The CW has pre-extended much of its scripted schedule, including The Flash.
The network also renewed All American, The Flash, Kung Fu, Nancy Drew, Riverdale, Superman & Lois, and Walker.
Traditionally, the teen-friendly network grants early renewals, sometimes as early as January, to the majority of its roster — a boon to its owners CBS and Warner Bros.
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This year, however, the channel’s future is in the stars as local affiliate Nexstar circles in circles, and Deadline reckons a new majority owner would likely have a say in some of its renewal decisions. The network must also consider elements like streaming rights for shows and other variables that determine pickup.
The renewal of the flagship series The Flash for a ninth season – making it the network’s longest-running Arrowverse series and taking the mantle of Arrow, which ended after eight seasons – was paved earlier this year with news that Star Grant Gustin is in talks for a new business. There’s no word from The CW yet on whether Season 9 will be The Flash’s swan song.
Some of the other extensions were more natural than others. All American was set to return for Season 5, and Superman & Lois and Walker was good for its third season.
Riverdale was also set to return for its seventh season, but there’s also no word on if this will be its final season.
Kung Fu only launched its second season earlier this month, but is now coming back for a third.
However, Nancy Drew has been kept at bubble height for a little more and will be returning for a fourth season. That’s because the Tom Swift spinoff series has yet to launch on the network.
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There are two other show installments that the network has yet to make renewal decisions for — and those are expected to arrive over the course of the next month or so before the May Upfronts.
4400, which launched in October, Naomi, which premiered in January, and All American: Homecoming, which launched last month, will all be hoping for a second season.
There are also question marks over the future of Legends of Tomorrow, which is in its seventh season; dynasty, which is in its fifth; Charmed and Legacies, which are in their fourth season; and Batwoman, who is in her third.
Stargirl season 3 and In the Dark season 4 are pending, while Roswell, New Mexico has been picked for a fourth season ahead of season 3.
The scripted extensions follow a number of unscripted extensions, including Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion, both of which are returning for their ninth season, and World’s Funniest Animals, which is transitioning into season 3.
Mark Pedowitz, CW Network Chairman and CEO, said, “As we prepare for the 2022-23 season, these scripted series, along with the alternate series we have previously renewed, will serve as the beginning of a solid foundation upon which to build some of our are based on most-watched series that we can build on for next year and beyond. These dramas are also important to our overall digital strategy as they are among our most streamed and socially engaged programming, and we look forward to adding more new and returning series to strengthen and expand our multiplatform presence.”