Smallvile News: Lex is Out, Doomsday is In!
Alas, we're losing Lex! E!Online is reporting that Michael Rosenbaum and the Smallville Powers That Be have announced that Lex won't be back for the show next season -- not even in the recurring role that they'd been hyping.
Here's an excerpt from Michael's letter to fans: "It is time for me to start the next chapter of my life and career. I hope that I gave you some enjoyment over the years, and that you found my portrayal of Lex Luthor to be satisfying. I am truly grateful, as Smallville fans are the best fans out there. I sincerely hope that you will continue to follow my career through my hair growth period and beyond."
Sounds like he's definitely through, doesn't it? The folks on the production side are holding out a bit of hope, however: "It has been an honor and pleasure to work with Michael for the past six seasons. He is one of the best actors on television and has never failed to bring a new layer to the character of Lex Luthor in every episode. While Michael won't be a series regular and we won't have the pleasure of working with him on a weekly basis this fall, we like to think that we haven't seen the last of Lex Luthor. Stay tuned."
But while they're hoping to get Lex back for a visit, they're not slacking in the villainy department. Season 8 will see the debut of Doomsday, the only villain that has ever been able to kill Superman. (He got better.) We're looking forward to that storyline, although we're a bit concerned: Will this be the mindless killing-machine Doomsday of the Death of Superman storyline, the "jokerized" Doomsday of the Last Laugh storyline, or something else entirely?
There's also an unspecified female villain who the producers aren't spilling much about. They promise "she will be familiar to many fans and will set her sights on Clark in ways Lex never could. Intelligent, brilliantly manipulative, and dangerously sinister, our gorgeous new villain has one more weapon in her arsenal: Her mutual attraction with Clark may prove to be as deadly as Kryptonite for him." Who could this new villain be? Blaze? Maxima? Faora/Ursa? Silver Banshee? Or someone else from the DC universe, or further afield?
What do you think of this news? Will you watch with no lex? Are you excited about the new villains? Talk about it in the comments!
Comments
Smallville is a great show! I have been a fan since season 1 but I have to say Smallville or any "Superman" show without a Lex is just crazy! Michael played a GREAT Lex but if he has to move on more power to him. The truth is there has to be a Lex Luthor in Smallville!!!
Posted by: William Ballester | May 9, 2008 11:29 AM
Why on earth would you introduce Doomsday at pre-Superman stage??? Jumping the shark!!!
Posted by: Mike | May 9, 2008 8:06 AM
sad times we have huh.
no more michael rosenbaum, no more Lex.
i somehow knew this was going to happen.
the show was supposed to conclude after its seventh season.
but they (the studio, the (new) producers, the CW network) had to stretch it out.
the thing that makes me sad is, when you have great series, like smallville, for some reason the people who make these great shows happen tend to over do it until it comes back to haunt them.
whenever you have a great show/series you should end on top. whatever great ideas you had to make a show complete should and has to be good enough.
DO NOT STRETCH AN AMAZING SHOW IF IT HAS ALL THE PIECES IN PLACE.
this is what smallville is doing!
they're milking it, and taking a very grave chance.
as a fan, i love the show, and i love everything about it. but, i also respect the show, and in order have a great smallville, you must know your limits.
they lost fans in season 4 because the creators went experimental.
after a great season 5 they had started out very slow in season 6. and the start of this season (season 7) was not the greatest at all (with the exception of the season premier, and that wasn't spectacular either...but good).
the point is,
because they are going over board...no lex, no al & miles, and no kristen.
i knew it...
you guys should have had 7 descent seasons...
I just hope they (creators) do not have 7 descent seasons, and 1 horrible season (8th season) down the drain.
smallville is about clark & lex. not only about clark.
i hope smallville is not going to be like Gargoyles & Yugioh. these shows ended great, but the creators and producers had to stretch out these show to with a 3rd season that went down the drain, and a 6th season that, i don't even know is still on.
this better work.
i'll admit, i like the doomsday thing, but, there's no Lex!!!
Posted by: mike | May 5, 2008 9:00 AM
hmmmm. interesting letter. i can only imagine what the inside politics must be over at the CW.
well it seemed to good to be true that he would even consider returning in a guest role. seven years is a LONG time for an actor in one role. certainly, i am going to miss him but i wish MR all the best.
with MR out what seems for good, they should consider writing off some of the other characters including kreuk, durance, ashmore, and the actor who plays kara (she can't act worth beans). geeze, there has got to be other good looking actresses who can actually act? mack can stay as long as she likes -- she's a terrific actress but if she's tired of the same ol, same ol after 7 years, i can dig that.
i'm in it for S8 but if the writing gets too inconsistent, i'm tuning out for good. what kept me interested in SV was the writing in the first place.
Posted by: Just Tina | May 3, 2008 11:56 PM
i'm always impressed by the storyline on smallville and as long as i'm still impressed i'll continue to be a devoted smallville fan
Posted by: nadica | May 3, 2008 6:42 AM
While it's tough to see Michael go, I think S8 should see Clark finding about the broader dangers facing him instead of just running up against Lex.
I'm with Smallville until the end---no matter what.
Posted by: 2BTru | May 2, 2008 6:32 PM