Arrowverse Backs Away From 2021 Crossover

Sadly, 2021 will be the Arrowverse year without a crossover.

TVLine reports plans for a more contained crossover between Batwoman and Superman & Lois have been cancelled over COVID-19 concerns. “We’re not really able to cross over because physically, we can’t cross crews due to the fear of exposure,” Batwoman executive producer Caroline Dries told the site. That also means there will not be a chance to establish a friendship between new Batwoman Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) and Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) before Supergirl comes to an end. The planned bond between Kara and Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) was one of the most interesting ideas seeded in both the “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossovers; but real world issues prevented it from becoming a more recurring element of either show.

Leslie, meanwhile, is “heartbroken” Ryan won’t have a chance to interact with Black Lightning characters anytime soon. “It would have been great to play with them and be superheroes all on the same show. That would have been epic,” she said. Of course, as Black Lightning is filmed in Atlanta, it may ironically be easier to feature characters like Thunder (Nafessa Williams) and Painkiller (Jordan Calloway) after that series comes to a conclusion later this year and the actors can spend a longer time in the Arrowverse’s Vancouver production hub.

While the lack of a crossover — or even characters guest starring on different shows — is sad, we imagine it is a sigh of relief for the producers, who admitted last year they would switch to smaller crossovers after the size and complexity of “Crisis.”

Also, we can’t help by think the planned returned of John Diggle (David Ramsey) across the various Arrowverse shows is something of a slow-motion crossover to take the place of something more direct like “Crisis.” As previously reported, the actor will appear as Diggle on Superman & Lois, Supergirl, The Flash and Batwoman, and as a “mystery character” on Legends of Tomorrow. He will also direct several episodes of the various shows; making his time in Vancouver both worthwhile and safe. He can quarantine between productions.

And, hopefully, the pause in crossovers means 2022 can feature something a little bit bigger — although, we’d be happy to see any sort of cross-show interaction resume.