Superman & Lois season 3: Release date, cast and latest news

Cryer previously played the character in the Arrowverse – which this show is not technically part of.

So, when is the Man of Steel set to take flight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK?

Here's everything you need to know about season 3 – from UK release date to cast, including the departure of an original member.

Superman & Lois season 3 UK release date

Superman & Lois season 3 premiered in the United States on The CW back in early 2023, with the first episode airing at 8pm on Tuesday 14th March 2023.

In the UK, the run is now finally arriving on BBC One and iPlayer over a year later, with all episodes being made available on BBC iPlayer on Sunday 21st April 2024.

The first episode will then air that same day, at 3:15pm, on BBC One, with the second episode airing right afterwards.

Superman & Lois season 3 cast

Superman & Lois season 3 sees Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch return to the title roles, portraying the iconic superhero couple as they raise their two sons in the quaint town of Smallville, Kansas.

Alexander Garfin returns as youngest son Jordan Kent, but the role of older brother Jonathan Kent has been recast, with Australian actor Michael Bishop replacing Jordan Elsass, who departed for personal reasons (more on that below).

The episodes also debut a brand new version of Lex Luthor, which serves to highlight the fact that it is not technically part of the wider Arrowverse, where that villainous role was played by Jon Cryer (in Supergirl).

The Walking Dead alum Michael Cudlitz plays the iconic baddie in Superman & Lois season 3, with the character described as "a brutal psychopath who terrorises anyone he crosses paths with".

The season's principal foe, however, is said to be Intergang crime boss Bruno Mannheim, who was teased at the end of season 2 and is played by The Wire actor Chad L Coleman.

Showrunner Todd Helbing told Den of Geek: "Bruno is going to be a huge part of season 3 and is going to be huge impact on multiple characters. And if you watch season 1 and season 2... there’s some some crumbs that have been laid that could lead to cool places.”

Superman & Lois regulars Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Taylor Buck, and Sofia Hasmik are also back in action for the new episodes.

Behind the camera, TVLine confirmed that Arrowverse alum Tom Cavanagh, who portrays numerous characters on The Flash, will take the director's chair for the season 3 premiere.

“I’m super excited to play with the fancy technical tools they have over there,” he said. “With the anamorphic lenses, my God, you’re making a wide-screen movie all the time over there.”

Here's a full refresher of the Superman & Lois season 3 cast:

• Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman
• Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane
• Michael Bishop as Jonathan Kent
• Alexander Garfin as Jordan Kent
• Erik Valdez as Kyle Cushing
• Inde Navarrette as Sarah Cushing
• Wolé Parks as John Henry Irons
• Sofia Hasmik as Chrissy Beppo
• Tayler Buck as Natalie Irons
• Dylan Walsh as Ret. General Sam Lane
• Emmanuelle Chriqui as Lana Lang Cushing
• Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor
• Chad L Coleman as Bruno Mannheim

Why did Jordan Elsass leave Superman & Lois?

In summer 2022, Superman & Lois fans were saddened to hear that Jordan Elsass – known for playing the titular couple's eldest son, Jonathan Kent – had parted ways with the series for personal reasons.

In June 2022, the actor shared an Instagram post informing fans that he was struggling "with a number of things all pretty much revolving around mental health and well-being" and that he had decided to seek professional help.

He said: "It’s a huge, huge sacrifice. I barely have any time home to spend with my family and friends before I go back for season 3 of S&L. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it. I’m not just doing this for me but I’m doing it for the people I love."

Roughly two months later, it was announced that Elsass would not return for Superman & Lois season 3, with the role of Jonathan Kent to be recast instead.

Elsass responded on Cameo (via TVLine): "It’s been a tough few weeks, as you might imagine, with everything going on with the show. It’s sad, it’s a real shame. I know that I was pumped for season 3, for sure, but what are you going to do?

"Anyway, mental health is definitely 100-percent priority. It’s pinnacle. It’s got to take precedence. And mine has been… the last couple of years… it’s been rough. I need some time to myself.”

He concluded by saying that he was "debating" whether to quit acting altogether.

What could happen in Superman & Lois season 3?

The season 2 finale saw David Ramsey’s John Diggle – an alternate version to the Arrowverse character – tease a new villain during a meeting with John Henry Irons (Wolé Parks) at a Smallville diner.

Irons is from an alternate universe where Earth was destroyed, but made a home for himself in the reality of Superman and Lois, where he became an ally to the couple after some initial feuding.

The version of Irons native to this reality had died years earlier under mysterious circumstances, with Diggle informing him that notorious criminal Bruno Mannheim was likely the man responsible.

The character's description reads: "Bruno Mannheim is known to most of Metropolis as a local hero, a philanthropist who has revived the struggling neighbourhoods of the city.

"For years, Lois Lane has worked to prove that behind that facade is a career criminal and the head of the notorious organisation Intergang. With some new leads, she might be closer than ever."

Showrunner Todd Helbing promised Bruno would make waves in season 3, although there's a chance he could be overshadowed by the inclusion of a much more famous comic book villain: Lex Luthor.

The CW's synopsis has revealed that this brand new version of the character will be "hellbent on correcting a personal injustice by enacting revenge on the two people he feels have wronged him — Superman and Lois Lane".

In a less high-stakes development, Helbing told DC Comics that high schoolers Jordan Kent and Sarah Cushing will have drifted apart heading into season 3.

“It’s like a lot of teenage relationships – you sort of go in and out,” he explained. “There are times you’re really intense and then times when things sort of fizzle out.

"I think Jordan will always love Sarah, and I think Sarah will have a special place in her heart for Jordan. But right now, moving forward, they’re probably not going to be together.

"We’ll see if they get back together or not eventually, but for now, probably not."

Is there a trailer for Superman & Lois season 3?

You can watch the trailer for Superman & Lois season 3 right here.

Superman & Lois seasons 1-2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.