DC has unveiled new details about the second live-action series that will be available on their streaming digital platform. Metropolis, set to debut in 2019, will tell the story of Superman’s bustling “City of Tomorrow” before he arrives from Kansas. Judging by this write-up, it will have decidedly sci-fi spin as it follows Lois Lane and Lex Luthor on investigations into “fringe science” and “bizarre secrets” in the city.
“Metropolis will follow Lois Lane and Lex Luthor as they investigate the world of fringe science and expose the city’s dark and bizarre secrets,” explained DC’s blog post. “Airing exclusively on DC’s upcoming digital service, it promises to show us a wondrous and awe-inspiring City of Tomorrow, before the emergence of Superman, and establish much of the Man of Steel’s world leading up to his arrival.”
“Fans know that there’s a world of difference between the cities of Metropolis and Gotham, suggesting that Metropolis will likely have a considerably different tone than Gotham. Superman’s villains are also more powerful, cosmic and rooted in science fiction than Batman’s, so one can only imagine there will be much less emphasis on street level gangsters and crime families in this forward-thinking city.”
The creative team behind the Gotham TV series will be heavily involved. Gotham executive producers John Stephens and Danny Cannon will also serve as executive producers for Metropolis, and they also came up with the story for the first episode together. Cannon will direct that episode from a screenplay by Stephens.
I’m so, so excited that DC has decided to focus on Lois Lane in this series—and not simply Lois Lane, but Lois Lane as a crack reporter and investigator. That dogged hunt for the truth is such a fundamental part of her character, and it’s not one we’ve really seen explored or celebrated in DC’s recent cinematic outings. Getting an entire series about her work as a reporter sounds like such a fun, promising idea.
Oh, right, and then there’s Lex Luthor. I’m intrigued to see what they’ll do with Luthor, given how reinventable he’s been in both comics and screen continuity. Will he slowly become evil, warped by his jealousy? Or will he already be made evil from his rise to power? Will he already be rich, or will he be scheming and manipulating his way to super-wealth throughout the season? Will he be an agent of the U.S. government, like in the New 52? There are a lot of possibilities to draw from.
Metropolis received a straight-to-series order for its 13-episode first season, so it will go into production later this year. It is scheduled to debut in 2019 on DC’s yet-to-launch digital platform, which will see the live-action Titans premiere later in 2018.
(Via io9 and DC Comics; image: Warner Bros.)
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