Earlier than Clark Kent meets Lois Lane in Metropolis, he grows up with Lana Lang in Smallville. That is how Superman mythos goes, and nowhere was this romantic journey higher portrayed than in The CW collection “Smallville.”
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Lana Lang, performed by Kristin Kreuk, is likely one of the present’s most important characters, serving not solely as a romantic companion to Tom Welling’s Clark Kent, but in addition as a pricey buddy to a few of the present’s most essential characters. Nonetheless, on the finish of season 7, Lana, in an effort to verify Clark will be the very best heroic model of himself, offers a heartfelt goodbye to him and Smallville, with Kreuk successfully leaving the present, solely to return again for a five-episode stint the next season to present a second tragic finish to the Lana-Clark story.
Behind the scenes, it is extensively believed that Kreuk’s contract round this time was merely over and executed. Upon her departure in 2008, the actor candidly admitted that whereas she vastly loved the collection and the Lana character, it was merely time to department off to different tasks. As she defined throughout a Metro interview:
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“I like the individuals and it is a fantastic present to work on, however I noticed there have been issues I could not do as a result of schedule on Smallville. Lana has modified a lot for the reason that first season, so she was at all times enjoyable to play. I simply needed to attempt one thing else. It is not that I used to be uninterested in the present.”
All issues thought of, from a strictly story perspective, Lana’s departure felt pure, particularly as Erica Durance’s Lois Lane was changing into a extra distinguished fixture and the collection was gearing up for its remaining chapters.
Kristin Kreuk wasn’t the one actor to depart Smallville across the seventh season
Kristin Kreuk was not the one actor to depart “Smallville” throughout this time. In truth, round season 7 is when a lot of the present’s authentic most important solid departed the collection.Â
Annette O’Toole (who performed Martha Kent) didn’t seem in seasons 7 and eight, and solely made minor appearances within the remaining two seasons. The seventh season noticed John Glover’s Lionel Luthor get killed off (although the actor would return as an alternate model of the character in season 10). Michael Rosenbaum, who performed Lex Luthor, left “Smallville” after season 7 (although got here again for an epic presidential cameo within the collection finale) for quite a lot of causes, from his contract working its course to wanting to maneuver on to completely different tasks to not being supplied a pay enhance. (The departure of authentic showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar after season 7 additionally impacted Rosenbaum’s choice.)
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As for Kreuk, the actor has not had any qualms about exiting the present. Throughout a 2024 fan panel, she gave thorough reasoning for why she declined returning for the present’s tenth and remaining season, and the way she was content material with Lana’s general character ending:
“There is not any filth. I simply needed her to be off in imaginary land. I needed her to maintain dwelling the life that she had gone off to stay and I did not need to carry her again […] I actually struggled with all of the love triangle stuff […] I simply could not see how we come again and shut this — like, add one other closure to the story the place it wasn’t nearly Clark and Lois.”
For any longtime fan desirous to learn extra, be sure you learn how “Smallville” virtually acquired a “Justice League” spin-off collection.
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