The CW has finally started to renew several shows for the next TV season, including the return of two popular Arrowverse dramas. It has been a tough year for viewers of The CW dramas as they usually know around this time of year what shows will be back next season. In previous years, the network has always wanted to give their productions some extra time to prep their next seasons, which is why The CW usually greenlights several series for the coming year.
However, 2022 became a different story due to WarnerMedia and Paramount, who co-own the network, putting The CW up for sales. While Nexstar was a potential candidate as of January 2022, little to no updates have emerged since then. Instead, the likely sale situation caused The CW to hit pause on any renewal or cancellation for their ongoing series. Given how many of them have shorter seasons this year, a number of them have had to end on cliffhangers, not knowing if that would be their season or series finales.
At last, however, the wait is over, at least for seven of The CW's popular shows. The network announced today, via Variety, that All American season 5, Riverdale season 7, Kung Fu season 3, Nancy Drew season 4, and Walker season 3 have been picked up for another year. In addition to that, while already expected to be a lock, The Flash season 9 and Superman & Lois season 3 have also been renewed as the only two returning Arrowverse series for the 2022-2023 TV season. However, the network stressed that additional renewals might/will come later.
The shows that are currently waiting to hear if they're getting renewed are Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, Naomi, Legacies, All American: Homecoming, Charmed, Roswell, NM, 4400, In The Dark, and DC's Stargirl. It's worth remembering that DC's Stargirl season 3, In The Dark season 4, and Roswell, NM season 4 have yet to premiere, hence fans of those series may have to wait even longer to learn if they'll be back in 2023. It also comes down to how many new shows the network decides to pick up, as the Gotham Knights and Walker: Independence pilots are currently in the works.
The multiple renewals are likely to be a huge relief to a lot of fans, which is understanding given how The CW sale did raise a lot of questions. The biggest mystery, however, is probably The Flash season 9, as The CW did not specify if that will be the Arrowverse drama's final one. It's possible that it will be revealed at The CW Upfronts in May, along with the other series that are waiting to learn their fates. At the end of the day, it all comes down to whether or not Grant Gustin chooses to renew his contract for a potential The Flash season 10, as his new deal is only for a ninth season.
Source: Variety