Superman & Lois season 4 cast update sees several cut as Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor becomes series regular

News broke this week that The CW has renewed Superman & Lois for a fourth season, but with the caveat of a shortened season and cast due to massive budget cuts. No names were mentioned in the initial report, but now the network has confirmed which members of the cast have been cut as series regulars with a chance to return as guest stars or recurring roles.

Among the cut cast is Dylan Walsh as General Sam Lane, Emmanuelle Chriqui as Lana Lang-Cushing, Erik Valdez as Kyle Cushing, Inde Navarrette as Sarah Cushing, Wolé Parks as John Henry Irons, Tayler Buck as Natalie Irons and Sofia Hasmik as Chrissy Beppo. Walsh, Chriqui, Valdez, Parks and Navarrette were series regulars from the beginning of the series, but will only guest star or recur in the fourth season depending on their interest and availability as their cast options are set to expire.

Meanwhile, joining the main quartet of the Kent family as a series regular is Michael Cudlitz who is set to make his Superman & Lois debut as Superman’s archnemesis Lex Luthor in next week’s episode ‘Injustice’. Cudlitz will guest star in the final two episodes of season three as Luthor is released from jail after nearly 20 years behind bars and will presumably be the primary antagonist of season four as he seeks revenge against Superman and Lois Lane.

Superman & Lois features Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Alex Garfin and Micah Bishop as Superman/Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jordan and Jonathan Kent respectively. The series has revolved around Superman and Lois raising their teenaged boys in Smallville, including learning Jordan inherited Superman’s Kryptonian powers, while dealing with various threats to the world.

The series has had very successful ratings in broadcast and streaming, but has been one of the more expensive shows CW has recently produced, even in the Arrowverse, due to the level of special effects involved. Along with cutting most of its series regular cast, the budget cuts have also seen season four’s episode count drop from 13 to 10 and may focus more heavily on the family drama aspect of the show while still featuring the superhero element.