The third season of Superman & Lois has now started airing on The CW in the US, with the Man of Steel set to take on his arch-nemesis in the new episodes.

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The Walking Dead star Michael Cudlitz has been cast as a new on-screen version of Lex Luthor, taking the baton from Jon Cryer, who played the character in the Arrowverse – which this show is not technically part of.

Fans are looking forward to seeing this new version of Lex taking on Tyler Hoechlin's Superman, ahead of the arrival of a new film centred on Supes, which is currently being written by new DC Studios co-head James Gunn.

Gunn and co-head Peter Safran have suggested that Superman & Lois could carry on despite this new Clark Kent on the way and the end of the Arrowverse, saying that it will continue "for a little bit", with at least "one to two more seasons" in the offing.

For now, here's everything you need to know about Superman & Lois season 3 – from UK release date to cast, including the departure of an original member.

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Superman & Lois season 3 release date

Tyler Hoechlin stars in Superman & Lois
Tyler Hoechlin stars in Superman & Lois. BBC/Warner Bros

Superman & Lois season 3 has now premiered in the United States on The CW, with the first episode airing at 8pm on Tuesday 14th March 2023.

In the UK, the series airs on BBC One and iPlayer, usually arriving considerably later than the US premiere, with season 2 taking a gruelling six months to cross the Atlantic.

If the third outing for the DC Comics drama follows a similar schedule, we can expect Superman & Lois season 3 to launch in the UK in late summer 2023.

Superman & Lois season 3 cast

Superman & Lois
Superman & Lois. The CW

Superman & Lois season 3 sees Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch return to the title roles, portraying the iconic superhero couple as they raise their two sons in the quaint town of Smallville, Kansas.

Alexander Garfin returns as youngest son Jordan Kent, but the role of older brother Jonathan Kent has been recast, with Australian actor Michael Bishop replacing Jordan Elsass, who departed for personal reasons (more on that below).

The episodes also debut a brand new version of Lex Luthor, which serves to highlight the fact that it is not technically part of the wider Arrowverse, where that villainous role was played by Jon Cryer (in Supergirl).

The Walking Dead alum Michael Cudlitz plays the iconic baddie in Superman & Lois season 3, with the character described as "a brutal psychopath who terrorises anyone he crosses paths with".

The season's principal foe, however, is said to be Intergang crime boss Bruno Mannheim, who was teased at the end of season 2 and will be played by The Wire actor Chad L Coleman.

Showrunner Todd Helbing told Den of Geek: "Bruno is going to be a huge part of season 3 and is going to be huge impact on multiple characters. And if you watch season 1 and season 2... there’s some some crumbs that have been laid that could lead to cool places.”

Superman & Lois regulars Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Taylor Buck, and Sofia Hasmik are also back in action for the new episodes.

Behind the camera, TVLine confirmed that Arrowverse alum Tom Cavanagh, who portrays numerous characters on The Flash, will take the director's chair for the season 3 premiere.

“I’m super excited to play with the fancy technical tools they have over there,” he said. “With the anamorphic lenses, my God, you’re making a wide-screen movie all the time over there.”

Here's a full refresher of the Superman & Lois season 3 cast:

  • Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman
  • Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane
  • Michael Bishop as Jonathan Kent
  • Alexander Garfin as Jordan Kent
  • Erik Valdez as Kyle Cushing
  • Inde Navarrette as Sarah Cushing
  • Wolé Parks as John Henry Irons
  • Sofia Hasmik as Chrissy Beppo
  • Tayler Buck as Natalie Irons
  • Dylan Walsh as Ret. General Sam Lane
  • Emmanuelle Chriqui as Lana Lang Cushing
  • Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor
  • Chad L Coleman as Bruno Mannheim

Why did Jordan Elsass leave Superman & Lois?

Jordan Elsass stars in Superman & Lois season 3
Jordan Elsass stars in Superman & Lois season 3 BBC/Warner Bros

Last summer, Superman & Lois fans were saddened to hear that Jordan Elsass – known for playing the titular couple's eldest son, Jonathan Kent – had parted ways with the series for personal reasons.

In June 2022, the actor shared an Instagram post informing fans that he was struggling "with a number of things all pretty much revolving around mental health and well-being" and that he had decided to seek professional help.

He said: "It’s a huge, huge sacrifice. I barely have any time home to spend with my family and friends before I go back for season 3 of S&L. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it. I’m not just doing this for me but I’m doing it for the people I love."

Roughly two months later, it was announced that Elsass would not return for Superman & Lois season 3, with the role of Jonathan Kent to be recast instead.

Elsass responded on Cameo (via TVLine): "It’s been a tough few weeks, as you might imagine, with everything going on with the show. It’s sad, it’s a real shame. I know that I was pumped for season 3, for sure, but what are you going to do?

"Anyway, mental health is definitely 100-percent priority. It’s pinnacle. It’s got to take precedence. And mine has been… the last couple of years… it’s been rough. I need some time to myself.”

He concluded by saying that he was "debating" whether to quit acting altogether, although no formal update has since been given on that matter.

What could happen in Superman & Lois season 3?

Wolé Parks plays John Henry Irons in Superman & Lois
Wolé Parks plays John Henry Irons in Superman & Lois. The CW Network/Shane Harvey

The season 2 finale saw David Ramsey’s John Diggle – an alternate version to the Arrowverse character – tease a new villain during a meeting with John Henry Irons (Wolé Parks) at a Smallville diner.

Irons is from an alternate universe where Earth was destroyed, but made a home for himself in the reality of Superman and Lois, where he became an ally to the couple after some initial feuding.

The version of Irons native to this reality had died years earlier under mysterious circumstances, with Diggle informing him that notorious criminal Bruno Mannheim was likely the man responsible.

The character's description reads: "Bruno Mannheim is known to most of Metropolis as a local hero, a philanthropist who has revived the struggling neighbourhoods of the city.

"For years, Lois Lane has worked to prove that behind that facade is a career criminal and the head of the notorious organisation Intergang. With some new leads, she might be closer than ever."

Tyler Hoechlin as Superman in Superman & Lois
Tyler Hoechlin as Superman in Superman & Lois.

Showrunner Todd Helbing has promised Bruno will make waves in season 3, although there's a chance he could be overshadowed by the inclusion of a much more famous comic book villain: Lex Luthor.

The CW's synopsis has revealed that this brand new version of the character will be "hellbent on correcting a personal injustice by enacting revenge on the two people he feels have wronged him — Superman and Lois Lane".

In a less high-stakes development, Helbing told DC Comics that high schoolers Jordan Kent and Sarah Cushing will have drifted apart heading into season 3.

“It’s like a lot of teenage relationships – you sort of go in and out,” he explained. “There are times you’re really intense and then times when things sort of fizzle out.

"I think Jordan will always love Sarah, and I think Sarah will have a special place in her heart for Jordan. But right now, moving forward, they’re probably not going to be together.

"We’ll see if they get back together or not eventually, but for now, probably not."

Is there a trailer for Superman & Lois season 3?

Yes! The first footage from Superman & Lois season 3 has hit the internet – watch now:

Superman & Lois seasons 1-2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

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