The seventh season of Smallville will continue in just a few weeks, to the excitement of avid fans who have followed the show since it debuted in 2001. Talks for another season are already ongoing, but there is a possibility that the series will not go beyond an eighth edition.
“We would all very much like a season 8, and that, in our minds, would be the last season,� creator Al Gough told iF Magazine.
However, Gough also said that fans can still sway the decision of the producers, especially if the series continues to perform well in the ratings.
When Smallville does return for its eighth and potentially final season, viewers will have to say goodbye to some of the characters, or at the very least, get used to not seeing them regularly on the show. It has already been reported that Michael Rosenbaum, who plays Clark Kent's (Tom Welling) best-friend-turned-worst-foe Lex Luthor, will not return for season 8. Additionally, Gough told iF Magazine that Annette O'Toole, who plays Martha Kent, is no longer part of the regular cast. Kristin Kreuk will also not be returning full-time.
Fans of Rosenbaum need not fret though, as Gough revealed that they are thinking of bringing the 35-year-old actor back.
“We hope to bring Michael back for one more season after this one in some capacity,� Gough said.
Considering how well Smallville does in the ratings, I'd imagine that the network would love to have it back beyond an eighth season if possible. The CW's recent attempts to launch other sci-fi/fantasy programs, such as Reaper, haven't met with much success. The network needs a big name hit in order to survive, and Smallville provides exactly that.
However, while the network would love to keep the cash cow alive for years, there are creative concerns that they have to consider. With some of the actors already jumping ship, and Tom Welling's contract up at the end of season 8, it's possible they may have to bring the show to a close. It's going to be weird enough to watch Smallville without Lana and Lex around full-time, so let's hope they wrap up the series before Clark is mysteriously disappearing for half the season.
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