The CW's DC Universe continues to thrive ten years later. The current flagship series of the Arrowverse, The Flash and Superman & Lois, are officially renewed for new seasons in the 2022-23 block, alongside the upcoming Gotham Knights series.
The CW's press release confirmed new seasons all across the network, including The Flash, Superman & Lois, Riverdale, Nancy Drew, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and more. It is currently unclear if the remaining two Arrowverse series, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, will be renewed. But neither are officially canceled either, so fans have reason to hope for their continued adventures.
"As we prepare for the 2022-23 season, these scripted series, along with the alternative series we renewed earlier, will serve as the start of a solid foundation utilizing some of our most-watched series for us to build on for next year and beyond,” said The CW Network Chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz in a statement. “These dramas are also important to our overall digital strategy, as they are some of our most-streamed and socially-engaged programming, and we look forward to adding more new and returning series to help strengthen and expand our multiplatform footprint." With The Flash being renewed for a ninth season, it has become the longest-running Arrowverse series on The CW, surpassing the eight seasons acheived by Arrow.
The Arrowverse, the CW's DC Universe beginning with 2012's Arrow, remains a massive success. While Marvel definitely perfected their film cinematic universe first, DC absolutely beat Marvel to the punch with TV. Even though most TV today goes for a more cinematic route, the CW's soapy approach translates to the comics perfectly. The earnest tone of these shows provides a strong alternative to DC's movies, with many fans considering Superman & Lois the finest live-action Superman adaptation in decades.
The Flash also remains a monster hit, which is ironic considering the long delays of his feature film. This series clearly proves there's an audience for Flash, so what's the hold up? But it's hard to complain too much, since this show has long delighted fans with its fun and outlandish adventures. And prior series in the Arrowverse include Supergirl and Black Lightning, which shows a wider diversity in this universe than most blockbuster franchises.
It's no surprise the CW wants to continue these series, largely because WarnerMedia has allegedly never turned a profit on the network, and so continued streams of the Arrowverse and Riverdale are their only hope. Everyone's aware that cable TV is a dying method, and for better or worse, what gets popular on streaming services is all that matters. Currently, most of these shows are only on Netflix, presumably due to a prior contract, with only the newer ones like Superman & Lois and Batwoman on HBO Max. It's annoying how it's not all in one place, but that's the nature of the streaming era.
The Flash and Superman & Lois will return next year, with new episodes airing now on The CW.
Source: The CW Press