays Lois Lane, Chloe’s cousin. She comes to Smallville investigating the supposed death of Chloe.^[27] She stays with the Kents while in town. Durance was a recurring guest for season four, but has been a series regular since season five.

Jensen Ackles portrays Jason Teague, a love interest for Lana in season four. He follows Lana to Smallville, from Paris, France, and takes a position as the school’s assistant football coach.^[77] He was fired from the school when his relationship with Lana came to light. By the end of the season, it is revealed that he has been working with his mother to track the three Kryptonian stones of knowledge.^[78] Ackles received top billing for season four and was contracted to remain through season five, but was written out of the show in season four’s finale due to his commitments to Supernatural.^[79]

Aaron Ashmore portrays Jimmy Olsen: Chloe’s photographer boyfriend; he also works at the Daily Planet. Ashmore was a recurring guest for season six but became a regular cast member in season seven.

Laura Vandervoort portrays Kara, Clark’s Kryptonian cousin. She was sent to look after Kal-El (Clark), but was stuck in suspended animation for eighteen years. When the dam confining her ship broke in the season six finale, "Phantom", she was set free. She has all of Clark’s abilities, as well as a few that he doesn’t have at the moment, including the ability to fly.^[80] Gough has stated that she will not wear any version of the Supergirl costume.^[81] At the end of the seventh season, Kara is shown to be trapped in the Phantom Zone. Vandervoort will not return as a regular for the eighth season.^[82]

Justin Hartley portrays Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, the CEO of Queen Industries and leader of a small group of superhuman beings. Hartley was a recurring guest in the sixth and seventh seasons, but becomes a series regular in season eight.^[51]

Samuel Witwer will portray Davis Bloome in season eight. He is a likeable paramedic struggling with evil inhibitions.^[83]

Cassidy Freeman will portray Tess Mercer, Lex’s handpicked successor to being CEO of LuthorCorp in season eight.^[83]