Posted in: CW, Opinion, Preview, TV, TV | Tagged: season 4, superman & lois, the cw

Superman & Lois Season 4: More Details on Reductions to Writers' Room

We're learning more details on how The CW's budget cuts are reportedly impacting the writers' room for Superman & Lois Season 4.

When The CW announced that Superman & Lois would be returning for a fourth season, we were cynically optimistic about the news. While it was great to have the show returning for a fourth run, we knew that the network's new owner, Nexstar, had an entirely different philosophy when it came to programming. Cut budgets, go cheap & maximize profits. And we were right to have our eyebrows arched once the details came in. While it's great to have Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Michael Bishop, Alex Garfin, and Michael Cudlitz returning to our screens (with showrunner Todd Helbing also expected to return), it also means that Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Tayler Buck & Sofia Hasmik will not be returning as series regulars (possibly as recurring or guest stars). In addition, the series didn't receive a 13-episode order as other returning series had – with the overall cost of the show trimming the count down to only 10 episodes. Earlier this month – after the WGA ratified its new three-year contract – we learned that the budget cuts had impacted the writers' room. Under the account name Bitter Script Reader, series staff writer Adam Mallinger (who's been with the series since S01E10 "O Mother, Where Art Thou?") took to Twitter/X last week to share the news that he won't be returning on staff for the fourth season due to the budget cuts in play. Now, Deadline Hollywood is offering some new details on how much the Season 4 writing room will be impacted.

Based on DH's reporting, the upcoming fourth season will see the writers' room staff reduced from eight writers to five writers – with two additional writers no longer on board as staff. Reportedly, Mallinger is expected to pen a season episode as a freelance writer, while another writer reportedly did not renew their option to be a staff writer for an opportunity to direct an episode and pen an episode as a freelance writer. "Disappointing news – due to budget cuts, I won't be returning on staff at SUPERMAN & LOIS for season 4," Mallinger shared in the first of three tweets earlier this month. "I debated saying anything, but I've tweeted my way into literally every TV job I've had, so it seemed prudent to announce I'm available for staffing. Obviously, this isn't what I was hoping for, but after the cuts to cast and episode order, it's no surprise, either. My showrunners were in a difficult spot, and I want to be clear they've handled it the best they could. Making TV is hard sometimes." After receiving responses of support, Mallinger followed up by adding, "Limiting myself to mostly 'liking' posts because otherwise I'm gonna miss someone, but you're all making me feel like George Bailey here with all the kind, supportive things you're saying. Thank you all."

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!