The future of The CW's scripted programming slate is uncertain, with the fates of shows like DC's Gotham Knights and Supernatural prequel The Winchesters currently up in the air.
Per TVLine, only one of The CW's current scripted shows -- All American -- has been renewed for a new season, leaving seven other shows -- All American: Homecoming, Gotham Knights, Kung Fu, Superman & Lois, Walker, Walker: Independence and The Winchesters -- in a state of limbo for the time being. Of those seven shows, however, some are more likely to be renewed than others. According to TVLine's Renewal Scorecard, Homecoming is rather likely to return, given the fact that the original All American has already been renewed.
The outlet similarly views both Superman & Lois and Walker as being "safe-ish bets" for renewal. On the other side of the coin, however, potential renewals for Gotham Knights, The Winchesters and Walker: Independence are said to be "long shots" at this stage. Firmly in the middle of the road is Kung Fu, which "could go either way." (Shows not part of the aforementioned seven, such as The Flash and Riverdale, have already long been confirmed to be ending with their current seasons.)
Does DC Have a Future on The CW?
While Superman & Lois being renewed for Season 4 seems like a likely prospect, it's no secret that The CW's slate of DC content is much smaller than it once was (owing to the fact that Warner Bros. only owns 12.5 percent of the network these days, as opposed to its original 50 percent stake). Superman & Lois is one of only three DC shows airing on The CW at the moment, the other two being Gotham Knights and The Flash. As previously mentioned though, the latter will be coming to an end with the conclusion of its ongoing ninth season.
The acclaimed Superman & Lois is currently airing its third season on The CW, while freshman series Gotham Knights is still in its first season. While Gotham Knights hasn't been received as well as fellow Warner Bros. production Superman & Lois by fans and critics, demand for the Gotham City-set teen drama is reportedly quite high among television audiences all the same. Even so, that apparently isn't enough to guarantee a Season 2 renewal.
Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki Are CW Staples
Meanwhile, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are certainly staples of The CW, having both starred in all 15 seasons of Supernatural from 2005 to 2020. Ackles returned for the prequel series The Winchesters, which aired its Season 1 finale on the network last month. Padalecki, on the other hand, currently stars The CW's Walker, based on the 1990s CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger. Padalecki's reboot is currently in the back half of its third season. The show has also spawned a prequel of its own, Walker: Independence, which, like The Winchesters aired its season 1 finale last month.
Despite the longevity of Supernatural, the prospect of The Winchesters getting a second season has long been in doubt. It should be noted that like the aforementioned DC shows, The Winchesters is co-produced by Warner Bros. Television. Meanwhile, Walker and its prequel series are co-produced by CBS Studios (which also co-produces The Winchesters). This is relevant because, like Warner Bros. Discovery, CBS' parent company, Paramount, saw its 50 percent share of The CW shrink to 12.5 percent when Nextar acquired a 75 percent majority stake in the network.
Source: TVLine