The coveted and much-celebrated chance to portray Superman on screen has been passed down for many generations, with the most recent recipient being Tyler Hoechlin (on TV, at least). Years after making his debut as the Man of Steel on the second season of Supergirl, the actor is now leading his own DC Comics-inspired TV shows, along with Elizabeth Tulloch reprising her role a his wife and other exciting talents in the Superman and Lois cast.
The latest series installment of the Arrowverse, premiering on The CW on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, is following in the footsteps of ABC’s hit romantic drama Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which starred Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher as the titular duo in the 1990s. In addition to focusing on Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s professional lives (a double life for Kryptonian, that is) upon their return to Smallville, Greg Berlanti and Todd Helbing’s show will shed light on their more personal struggles. For instance, the couple have two children to look after now named Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alex Garfin).
That actually raises a few questions. For one, who really is the Kents’ new other son, and secondly, why do those young actors look so familiar, too? While we have yet to answer that first puzzle, the second question (and more) will be answered in the following breakdown of what the cast of Superman and Lois have been up to before the highly anticipated series, starting with TV’s latest Last Son of Krypton.
Tyler Hoechlin (Clark Kent/Superman)
Before becoming the Arrowverse’s (main) Superman, Tyler Hoechlin broke out in a much different kind of comic book role as Tom Hanks’ son in Road to Perdition - Sam Mendes’ 2002 adaptation of Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner’s graphic novel. That was followed by a recurring part on 7th Heaven, playing an alpha lycanthrope on MTV’s darker series reboot of Teen Wolf, and a best-selling author in Fifty Shades Freed in 2018. He also got to live out his baseball background in Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!, romanced Alexandra Daddario in Can You Keep a Secret?, and played a deceptively romantic groom in Palm Springs more recently.
Elizabeth Tulloch (Lois Lane)
From her debut in R2-D2: Beneath the Dome - a 2002 mockumentary about the life of the beloved droid outside of Star Wars - to about halfway through her run as a veterinarian turned beastly witch on NBC’s hit adult bedtime story, Grimm, Elizabeth Tulloch was known professionally as Bitsie Tulloch. The actress, who makes up the “better half” of Superman and Lois’ titular romantic duo, was also credited by that nicknamed (passed down from her World War II vet grandfather) in some of her best known film roles, such as in 2008’s Lakeview Terrace, 2012’s silent Best Picture Oscar winner The Artist, and the 2015 biopic Concussion opposite Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu.
Jordan Elsass (Jonathan Kent)
Just like in the comics, Clark and Lois have a son named Jonathan, who may assume his costumed alter ego Superboy at some point on Superman and Lois, on which he is played by Jordan Elsass. The 19-year-old actor first made a name for himself as a writer and star of the web-based sketch comedy series Keepin’ It Weird TV when he was just 13 and went on to star in low budget films and shorts before landing the part of Reese Witherspoon’s son on the Hulu original miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. The Austin-born performer is also said to be starring in Amazon Studios’ series adaptation of the YA novel Panic and the upcoming made-for-TV western movie Billy and the Bandit.
Alex Garfin (Jordan Kent)
Unlike the comics, Clark and Lois have a second son (following the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover) named Jordan, whose future could go in all kinds of directions on Superman and Lois, on which he is played by Alex Garfin. The young actor made his feature film debut in the 2010 Angelina Jolie-led action thriller Salt when he was just 5 after playing the first of two different roles he would be cast as on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His biggest role to date before landing his part on the Arrowverse series would have to be as the voice of Linus in The Peanuts Movie in 2015.
Stacey Farber (Leslie)
While playing Leslie on Superman and Lois is likely her biggest claim to fame among American audiences thus far, Stacey Farber is quite well known in her homeland of Canada. The 33-year-old actress, like many other young aspiring performers from the Great White North, broke out on Degrassi: The Next Generation along with Aubrey Graham, who would grow up to become rapper Drake and cast her and other alumni of teen drama in the video for his 2018 single “I’m Upset.” Farber has also appeared in guest spots on the Emmy-winning sitcom gem Schitt’s Creek and TNT’s series adaptation of Animal Kingdom, to name a few.
Adam Rayner (Morgan Edge)
Taking over the role of corrupt former business CEO Morgan Edge, previously portrayed in the Arrowverse by Adrian Pasdar, is Adam Rayner, who has found success on television both in States and in his homeland of the United Kingdom. The 43-year-old actor is probably best known as the lead of the short-lived FX drama Tyrant, in which he plays a father whose American family gets caught up in his brother’s oppressive political affairs in a fictional Middle Eastern country. Rayner has also appeared in guest spots on series like Doctor Who and had a starring role on TNT’s medical drama Hawthorne led by Jada Pinkett Smith.
Emmanuelle Chriqui (Lana Lang Cushing)
Taking over the role of Lana Lang in the Arrowverse, previously portrayed in a different continuity on Smallville by Kristin Kreuk, is Emmanuelle Chriqui, who has led an eclectic career since the mid-1990s. Even if you do not recognize the 45-year-old actress’ name, you may recognize her face from movies like the 2003 horror flick Wrong Turn or the raunchy 2005 Ryan Reynolds-led comedy Waiting… and TV series like The O.C. or Entourage and its theatrically released sequel in 2015. More recently, Chiriqui poked fun at her origins from Montreal, Quebec, in 2018’s Super Troopers 2 and will also appear in Die in a Gunfight - a modern day crime thriller inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Erik Valdez (Kyle Cushing)
Starring as Lana Lang Cushing’s fire chief husband, Kyle, on Superman and Lois, is Erik Valdez, who spent much of the early days of his career in uncredited nameless TV roles like “Jock” on The O.C., “Frat Boy #2” on CSI: Miami, or two appearances on New Girl as “D. Bag” and “Douchebag #2.” Eventually, by 2012, he would land a starring role on General Hospital, a recurring role on the USA crime drama Graceland, and also appears alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the sixth installment of the popular Far Cry video game franchise.
Inde Navarette (Sarah Cushing)
Starring as Lana Lang Cushing’s teenage daughter, Sarah, on Superman and Lois is Inde Navarette, who first debuted in an 18-minute, Amazon Studios-produced short film Cross Words Together in 2018, a year before before landing a starring role on Denton’s Death Date - a teen comedy series exclusively available on Snapchat. The 23-year-old actress’ truly big break would come when she joined the cast of the hit Netflix original drama 13 Reasons Why in its fourth and final season as Estela, the younger sister of convicted rapist Montgomery “Monty” de la Cruz.
Joselyn Picard (Sophie Cushing)
Starring as Lana Lang Cushing’s younger daughter, Sophie, on Superman and Lois is Joselyn Picard, who is making her first credited role on the CW original series. The young actress, originally born in Barcelona, Spain, had previously appeared in the uncredited role of Adam Irigoyen’s unnamed little sister on Away - the short-lived Netflix original space travel series starring Hilary Swank.
Dylan Walsh (General Sam Lane)
Taking over the role of Lois’ father and devoted army general Sam Lane, previously portrayed on the Arrowverse by Glenn Morshower, on Superman and Lois is Dylan Walsh, who is making his comic book character debut on the CW original series. The 57-year-old actor, originally born in Los Angeles, California, is best known on the big screen for films like 1995’s Michael Crichton novel adaptation Congo or as the titular antagonist of the 2009 remake of The Stepfather and on the small screen from recurring roles on Blue Bloods or Longmire and as plastic surgeon Sean McNamara on Nip/Tuck - a Golden Globe-winning FX drama from creator Ryan Murphy. The year 2021 will also see him play a paranoid author who fears he is being hunted by his own character in the film Alter Ego and you can watch him on the shockingly timely post-apocalyptic web series An Incomplete Education from Radiant Studios’ official website.
I find it interesting how many previously established Arrowverse characters have been recast for Superman and Lois. I suppose they can rely on the Crisis on Infinite Earths to put any further questions about that to rest. Otherwise, based on the talented cast alone, this new series is shaping up to something real super.
