Summary

• Tom Welling's Clark Kent felt different in the Arrowverse because the actor wanted to act more like Jonathan Kent.
• Welling's choice to play Clark like his father added an emotional layer to the scene in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
• While the cameo may be divisive, Welling's performance was solid and nostalgic, and his explanation adds depth to the moment.

Tom Welling returned as Clark Kent years after Smallville's ten seasons, DC fans got to watch as Welling's Clark went from a high school boy learning about his origins and developing his powers to becoming Superman in Smallville's final episode. When Welling was announced to return as Clark for the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths, many fans imagined that he was finally going to fully suit up as Superman, which did not happen.

Welling's Clark Kent was revealed to have given up his powers in order to live a normal life with Erica Durance's Lois Lane and their two daughters. Speaking at ending of Smallville. Welling first said that he would have hung up the phone when approached if the Arrowverse team had wanted him to wear the Superman suit. The actor then explained why Clark felt different in the scene, as Welling was trying "to act more like Jonathan Kent" than Clark in the scene. Check out the full quote below:

“I don’t know if anybody picked up on this, but somehow I got in the back of my head that I wanted to act more like Jonathan Kent, in that scene, than I did Clark, because that’s his father, and that’s probably who he would have been influenced by.”

Tom Welling's Explanation Makes His Crisis On Infinite Earths Cameo Better

Clark Kent Acted Differently For an Emotional Reason

Despite its divisive reception, Welling's comments make the Smallville scene from Crisis on Infinite Earths better. Welling's take on the character was equal parts true to how Clark would behave by that point in his life and the example that John Schneider's Jonathan Kent set for him. Welling choosing to play Clark more like his father in the scene was an inspired choice, as the older Clark as a dad would naturally follow the path Jonathan laid, making the Crisis on Infinite Earths cameo more emotional.

While there were issues with the story around Welling's return, the actor's performance was both solid and nostalgic, and his explanation for Clark's different stance adds a new layer to the moment. Smallville also had a firm rule against Clark ever wearing the Superman suit in the series, with the character only becoming Superman in the series finale. While Welling could have appeared as Superman in the Arrowverse, the actor made it clear that was not interesting to him, which makes the chosen plot of having a powerless Clark understandable, as it had more of an impact than just having him aid the others in plain clothes.

Why Tom Welling's Arrowverse Appearance Will Always Be Divisive

Smallville Set A Clear Path For The Arrowverse To Follow

Despite Welling's explanation for why Clark never wore the Superman suit and behaved differently in the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, the cameo will always be divisive. Smallville was all about Clark embracing his powers to become Superman and saving people. Welling's Arrowverse cameo essentially undid ten seasons of development for the character, with Clark choosing to let go of his powers and live life as a human. While it is true that Clark had shown similar thoughts early in the series, by the time Smallville ended, Clark was full-on dedicated to being Superman, and by going directly against that, Welling's Arrowverse appearance will always divide fans.

Source: Angelika Diana

Key Release Dates

• The Batman Part II

  Release Date:

  2026-10-02