DC TV Had a Super Saturday at SDCC

DC TV SDCC 2018
DC TV looked to the future at SDCC last weekend with six panels showcasing what’s to come for all your favorite super heroes next season.

 

After dominating Hall H with the impressive line up of Wonder Woman 1984, Shazam!, and Aquaman, DC turned their attention to the small screen. Here is everything that was revealed in San Diego.

 

Krypton

 

 

 

The first season of Krypton ended with Kal-El wiped from existence and the world kneeling before Zod. Where do you go from there?!

 

Picking up four or five months after Brainiac’s attack, the sophomore season will explore the new world order under Zod.  According to series star Cameron Cuffe;

” Zod has knowledge of the future and that feeds into his actions in our present day.”

When you think about it, that probably makes Krypton‘s version of Zod one of the most dangerous yet.

 

 

The series will also move beyond Kandor, and even off Krypton, exploring both the Phantom Zone and Brainiac’s home world of Colu. Brainiac may have been defeated but there’s still more to be discovered and Krypton will be delving into the origins of Superman’s classic villain next season.

 

But Brainiac and Zod aren’t the only threats next year.

 

 

 

Yes, Lobo will make his live action debut when Krypton returns next year.

 

And he’s not the only one. Nightwing and Flamebird, the Kryptonian Gods whose names inspired many DC heroes, are also set to appear as the show goes deeper into the rich mythology of Superman’s home world.

 

Speaking with Nerdist after the panel, Shaun Sipos revealed that we’ll be seeing Adam Strange “go on a painful journey to become the Adam Strange we know in the comics.” As the only hero with knowledge of the future, Adam may be our heroes best hope of finding a way to defeat Zod and restore the timeline.

 

I’m sorry, did I say only hero from the future? That might not be true. When asked about the possibility of more heroes time travelling back to Krypton, DC’s Dan Evans would only say “I’m not saying they won’t…”

 

And the world of Krypton is going to need all the heroes it can get. He was only teased in season one, in season two he will be unleashed. Doomsday is coming.

 

Evans, when speaking about the statue of Zod that now stands on Earth, also teased that the timeline may not be restored;

“The beauty of the DC Universe, is it’s a multiverse.”

 

We’ll have to wait until next year to see if Superman can truly return.

 

 

Black Lightening

 

 

 

Black Lightning‘s Comic Con panel, like the above sizzle reel, was mostly a well deserved celebration of the first season, but they still managed to drop a few teases for the upcoming season.

 

Firstly,  Jordan Calloway’s Khalil Payne (aka Painkiller) is being made a series regular for the new season.

 

Series star Cress Williams revealed that season two will find Jefferson trying to balance his two lives;

“You can’t do both. Being a principal is a full time job. Being a hero is a full time job. Being a father, another full time job. I think you’re going to see, especially in the season to come, some of that coming to bear. Juggling all of those things is going to take its toll.”

 

One last tease for season two. The contents of Tobias’ suitcase, opened but not revealed at the end of last season – “it’s the future of Freeland.”

 

 

Arrow

 

 

 

Kicking off with a trailer showcasing a brutal prison fight, it looks like Arrow‘s seventh season will hit the ground running, picking up with Oliver five months into his sentence. New show runner Beth Schwartz promised “it’s not going to be a new show, but I’m definitely putting a new spin on it. It’s dark.”

 

Series star Stephen Amell agreed, advising fans that this season will see Oliver go to a very dark place;

“The coolest thing about the premiere for me is… there’s nothing about him that’s heroic at all … There’s one scene in particular in the premiere where what Oliver does is reprehensible.”

 

As revealed in the trailer, there’s been no vigilantes in Star City for the last five months. So where are the former members of Team Arrow?

 

Speaking at the panel the cast revealed where the new season will find their charactes;

 

Oliver’s obviously in prison, locked up with many of the criminals he put away. And that past will come back to haunt him as he comes face to face with Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White), Derek Sampson (Cody Runnels), Danny “Brick” Brickwell (Vinnie Jones), and maybe more.

 

Felicity, according to Emily Bett Rickards, is scared and alone, but “she’s tired of watching her [back] and she’s going to take action.”

 

William, according to Amell, has the most interesting arc this season, dealing with his father’s imprisonment and whatever else this season throws his way.

 

Diggle is still with A.R.G.U.S., and actor David Ramsey promised that his marriage to it’s director would be examined this season. Outside of A.R.G.U.S., Diggle will be working with Felicity to try and hunt down Ricardo Diaz.

 

Last seen heading off with Thea, Roy Harper (Colton Haynes returning as a series regular) is back in Star City. Speaking about his return Haynes said;

“He’s not the same person. It’s going to be very, very interesting. That’s all I can say. Beth did – she’s a genius, she wrote me a version of the character that just was so special. It’s going to be hard for me to do, but I’m going to be happy to do it. I’m so excited to come back.”

 

With the Arrowverse it’s hard to know if that means this will be another Earth’s Roy Harper or if something’s happened to the real Roy to change him so significantly. And if this is our Roy, where is Thea? Last we saw, she was setting off with Roy and Nyssa to destroy the remaining Lazarus Pits. When asked about Thea’s possible return, all Schwartz would say is;

“Right now, there aren’t any plans for it, but you never know.”

 

As for the others, Dinah is working on the right side of the law, Curtis is “just chilling” whilst trying to help the city as best he can, and Rene is grappling with Oliver’s instructions from the end of last season.

 

And what of the “big bad” for the season? Oliver will come face to face with old foes in prison. Diaz is still on the loose. Then there’s The Long Bow Hunters. Red Dart (Holly Elissa), Kodiak (Michael Jonsson) and Silencer (Miranda Edwards). First teased as Diaz’s partners in last season’s finale and drawn from DC stories past and present, the exact threat of the Long Bow Hunters has yet to be revealed. And what, if anything, do they have to do with the copy cat Green Arrow seen in the trailer?

 

Arrow has had its share of ups and downs over the years, but it certainly looks like they’re going all out for season seven. If this is to be the final season then it has the potential to be one of the series’ best.

 

And in a touching moment during the panel’s Q&A, Amell was reunited with a young fan named Sara. Last year Sara, a cancer patient, thanked Amell for his “**** Cancer” initiative. After speaking with her for a few minutes, he gave her his necklace and asked her to look after it for a year. This year she returned it, and in return Amell gave her Oliver’s first bow. Even off screen, the man is a hero.

 

Supergirl

 

 

 

There’s big changes coming in Supergirl‘s cast next season with lots of new faces joining the show for its fourth season.

 

Just before SDCC Entertainment Weekly announced that Sam Witwer (SmallvilleStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels) was returning to the DCU as Supergirl‘s Agent Liberty. Described as “a brilliant orator in the guise of a family man”, Liberty is the founder and figurehead of the Children of Liberty, a hate group that wants to create a humanity first world order. The trailer released at SDCC shows Agent Liberty stride forward purposefully as a charismatic voice over lays out his manifesto.

 

Another Superman villain is set to join Supergirl‘s rogues gallery this season as David Ajala joins the cast as Manchester Black. Best known for his role in the classic “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” (which was adapted into the animated Superman Vs. The Elite), Black is an antihero known for his brutal tactics and “ends justify the means” beliefs, who believed Superman’s policy of not killing made him too weak to be the hero the world needed.

 

The contrast between the two villains promises to be intriguing this season as one believes humanity does not need its alien heroes whilst the other believes (or at least did in the comics) that they do not go far enough. It will be interesting to see if they work with or against each other during the coming season, or if the enemy of my enemy could make either of them into strange bedfellows for the D.E.O.

 

And then there’s the “Russian” Supergirl. Glimpsed briefly during the trailer, we still know nothing about her. Is that Kara in the new suit at the end of the trailer, or is it this other Supergirl? We’ll have to wait to find out.

 

With all the new villains, Supergirl needs some new heroes. And it has one. Nicole Maines is joining the cast as Nia Nal, television’s first transgender super hero. Described as “a soulful young transgender woman with a fierce drive to protect others”, Nia is the latest addition to the CatCo reporting team and her story arc will see her become a hero – Dreamer.

 

Whilst it wasn’t confirmed at SDCC, it’s likely that Dreamer is Supergirl‘s version of the Legion of Super-Heroes’ Nura Nal/Dream Girl (who Comic Book Resources points out was briefly known as Dreamer).

 

The final new addition to the cast is April Parker Jones as Colonel Haley. Described as a hard line military career woman who puts the interests of her country above her own, not much is know about where her allegiances lie. It is said she lives and dies by the orders of her commanding officer, which begs the question – who is her commanding officer?

 

 

Legends of Tomorrow

 

 

 

It seems every time they fix one thing, they break something else! The Legends may have saved time last season, but in doing so they have unleashed magic. So it’s a good job Constantine is joining the crew this year!

 

“Now I’m back, four years later! It’s awesome!” Matt Ryan shared with the SDCC crowd. Discussing what excites him about joining Legends of Tomorrow, Ryan explained that, as well as just being Constantine again, its the character dynamics that the show offers;

“What’s great is everything that I’ve studied about this character is from the comics. What we’ve got here is a bunch of characters Constantine has never interacted with before. I think Mick is someone he’d butt heads with quite a lot, but he provides a flame for Constantine’s terrible habits.”

 

Constantine isn’t the only recurring character making the leap to series regular. Courtney Ford’s Nora Darhk is also set to return this season and she’ll have to discover who she is without the influence of Mallus or her father.

 

When introducing the new cast members, executive producer Phil Klemmer pointed out that only three of the original cast are still on the show. That’s Sara, Ray, and Mick for those keeping score. It’s something he credits with keeping the show fresh;

“You get tired of people’s voices because they only go in one direction. These people have never been in a scene together. It’s exciting!”

 

Ramona Young is joining the Time Bureau as Alaska Yu, a young woman who’s swept along by romantic notions and fantasy novels. Initially introduced as something of a junior member of the Bureau, her knowledge of the mythical threats the Legends will be facing this season will make her a valuable ally to the Legends, and her time with the team could make her a hero in her own right.

 

Nate’s father, Hank Heywood (known as the All-Star Squadron’s Commander Steel in the comics), is also set to appear this year. Played by Tom Wilson, Hank will have “a contentious relationship” with his son, who can’t reveal that he’s a Legend. Presumably he can’t reveal that he’s Hank’s son either, which just adds a whole extra layer of complications to their relationship.

 

After returning to her own time, Amaya’s story has come to a close, but Maise Richardson-Sellers is returning as Charlie, a magical fugitive that the Legends can’t be sure is friend or foe.

 

It was also revealed that we will see a softer side to Sara and Ava as their relationship progresses this season, the first episode of the season will see the Legends travel back to Woodstock and maybe meet the Beatles, and we’ll be learning more about Zari’s history.

 

There’s currently no plans for Kid Flash, Firestorm or Captain Cold to appear this season, but Klemmer did note;

“We certainly keep that in our back pocket. There’s lots of seasons to come.”

 

One fan favorite is definitely coming back though! Beebo! The surprise hit of season three even made an appearance at the panel as Adam Tsekham (Gary) appeared on stage dressed as the fluffy toy/Viking God. Executive producer Keno Shimizu told the audience “as we went on into the writing and the production of the character … we realized we’d come on to something special.” Klemmer agreed, confirming;

“He’s coming back. One hundred percent. That’s a promise.”

 

 

The Flash

 

 

 

The CW wrapped up their SDCC marathon with The Flash and kicked things off with a trailer that saw Barry finally getting the Flash Ring!

 

“[It’s] a really, really cool new suit.” Series star Grant Gustin teased attendees, with executive producer Todd Helbing adding that it’s the most comics accurate suit they’ve done.

 

The trailer also gave audiences their first, shadowy, look at Chris Klein’s Cicada, who will be the main villain of the season, seeking to exterminate meta-humans after his family is torn apart by them. His powers will present a challenge to Team Flash unlike any they’ve face before.

 

Legacy will be a big theme this year. In addition to Barry and Iris’ time trapped daughter (more on her in a moment), younger, legacy versions of Flash’s classic rogues will appear to challenge the team this season.  Said Helbing;

“Everyone’s thinking about what it means after they leave.”

 

And that’s not just blue sky thinking;

“There will be a lot of deaths this year.”

 

Not even the main characters are safe.

 

On the subject of legacy – Kid Flash may be absent from Legends of Tomorrow but, as seen in the trailer, he’s going to be paying a visit to The Flash. And then there’s Nora, or XS as the new speedster will be known.

 

She’s definitely hiding something, and why did she come back to our time? The mysteries surrounding her will likely unfold throughout the season.

 

As for team Flash;

 

  • Barry is back to being a CSI (yay!)
  • Iris is developing her career as a journalist
  • Cisco’s powers will be “challenged in a way they’ve never been challenged before.”
  • Caitlin will go on a journey to discover how she became Killer Frost
  • Ralph and Cisco will develop a deeper friendship
  • Joe and Cecile are adapting to having a baby in their lives
  • And there’s a new Wells

 

Sherloque Wells is described by actor Tom Cavanagh as “a very intelligent being but is maybe not to be trusted.”

 

A new Wells isn’t all that Cavanagh is sinking his teeth into this season, as he’s set to direct the series’ 100th episode. This incredible milestone will also serve as the mid-season finale so you can be sure that it’s going to be extra special.

 

Interestingly, the crossover, which normally precedes the mid-season finales, will follow them this year. This was done to allow the 100th episode to be the mid-season finale instead of part of the crossover. Given how the mid-season finales normally go, this certainly raises questions about what type of cliffhangers we can expect this November with the crossover, and Batwoman’s debut, set for December.

 

During the panel it was also revealed that they would love to do an episode featuring both King Shark and Gorilla Grodd in the second half of the season if they have the budget. They’ve been trying for years but never had enough money to pull it off. Hopefully this will be the year!

 

And if all that wasn’t enticing enough, Gustin called this season’s premiere, “the best episode since the pilot… it’s really funny. It’s our best first episode since the pilot.” I can’t wait!

 

 

Gotham

 

 

 

Gotham may not have had a panel at SDCC this year but it wasn’t about to let the other shows have all the fun!

 

David Mazouz (Bruce Wayne) stopped by the TV Line suite at SDCC to talk about completing Bruce’s journey. And he dropped some pretty tantalising teases in the process.

“A vigilante is necessary to bring order back to Gotham … it’s going to come into play in a huge way this year, and Bruce is gonna have that realisation, he’s gonna have that moment”

“He’s gonna also showdown with some of our villains that we know. Some of the big names. And one of those names might start with a J.”

 

And on wearing the iconic cape and cowl;

“You’ll have to wait and see. I’m not allowed to say anything.”

 

When pressed if he was taking any steps to prepare for the final season, like lifting extra weights, Mazouz would only say;

“Things are in motion. Have to be cryptic.”

 

Sounds like Gotham‘s final year is shaping up to deliver exactly what fans had hoped for.

 

 

That about wraps it up for all the DC TV reveals out of SDCC. Stay tuned to MNN for more news as it breaks.

 

Additional CW panel details via The Hollywood Reporter.