The peak of the CW’s Arrowverse has come and gone, but despite only a few DC-related shows left on the network, that doesn’t mean superheroes are being completely phased out. In a press call before the CW’s upfront this week, CEO Mark Pedowitz said there are no immediate plans to stop producing DC shows:
Currently, there are four DC series currently moving forward at the CW. The Flash will be returning for its ninth season in the 2022-23 television calendar, Superman & Lois will be getting a junior year as it gets set to wrap up season two, and Stargirl is coming back this fall through a joint venture between the CW and HBO Max. In addition, the Batman-adjacent series Gotham Knights has been picked up for a full season, which will be premiering in 2023. Over the last few months, the network put the ax to Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Naomi but doesn’t want to abandon the lucrative superhero genre completely.
“We are staying in the superhero business, we are staying with Greg Berlanti who has masterminded creatively the CW DC Universe.”
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The CW Network is in a State of Flux
The paring down of the CW’s DC output seems to have a lot to do with Warner Bros. recent merger with Discovery. Add in the rumors that Nexstar may be acquiring a majority stake in the network, and there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the CW. Despite that, Pedowitz assures the CW is still a productive place to develop a variety of DC characters:
Since Arrow premiered in 2012, the CW has provided a successful platform for dozens of unique characters from DC Comics to be brought to life. Whether it be The Atom, Martian Manhunter, Captain Cold, or countless others, some of the more obscure members of the DC world have gained a whole new appreciation from fans by being part of the Arrowverse. Completely taking DC shows away from the CW would limit the opportunities to develop properties based on the thousands of stories out there to mine from.
“I think the Warner side realizes the value of having these properties up, DC Comics realizes the value of what it does for their marketability in terms of what these franchises are. We have brought enormous value to DC and Warner Bros. in terms of realization of the universe Greg Berlanti and his team have created.”
As Warner Bros. Discovery continues to prioritize its areas of focus, it will be interesting to see if the company decides to port all DC series over to HBO Max as opposed to keeping some on network TV. Shows like Peacemaker, Doom Patrol, and Titans have all found success on the streamer, and even more shows are being planned for further down the line. The biggest determinant may be when The Flash comes to an end, as it remains the true lone survivor from the Arrowverse. Once Barry Allen finally stops running, it could signal an even bigger shift away from the CW, despite what Pedowitz would like to see on the network.
