The CW hasn't been profitable for quite some time, and with an average viewer age of 58, it's clear that changes need to be made. Those are currently ongoing, with mass layoffs and a big shift in leadership.
Brad Schwartz begins calling the shots on behalf of new owners Nexstar starting this month, and all signs point to The CW moving away from scripted dramas. As a result, the future of shows like The Winchesters and Walker is very much in doubt, while The Hollywood Reporter confirms both Gotham Knights and Superman & Lois join them as being "on the bubble."
That means they could be saved or cancelled at any given moment, though the latter option currently seems more likely.
Talking to the trade, Schwartz was asked directly if the DC brand has a future on The CW, to which he bluntly responded, "I don’t know yet." This year has already seen the cancellation of Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, and The Flash, and with Warner Bros. keen to move DC content to HBO Max, it's easy enough to see where things are probably going.
"It was an exceptionally successful company under the old business model; CBS and Warner Bros. made a lot of money on the shows," the executive says. "They got to make shows from Gossip Girl to Vampire Dairies, Riverdale and The Flash that broke through in culture. There was a business model there that worked. And now it’s a different business model."
"Now we need to run a broadcast network that is profitable. So, it’s going to take a bit of reinvention, re-thinking...[and] creating a brand and content that brings in a lot of audiences, that works for the stations and that can be monetized properly. CW has a really strong brand...[but] some of these shows aren’t very profitable."
The Arrowverse had a good run, so we can't mourn for it too much. However, seismic changes are clearly coming to The CW, and that could mark an end for Gotham Knights and Superman & Lois. The latter may end up being saved given how standalone in nature it is, but when fans already seem unsure of that Batman-themed series, we can see the axe falling soon.
As always, keep checking back here for updates.