Tom Welling Talks About 'Survival Mode' on Smallville

The Smallville cast reunion, held to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary, brought to light Tom Welling's statements about his experience filming the production. The actor revealed that he spent most of the decade the show was on air in a “survival mode.”

What Welling Means by Survival Mode

Welling explained that, according to an idea he has followed in recent years, a person can alternate between two states: survival and creative. He stated that, for most of the series, the former state prevailed, which limited his contentment and happiness during filming.

Action Sequences as Relief

Among the memories he cherishes, the actor highlighted the action scenes, which he called his favorites because they required little dialogue. For him, these sequences were fun and represented a contrast to the heavier routine of filming.

Production Intensity

Co-creator Miles Millar corroborated that the cast faced long and difficult days, with filming sometimes extending until 5 AM. Each season featured over 20 episodes, reaching 22, which, combined with the shooting time and script intensity, resulted in a heavy workload for any actor.

Later Recognition

Welling had previously touched on the subject in July 2025, saying he wasn't very happy most of the time, although he held more positive than negative memories. On that occasion, he also stated that he wasn't proud of Smallville while the series was on air. Today, he recognizes that his perception has changed and that the production has become a source of pride.

How the 25th Anniversary is Being Celebrated

The reunion took place on the "Inside of You" podcast, hosted by Michael Rosenbaum, and featured Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, Al Gough, and Miles Millar. Welling and Rosenbaum also discussed the anniversary in a television interview, and other stars from the series are participating in the New York Comic Con programming.

With information from SpaceMoney.