Interviewer: Shmuel Reuven for JewReview.net
Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) has confirmed that next season will his last, and most likely the show’s last season as well. Here’s what else he had to say:
Shmuel Reuven (SR): So how’s the shooting going on Smallville?
Michael Rosenbaum (MR): We’re finishing up; Monday’s my last day, and then I’m going to Paris for a while, but it’s really great, I have to say. It’s a great year, the ratings are consistently high. It’s great when you’re on a show that has that longevity, but it’s even better when a show’s ratings are so high; our show’s ratings are just as high as the first couple seasons. We’re creating more and more fans, and I know we’re going next year. That will be my final year, and then I can hopefully delve into more comedies. For me, it’s great work and I think the show is getting intense as we go; Lex is inevitably getting darker, and next year is when he lets all his colors show.
SR: You’re finishing up the season finale on Monday?
MR: Yeah, it’s my last day on the finale; we’re finishing it.
SR: Is anything going to happen with Lex on in the upcoming remaining episodes of this season?
MR: Lex Luther and Lana Lang just got married; Lana was pretty much forced into getting married to Lex. Lionel Luther pretty much forced her into doing so. Lex really thinks he established true love; he doesn’t always do the right thing, but I think he really loved Lana. And Clark’s torn because he really thought Lana was going to marry him and not Lex; something happened in the last episode, Promise, that now their marriage is on thin ice, it’s not going as planned. Lana’s finding things out about Lex and things about her pregnancy. It’s getting a lot darker than it has in years. Lex has a project he’s been working on, and he definitely has ulterior motives and he is ambitious, but I think that ambition gets the best of him. He’s still trying to hold on; he’s trying not to go to the dark side, but it’s pretty inevitable.
SR: You’re in the sixth year now –
MR: Yeah, we’re finishing up our sixth year and next year is the last year.
SR: Have you become Lex in your off-Smallville time? Have you grown into the character?
MR: Yeah, I found it in the first couple years, I was a little nervous; in the first year, I was trying to find the character. You want to please the audience, but you want to bring some humility to the character; I don’t want him to be a cartoon. I try to make every character I do, and that’s who he is – as long as you stay in that box. And I’ve been pretty lucky, but I guess, over the years it’s become easier and easier.
SR: What’s it like to have a director like Rick Rosenthal come back to direct certain episodes?
MR: Yeah, Rick directed some of my favorite movies; he directed Bad Boys with Sean Penn. He’s a joy to work with; he directed the big marriage episode. He’s one of those guys who’s really easy going, he’ll let you do your own thing; but he definitely knows a lot, and he likes to let you know – (in his best Rick voice) “Well, let me tell you, Michael, if you’re going to do that, I know this from experience…’ He’s just a great guy and he has a great vision; it’s great working with him always.
SR: If there’s one thing to intrigue the fans a little for the next few episodes, what would it be?
MR: This year is a big year, but next year is going to be the biggest year of all; it’s the final year and everyone’s going to see what Lex Luther is really capable of. All hell’s going to break loose!
Catch the final episodes of “Smallville” Thursday’s at 8PM on The CW.
Also, don’t forget to see Michael’s dance skills in “Kickin’ It Old School”; in theaters April 27th. It stars Jamie Kennedy and Maria Menounos, among some of your favorite 80’s TV characters including Knight Rider himself, David Hasselhoff and Webster’s Emmanuel Lewis!
JewReview.net have the full interview with Michael in the next couple weeks. Be sure to visit their Website for the followup.
season 7 airs on september 27th, i hope chloe doesn't stay dead, and that lois and clark get together, but as it is the last season there will probably be lots of things left unsaid. i hope there will be more series because this is one of my best shows ever, i can't wait to see the new series
you have put clark & lana through some up & down love
situations ; its about time they got married and have
some real babies. they have been in love since day one.
this is smallville; not superman. shift the scene from
smallville to metropolis for future adveentures.
jo, you just cant mess with continuity like that.
lana's gotta stay dead, they gotta do 1 more season (7) and then they have to start a new superman series, Staring tom welling.
Listen all you Lana-haters, you're all losers! If Lana dies, there wil be no reason to watch Smallville. I don't know if you've noticed, but the show kinda revolves around Clark and Lana's relationship.
Check out my theory about Lana at KryptonSite.com. Here's the link = POSSIBLE SPOILER!
There hasn't been any official word on wether Lana will be returning or not, besides her name being on the cast list for next season. Does anybody know wether Kristin Kreuk will be reprising her role as Lana in next season or not?
The show while not exactly following the comics, does in fact pay homage to the movies, and there is a few things that MUST happen. Lois and Clark must get together in the end. Lana needs to stay dead I hated her for many seasons now, she's a pure spoiled ***** that's had everyone waiting on her hand and foot her whole life and she expects everything her way...
I'm sad the series is ending I was hoping they'd take it further. Though Lex doesn't need to always be there. Superman had other villians besides Lex. Something can happen to him in Season 7 if he really wants to leave the show and someone else be introduced as a new villianous power..his true colors show perhaps and it becomes Lex's temporary downfall...perhaps he "dies" but not really you know? If they are correct about the fanbase being just as strong if not stronger, there is no reason to end the series.
It's not possible for Lana to stay dead. In the Superman movies she plays a short role as Clark's lost love in Superman 3. Her role is played by Annette O'Toole that plays the role of Martha Kent in the Smallville series. Seeing that she features in the Superman movie, how is it possible for her to be dead in Smallville. Funny things do happen in Smallville, but her death is defintely a way to escape from Lex.
iam in love with smallville but why the delay in season 7.kenyan.
so is kara evil? if so whats she going to do on earth?
I,m writing from Albania.I love smallville and the reason I love it so much is Michael
In love with smallville because of tom welling and kristin kreuk! Love the Clark Kent and Lana Lang's love story! love michael rosenbaum also. The show is brilliant but stopped watching it from season four since found out clark kent and lana lang won't ended up together!! I was so sad and heartbroken about this and thought it's nonesense if clark ends up with lois lane as i really don't understand why he could be with anyone else if he can't be with lana for the 'protecting her' reason, so with others there's no such problem/issue??! I wish and hope for a happy ending for clark and lana in smallville final! I'm actually just waiting for the definite final season to see if i could carry on/enjoy watching it again as if there's no happy ending for the couple, i'd be so disappointed with the show. Smallville is a great show and i wish it would go on for many more seasons but really for me, the centre of attraction was clark kent and lana lang - tom welling and kristin kreuk!!
Any news on season 7. Who lives and who dies. I don't think Kara will be evil. According to the Supergirl movie she is Clark's cousins from Crypton. In season 6 Chloe found out she has powers to, she wont be dead in season 7.
im a big fan of smallville but why is it kristin kreuk a.k.a as lana lang in SMV not included in the cast of 8th season? the story should end with lana and clark kent! haven't u know that huge fans of smallville are expecting to be that way?they prefer lana and clark not lois-clark team up,unless if it is for superman...right guys?
Just wanted to respond to Dave as I haven't been following the thread. I had mentioned 3 things that need to happen by the series end: 1) The cape (that would be tie in with the last episode being 'Superman'- if true) 2) Superman gets Lois and 3) Lana dies. I might be wrong about Lana, but I thought she did die in the original comics, if not she at least needs to get out of the way so S.Man has the opportunity see "what's been under his nose all along."
Since the series doesn't have 8, much less 21 seasons to go, they should compress, as well as take textual liberties with the story in order to wind everything up.
For those lamenting the end of Smallville, 1st of all it was the first 3 or 4 seasons that were the best and it really did start to get shallow in the last 2, not to mention that episodes don't really hang together. The characters seem to entirely forget events of past episodes. Although there's more blood (change in producers) there is also less special effects (did they lose their blast/fire coordinator??). The best shows seemed to always involve Clare's Mom, Dad, Lionel and Lex. Now you only have Lionel and Lex is more 2-dimensional now. Maybe it's time to end if these guys can't get some depth to their writing. 2nd- I've heard Heroes is good. If you want some pretty good acting follow Lana's original boyfriend to Supernatural. They did a great Groundhog Day takeoff the other night. Funny too.
Carl
Carl,
You make some great points, the show cant last forever its smallville not superman. The show has been getting a little low on depth lately, but... on the other hand watching lex turn dark has been great. Not to mention Lana really doesnt have to die, just become a person clark can't love. I see that happening more and more, I am glad they finally got rid of that "oh I cant love clark because hes always hiding stuff from me" junk. The show really does have to come to an end, and hopefully makeway for superman.
I dont have a clue who's version of superman they re following with smallville, but for the most part they remain consistant. Except with senator kent... that part was really way off. Clark needs to get off the farm and have his mom hire people to work the farm, so that he has a place to go and retire when he's tired of being the well beloved hero we all want him to be.
Also, another post mentioned Clark and Lana need to go have babies? WHAT? that is the dumbest idea I have ever heard of. That would ruin the show, I mean look at the mariage of lois and clark (dean cain version) that ruined the show. People think they know what they want but when they get it, there is nothing for our hero to strugle for. the plot soon gets lost in pregnancy tests and mundane child rearing uggg!
wow i just realised upon reading everyones comments that it was exactly 1 year ago that i posted my last comment!
p.s. season 8 will be very different to the past smallville seasons in my opinion as there will be different writers and main cast members. but i hope they all come up with good storylines.
well not exactly