Over the course of nine action-packed seasons, Smallville has offered dozens of memorable climactic scenes. But an upcoming installment is so colossal, it’s been expanded into the first two-part episode in series history. As writer Geoff Johns tweets, the tale “is actually an insane, D.C. Universe-infused epic.” The story will lure members of the Justice Society of America from retirement to give the shaky new Justice League a pointed wake-up call. Stargate favorite Michael Shanks (pictured) will appear as Hawkman, along with Dr. Fate (Brent Stait) and Stargirl (Britt Irvin). New generation heroes include Clark Kent (The Blur), Green Arrow and the return of Martian Manhunter. Johns said the producers “wanted it to be HUGE and wanted the guest characters done right.” As such, Shanks maintains Smallville is “breaking new ground with Hawkman and the logistics of it. The character will fly,” he tells the Huffington Post. And while the winged icon is strangely antagonistic toward Green Arrow, Hawkman and Dr. Fate have a “really neat relationship that makes the first hour quite heart-wrenching.” Tom Welling will direct part two, with the episodes tentatively slated to air Jan. 22 and 29. Exec Brian Peterson suggests that guidance from the costumed JSA members could edge Clark away from his black outfit and closer to Superman’s classic red-and-blue suit as the season progresses.
UPDATE: The Justice League-themed episodes will now air as a two-hour “movie event,” SMALLVILLE: ABSOLUTE JUSTICE, on Friday, February 5.
