Why was Supergirl Axed and What it Means for Arrowverse’s Future?
In yet another incident of mankind finding an excuse to hate the year 2020, Supergirl series has been cancelled.
There will be no new seasons after the sixth one that was only recently announced. Now, in anticipation of more bad news, fans have started to prepare for the worst –
Does this cancellation mean the end of Supergirl’s universe, Arrowverse, as we know it? Does Supergirl’s end mean the Arrowverse’s days are numbered?
Is WarnerMedia taking a page from the Marvel Studios playbook and trying to consolidate its TV content under the HBO Max umbrella? Read on to find out!
Why Is Supergirl Ending?
First things first, the cancellation of Supergirl needs to be understood in line with the fact that the series was recently greenlit for a new season alongside most of the current CW lineup going to be the show’s last.
In fact, the news wasn’t as much of a shock to the cast and crew with the writers even plotting out Season 6 with the goal of tying up all loose ends.
Star Melissa Benoist indicated as much when she tweeted,
“I’m so excited that we get to plan our conclusion to this amazing journey, and I cannot wait for you to see what we have in store. I promise we’re going to make it one helluva final season.”
Melissa Benoist
Coming to The CW’s reasons for ending the series, there can be one too many. The ongoing storyline and Kara Zor-El’s character arc for six seasons is a pretty healthy run.
Or, like departing Batwoman star Ruby Rose, Benoist has grown tired of the heavy physical commitment involved in being an Arrowverse star. Benoist’s recent pregnancy announcement could also have been a straw on the camel’s back.
Meanwhile, the show’s end could also come down to ratings. You could contest Supergirl is among the more heavily watched Arrowverse shows, coming in second only to The Flash, during 2019-20 TV season.
But the fact is this series has also seen a steep decline in viewers from year to year. Coupled with the fact that Supergirl is one of the most expensive The CW shows, the network could have decided to move on.
The final, yet most likely answer could be that The CW didn’t see a need for two shows under the Superman franchise in one universe.
Ever since Superman & Lois was given a full series order, it was probably inevitable that Zipergirl would be pushed to the DC movie universe instead.
The Future of the Arrowverse
The general sentiment is that WarnerMedia is echoing Marvel Studios’ approach to the MCU and consolidating its focus around one TV universe directly tied to its theatrical films.
In terms of the Arrowverse’s future, there’s not much evidence to suggest Warner Bros. Television is pivoting away from the Arrowverse or ending its long-running relationship with The CW.
But recent announcements seem to argue the opposite – that The CW is committed to keeping the Arrowverse around at a scope similar to what we’ve seen in recent years.
Supergirl may be ending, but it’s got a direct replacement in the form of Superman & Lois. Stargirl is leaving DC Universe and making its permanent home on The CW, and we suspect the network sees that show as a natural fit for the Supergirl audience.
Right now, Green Arrow & The Canaries is the biggest question mark regarding the future of the Arrowverse. Arrow’s penultimate episode served as a backdoor pilot for this potential spinoff, but The CW has yet to announce whether it’s moving forward with that project.
The network’s uncharacteristically long silence could have many reasons. For one thing, the prospect of creating a martial arts-heavy superhero series in the midst of a pandemic might be unappealing for everyone involved.
The lack of momentum on that front doesn’t necessarily reflect a waning interest in the Arrowverse as a whole, however. So rest assured Arrowheads – your favorite universe is far from extinction!
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