The recent cancellation of Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman seem to be evidence that the Arrowverse is in trouble. Named after the show that started The CW's interconnected DC shared universe back in 2012, the Arrowverse has been one of the most consistent sources for live-action DC adaptations in recent years. Starting with Arrow, the Arrowverse continued to expand with The Flash in 2014 before adding Legends of TomorrowSupergirlBatwoman, and Superman & Lois. Other shows, including Stargirl, Constantine, and Black Lightning, have also been linked to the Arrowverse via crossover arcs.

However, with Arrow ending in 2020, and Supergirl and Black Lightning concluding in 2021, the Arrowverse has been gradually shrinking as plans for the cinematic DC franchise, the DCEU, have grown. With more of DC's heroes and villains being introduced via the DCEU's movies and HBO Max shows, the Arrowverse has begun to seem increasingly redundant as a source of DC-based entertainment, with viewers apparently more interested in the movie versions of its characters. With two more of the Arrowverse's shows — Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman — going away, it seems that The CW's shared universe is in trouble.

Related: Why Legends Of Tomorrow Deserves A Proper Ending

The cancellation of Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman are obviously the result of the Arrowverse's tenuous position. Although the shared universe retains a reasonably sized fanbase, two of its major shows being canceled proves that it's not achieving enough success to continue. What exactly the cancellation of Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman means for the future of the Arrowverse isn't entirely clear, but it signifies that the end may be coming for the shared DC universe.

Arrowverse Shows Have Been Losing Viewers For Some Time

Arrowverse shows are losing so many viewers Superman and lois The flash supergirl

Although the cancellation of two Arrowverse shows may seem to indicate that the problem is a relatively new one, this isn't the case at all. Supergirl earned the Arrowverse's best ratings — an average of 9.81 million total viewers in its first season, which aired on CBS — but every Arrowverse show has seen diminishing returns with regards to viewership as seasons have worn on. This is true even for the Arrowverse's most popular shows, including The Flash, its longest-running series.

The Arrowverse losing viewers at a consistent rate has been an issue for every one of its shows so far. All of the now finished or canceled shows in the Arrowverse have seen their average viewership drop below the one million mark, which proves that they are simply not sustainable in the long run. The reasons behind this are many: the increasing complexity of the shows' interconnected narratives and large casts have been cited as something that has dissuaded more casual viewers, and the further separation from the DCEU has also served to divide the fanbase considerably.

In addition, the improvement in the critical reception of unrelated DC movies (such as The Batman, which received positive reviews) only further draws fans away from the less gritty incarnations of the Arrowverse. Regardless of the reasons, the long and drawn-out decline of the Arrowverse's viewership has proven fatal to a number of its shows, and it doesn't make the future of those remaining look too bright, either.

Related: Everything Batwoman Reveals About The Arrowverse’s Batman

Batwoman & Legends Of Tomorrow Cancellations Make Arrowverse Issues Worse

Legends of tomorrow cancelled after season 7

The cancellation of two of the Arrowverse's long-running shows, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, only makes the Arrowverse's issues seem even worse. In concept, the biggest appeal of the Arrowverse is its massive crossover potential. This is something that it has used to reasonable effect over the run of its various shows, with multiple inter-series events taking place that have allowed not only Arrowverse crossovers but also the appearance of non-Arrowverse heroes, such as Brandon Routh's Superman from Superman Returns, Tom Welling's Clark Kent from Smallville, and Lucifer star Tom Ellis. However, the cancellation of two Arrowverse shows makes future crossover events far less likely, further diminishing the potential of the remaining parts of the franchise.

In particular, the cancellation of Batwoman has cut the Arrowverse's biggest and most obvious tie to Batman, who has proven to be one of DC's most popular and iconic heroes. This only weakens the Arrowverse's DC credentials, and though its most direct rival, the DCEU, has been divisive in its own ways, it has also been shaping up to offer a far more robust roster of DC heroes and villains than the Arrowverse is now equipped for. The cancellation of both Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow evidences the lack of faith that The CW has in its wider shared universe and isolates its remaining shows in a way that detracts from the Arrowverse's wider appeal.

What New Arrowverse Shows Are Upcoming?

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The future of the Arrowverse is looking somewhat bleak. After the cancellation of both Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, there are only two currently airing shows in the Arrowverse. The Flash has been confirmed as returning for season 9, and Superman & Lois has also been renewed for a third season. This is perhaps unsurprising, as the Flash and Superman are two of DC's biggest and most recognizable heroes, and their continued place within any large shared DC universe is practically a must if it's to have any semblance of comic accuracy.

There are seemingly still plans for new DC shows on The CW, however. Naomi is a DC-based superhero show set in Earth-2, meaning that it's linked to the Arrowverse but doesn't share a specific continuity. Naomi's Arrowverse connection is similar to that of Stargirl, which has previously crossed over, making Naomi Arrowverse-adjacent. The CW also has in development Gotham Knights and Justice U, which are set to be the next major Arrowverse shows, meaning that The CW still has clear plans to continue the Arrowverse's narrative.

Related: Why Superman & Lois STILL Won't Acknowledge Other Arrowverse Heroes Exist

How Much Longer Can The Arrowverse Run For?

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The biggest question raised by the cancellation of Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow is just how long the Arrowverse will continue to run. It seems as though it's not entirely built for longevity, as its consistently falling viewership indicates, and with The Flash heading into its ninth season, it would seem that one of its remaining shows will begin to come to a close before much longer. The introduction of Gotham Knights and Justice U would certainly keep the Arrowverse alive, and with Superman & Lois heading into its third season, there's still a potential future for Tyler Hoechlin's Superman.

Regardless, the cancellation of two long-running Arrowverse shows is an ominous sign for the future of The CW's shared universe. With Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman axed, the existing Arrowverse has been slashed in half, and despite plans to introduce new series into the universe, the future is beginning to look very bleak indeed. Although the continued future of the remaining — and upcoming — Arrowverse shows is currently unknown, the cancellation of Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow is an ill omen indeed.

Next: Arrowverse Finally Does DC's Death Of Superman Story (But Not How You Think)