Former Superman & Lois writer Nadria Tucker says the show ignored calls for more diverse casting choices, such as those for Martha and Jonathan Kent.
Former Superman & Lois writer Nadria Tucker says the higher-ups on the show ignored calls for actors of color to be cast as Martha and Jonathan Kent. In February 2021, Superman & Lois will become the latest show to join the CW’s expansive Arrowverse. The series will focus on Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) as they settle into Smallville with their two sons (Jordan Elsass and Alexander Garfin). Both Clark and Lois have had a hand in various Arrowverse crossovers, but this will be the first time they get to become the stars of their own story.
There’s much anticipation surrounding Superman & Lois, but a disturbing report emerged only a few weeks into production. Tucker, who has worked on shows like Underground and Krypton, shared on social media that she had been let go from Superman & Lois after calling out sexism and racism in the writers’ room. Those at the CW and on the series haven’t commented on Tucker’s allegations, which come amid a wave of reckoning for Hollywood and its treatment of people of color.
In a new interview with Jonita Davis, Tucker has opened up about what happened in the Superman & Lois writers’ room. When it came to the casting for the series, Tucker explained how she and others on the staff pushed for actors of color to be cast in supporting roles beyond the the villains. The best example of a missed opportunity, Tucker said, was Clark’s adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha. Tucker explained:
