Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, and executive producers Todd Helbing and Brent Fletcher unpack that bittersweet happy ending.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for theSuperman & Loisseries finale, “It Went By So Fast.”
Colin Bentley/The CW
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How are you feeling aboutSuperman & Loiscoming to an end?
Tyler Hoechlin on ‘Superman & Lois’.Colin Bentley/The CW
TYLER HOECHLIN:We’re very, very fortunate to get to [end the show].
So I’m happy for the fans.
They get a little bit of closure.
Elizabeth Tulloch, Tyler Hoechlin, ‘Superman & Lois’.Colin Bentley/The CW
ELIZABETH TULLOCH:It’s a bummer.
I think it’ll probably be a little bit controversial.
I was ugly crying.
Tyler Hoechlin on ‘Superman & Lois’.Katie Yu/The CW
And it’s so embarrassing when you’re crying at your own performance.
Was this always how you planned to end the show?
BRENT FLETCHER:Pretty much.
We talked at the end of season 3, it was a version of this.
How did that ending change when you found out you were only getting this 10-episode final season?
HELBING:There were so many [ways].
10 episodes instead of 13 or 15 made it a little tricky, and the cast reductions, obviously.
FLETCHER:We had story that we fast-forwarded a little bit because we knew it was the last season.
Why did you want to show both Lois and Clark’s deaths?
We were like, “Why don’t we show the totality of their lives?”
That’s not what he remembers when he shuffles off the mortal coil.
But we were doing thedeathof Superman, the whole thing.
We were talking more about the ending than the beginning of the season.
When did you learn how the show was going to end?
HOECHLIN:[Laughs] When I read it.
I mean, I had an idea.
TULLOCH:Well, my initial thought was, “Wait a minute.
What if Max wants to pick us up?”
[Laughs] Anything could happen it’s been No.
But I also thought it was beautiful.
We shot that scene absolutely last, and so it was emotional for everyone who was there.
There’s never been a question about their love for each other and their dedication to one another.
To wrap the show up on that note was very fitting.
I’m really happy that that was what we leaned into.
How did you feel about Lois' breast cancer coming back, which ultimately led to her death?
What was it like filming Lois' death?
HOECHLIN:It was definitely a heavy day on set.
Bitsie and I have gotten really close over the years.
It was worthy of the story that we’re telling to completion.
Because it would make sense she says, “Daddy.”
Was that Elizabeth’s real husband David Giuntoli playing the adult version of Jonathan?
How did that casting happen?
HELBING:It is David.
TULLOCH:That was sort of a, “Will you do this for us as a favor?”
He’s not credited.
David, also having directed Bishop, kind of picked up on his walk, and it was hilarious.
Though there was one scene where he whispered in my ear, “I love you, Mommy.”
And I was like, “Ew, no, do not do that again.
I will break character.”
I was so grossed out.
I don’t want to stand next to him.
Put him on the other side."
But I think he had everybody in stitches when he was like, “Love you, Mommy.”
FLETCHER:And then we cast the actor [who plays adult Jordan].
The stuff bedside, they both brought it, which was what we needed in that moment.
We became a family, and so why not have them on camera as part of the family.
One of our CW execs, Liz Wise, her son is in it.
They asked and we said no.
It was great to be able to honor the crew.
It was really a familial moment.
That joy was a nice balance to the sadness, so thank you for that.
FLETCHER:[Laughs] Exactly!
That’s why we did it.
Dogs always make you happy.
HELBING:That’s so funny that you word it that way because that’s exactly what it was.
There’s something about seeing Clark Kent walk in with Krypto on the country road that is so satisfying.
What was it like bringing those Krypto scenes to life?
HOECHLIN:It was so fun.
Is that something you’re interested in exploring in a new show?
HELBING:Yeah, that would be fun.
I mean, if James Gunn called us up, I would say yes.
However, we’re really satisfied and proud of what we did the last four seasons.
FLETCHER:It was meant just to show the arc of their lives.
Would you ever be interested in doing another comic book role in the future?
HOECHLIN:I love the genre.
I think playing a villain is always fun, so something like that could be a nice change.
FLETCHER:Yeah, Tal-Rho [played by Adam Rayner] would be one.
Matteo [played by Spence Moore II], just seeing him with Natalie.
But it’s budget, time, all that.
We were down to our last penny in the finale and felt like it still worked without.
It would’ve been nice to have Jenna [Dewan] a couple of times as Lucy.
But that’s the same reason, just schedule and money.
Did you take anything from set after you wrapped?
I thought that was cool.
I’ll use it on game nights.
