List of Superboy episodes
Superboy is an American superhero television series developed by Freddie Goodwin.
Episodes
Season 1 (2021)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Ashes from Tomorrow" | Alex Brow | Alex Brow | October 2, 2026 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Shape of Falling" | Freddie Goodwin | Alex Brow and Lena Cross | October 9, 2026 |
| 3 | 3 | "Saints Don't Descend" | Freddie Goodwin | Jackson Gold | October 16, 2026 |
| 4 | 4 | "Everfall" | Freddie Goodwin | Jackson Gold and Lena Cross | October 23, 2026 |
| 5 | 5 | "Blood Remembers" | Freddie Goodwin | Alex Brow | October 30, 2026 |
| 6 | 6 | "When the Stars Kneel" | Freddie Goodwin | Alex Brow and Lena Cross | November 6, 2026 |
| 7 | 7 | "The World We Leave Behind" | Freddie Goodwin | Alex Brow and Lena Cross | November 13, 2026 |
| 8 | 8 | "The World We Choose" | Freddie Goodwin | Alex Brow and Lena Cross | November 20, 2026 |
Season 2 (2022)
| List of Superboy episodes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Alex Brow |
| Developed by | Freddie Goodwin |
| Showrunner | Alex Brow |
| Starring | |
| Composers | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producers | |
| Cinematography | Clara Mendez |
| Editor | Freddie Goodwin |
| Running time | 43–58 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
Superboy is an upcoming American superhero drama television series created by Alex Brow and developed by Freddie Goodwin for Netflix. Produced by Elridge House Productions and Blackveil Studios, the series is an original production inspired by Superman rather than an adaptation of the DC Comics character Superboy. Brow serves as showrunner, wrote or co-wrote six of the eight episodes and directed the series premiere, while Goodwin directed the remaining seven episodes.
The series stars Aramis Knight as Alex Singh, an extraterrestrial raised on Earth who formerly operated as the superhero Superboy. Eight years after an invasion of South City resulted in the deaths of his adoptive parents, Alex has abandoned his public identity and lives anonymously in Chicago. He is forced to confront his former life when extraterrestrial signals, covert organizations and figures connected to his biological family begin searching for him.
The ensemble cast also includes Rebecca Ferguson, Joel Kinnaman, Lee Pace, Christopher Judge, Xolo Maridueña, Dylan Minnette, Oscar Isaac, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Isabela Merced, Morena Baccarin, Michael Jai White, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Parminder Nagra.
Brow conceived the series as a serialized science-fiction drama beginning after Alex's initial career as Superboy rather than as a conventional superhero origin story. The first season consists of eight episodes and is scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026, with episodes released weekly through November 20. The first trailer is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2026.
Premise
In 1990, South City residents Jack and Lisa Singh discover an extraterrestrial infant inside a spacecraft that crashes near their home. Concealing the circumstances of his arrival, they adopt the child and raise him as their son, Alex. As he grows older, Alex develops superhuman strength, flight, enhanced durability and the ability to generate silver-gold energy.
At the age of 17, Alex is confronted by Supreme Marshal Varyx, ruler of the Veyari Dominion, who identifies him as Alexander Val'Aeth, the surviving heir to the destroyed Aethari civilization. When Alex refuses to leave Earth, Varyx launches an invasion of South City. Alex repels the attack, but Jack and Lisa are killed and Kael, the Aethari guardian who brought him to Earth, disappears.
Eight years later, Alex lives anonymously in Chicago and has largely abandoned both his abilities and his identity as Superboy. His past resurfaces after an ancient extraterrestrial structure is uncovered beneath the Arctic and the secretive organization Obsidian reveals that it has monitored him since his arrival on Earth. As Obsidian, the rival organization Helix and forces connected to the Veyari Dominion search for Aethari technology, Alex must uncover the truth about his biological family, the destruction of Aethara and the authority he has inherited.
Cast and characters
Main
- Aramis Knight as Alex Singh / Alexander Val'Aeth / Superboy, an Aethari who was brought to Earth as an infant and raised by Jack and Lisa Singh. After their deaths during the South City invasion, Alex abandons his identity as Superboy and attempts to live anonymously in Chicago.
- Rebecca Ferguson as Director Elena Cross, the director of Obsidian, a covert organization that has monitored Alex since his arrival on Earth.
- Joel Kinnaman as Commander Mason Reed, Obsidian's tactical commander and a survivor of the organization's original expedition to Everfall.
- Lee Pace as Kael, an Aethari guardian who brought Alex to Earth and formerly served his biological family.
- Christopher Judge as Supreme Marshal Varyx, the ruler of the Veyari Dominion, who seeks control of Alex and the Aethari Anchor network.
- Xolo Maridueña as Jackson Reyes, Alex's childhood friend, who helps him reconnect with the human life he abandoned.
- Dylan Minnette as Ethan Miller, Alex's former classmate, whose investigation into the South City invasion brings him into contact with Helix.
- Oscar Isaac as Seran Val'Aeth, Alex's biological father and the former sovereign of Aethara.
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dr. Imani Shaw, Obsidian's leading xenotechnology specialist.
- Isabela Merced as Maya Torres, an Obsidian systems analyst who assists Alex in understanding Aethari and Veyari technology.
- Morena Baccarin as Lysara Val'Aeth, Alex's biological mother, who was taken into Helix custody following the destruction of Aethara.
- Michael Jai White as Marcus Hale, the owner of the Falcon Bar and one of Alex's closest friends in Chicago.
- Sendhil Ramamurthy as Jack Singh, Alex's adoptive father, who discovered and raised him in South City.
- Parminder Nagra as Lisa Singh, Alex's adoptive mother, whose memories and recorded messages continue to influence him.
Recurring
- Andrew Scott as Proctor, a cybernetically altered Helix commander seeking to extract the biological authority inherited by Alex.
- Ruth Wilson as Dr. Sloane Varr / the Helix Woman, a senior Helix scientist who oversees Lysara's containment and the organization's activities at Everfall.
- Doug Jones as Sentinel, an ancient mechanical entity recovered from the Arctic.
- Keith David as the voice of the Custodian, a Veyari construct programmed to identify and preserve the Aethari line of succession.
- Winston Duke as Veyr-Thal, a Veyari officer who begins questioning Varyx and the Dominion's use of the Crown.
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as the voice of the Anchor, the ancient intelligence governing Everfall, the Throne Gate and the Aethari succession network.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 8 | October 2, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | |
Production
Background
Alex Brow began developing the ideas that would eventually become Superboy after years of experimenting with smaller storytelling projects. Brow said his interest in creating film and television originated during childhood, when watching movies encouraged him to imagine original characters, worlds and stories of his own. As he became more familiar with the practical demands of screen production, he began working on smaller concepts and scripts before attempting a full television series. The earliest version of Superboy was conceived as a story about an original superhero inspired by Superman, rather than an adaptation of the DC Comics character of the same name. Brow later decided that the central figure would be more compelling as a younger hero whose personal identity and emotional development were as important as his abilities, leading to the creation of Alex Singh.
The concept gradually expanded from a comparatively straightforward superhero premise into a serialized science-fiction drama involving Alex's extraterrestrial origins, his adoptive family, the destruction of South City and the consequences of abandoning his identity as Superboy. Brow developed the series with the intention of presenting its mythology from the perspective of a protagonist who already possessed his powers and had previously attempted to become a hero, rather than depicting a conventional origin story. He described the intended tone as comparable to "The Boys but for 13+", referring to the series' darker subject matter and approach to superhero institutions while retaining a younger target audience.
Before full production began, Brow mapped the story as an eight-episode season in which each installment would explore a smaller individual theme while contributing to a single overarching narrative. He said the aim was to create eight distinct stories rather than treat the season solely as an extended film divided into episodes, although the plots, character developments and mysteries would remain closely connected. Brow began writing the scripts before the production and marketing plans had been finalized, and later recalled initially placing a single period in an otherwise blank document to make beginning the writing process feel less intimidating. He described writing as the most difficult and time-consuming stage of creating the series, requiring the initial drafts to be repeatedly refined before attention could shift toward production and promotion. Development formally began at Elridge House Productions in late 2025, with Blackveil Studios subsequently joining as a co-producer as the scope of the project increased.
Development
Superboy was created by Brow and developed for television by Goodwin. Brow serves as showrunner, while Naomi Elridge, Jordan Brackley, Samira Collins and Devon Kaye serve as executive producers. Mallory Finch, Andre Huerta, Tasha Lei and Matthew Doran serve as producers.
The series was developed as a serialized superhero and science-fiction drama rather than a predominantly episodic program. Brow and Goodwin planned the first season as a continuous eight-episode narrative exploring Alex's relationship with Earth, his biological heritage and the consequences of his earlier confrontation with the Veyari Dominion. Although each episode was designed around its own smaller theme and dramatic conflict, the individual stories contribute to the season's central mystery.
Rather than beginning with Alex discovering his abilities, the series opens after he has already operated publicly as Superboy and experienced a major personal loss. Brow said this approach allowed the story to focus on a character who understood the physical demands of heroism but no longer believed he could endure its emotional consequences. The present-day narrative was set eight years after the destruction of South City, allowing Alex to have established a new life while demonstrating that he had never fully recovered from the deaths of Jack and Lisa Singh.
Brow was selected to direct the series premiere, "Ashes from Tomorrow", while Goodwin was hired to direct the remaining seven episodes and also serves as an editor on the series. The first season was designed to expand gradually in scale, beginning as a character-focused mystery centered on Alex's life in Chicago before developing into a conflict involving Obsidian, Helix, the Aethari Anchor network and the Veyari Dominion.
Writing
The writing team was led by Brow, with Lena Cross and Jackson Gold also contributing to the first season. The writers determined the season's conclusion before completing the individual scripts, allowing earlier episodes to introduce dialogue, imagery and character decisions that would later be revisited. Identity, grief, inherited responsibility and found family were established as the season's principal themes. Alex's human name represents the life created for him by Jack and Lisa, while Alexander Val'Aeth represents the ancestry, authority and expectations imposed upon him by his biological family. The writers did not regard either identity as false, instead constructing Alex's conflict around the attempts of other characters and institutions to define which identity should take precedence. The final two episodes, "The World We Leave Behind" and "The World We Choose", form a two-part season finale. Brow and Cross wrote them as a single continuous story divided at the principal emotional turning point in Alex's conflict.
Casting
Aramis Knight was cast as Alex Singh / Alexander Val'Aeth / Superboy. The production sought an actor capable of conveying Alex's physical power while also portraying the character as emotionally exhausted, isolated and reluctant to return to public life. Knight underwent stunt, wire and movement training in preparation for the role. Rebecca Ferguson and Joel Kinnaman joined the series as Obsidian director Elena Cross and tactical commander Mason Reed, respectively. The characters were developed as representatives of opposing philosophies within Obsidian, with Elena favoring long-term observation and Reed approaching extraterrestrial threats from a military perspective.
Lee Pace was cast as Kael, the Aethari guardian responsible for bringing Alex to Earth, while Christopher Judge was cast as Supreme Marshal Varyx. Judge portrays Varyx through a combination of live-action performance, prosthetics and performance capture. His physical performance was retained wherever possible, with visual effects used to increase the character's scale and augment his armor. Xolo Maridueña and Dylan Minnette were cast as Alex's childhood friends Jackson Reyes and Ethan Miller. Jackson was written as one of the few people who continues to view Alex primarily as a person rather than as a superhero or extraterrestrial figure. Ethan's investigation into the South City invasion brings him into contact with Helix and places him on a different path from Alex.
Oscar Isaac and Morena Baccarin were cast as Alex's biological parents, Seran and Lysara Val'Aeth. Brow said the characters were not intended to replace Jack and Lisa Singh, with the series instead exploring Alex's discomfort at meeting biological parents who remember a relationship that he was too young to retain. The remaining principal cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Isabela Merced, Michael Jai White, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Parminder Nagra. Ramamurthy and Nagra appear as Jack and Lisa through scenes set during Alex's childhood, archival recordings and memories.
Filming
Principal photography began in April 2026. The season was filmed in production blocks rather than episode order, allowing sets representing Obsidian, Helix and the Aethari Anchor network to be reused across multiple episodes. Brow directed the premiere as a separate opening block before Goodwin assumed directing duties for the remainder of the season.
The Falcon Bar, sections of South City and Obsidian's command facility were constructed as practical sets. The Obsidian facility was designed as a connected environment containing a command center, laboratories, medical areas and lower containment levels, allowing scenes to move between different sections without relying entirely on digital extensions. Location photography representing Chicago was combined with second-unit footage of the city and its riverfront. The Arctic sequences were produced using refrigerated sets, artificial snow and digitally extended exterior environments. The Everfall storyline combined rainforest location photography with practical alien structures, virtual production and visual effects.
Knight performed a significant portion of Alex's wire work. The production designed Alex's flight to appear controlled during ordinary movement but increasingly unstable when his emotions interfere with his concentration. Goodwin said the approach was intended to communicate Alex's emotional state through his physical movement before it was expressed in dialogue. The two-part finale formed the season's largest production block and included material set in South City, aboard Veyr-Thal's vessel and within the Aethari Anchor network. Principal photography was expected to conclude in August 2026.
Design and visual effects
The production developed separate visual styles for Aethari, Veyari, Obsidian and Helix technology. Aethari structures use curved silver surfaces, fluid light and designs intended to appear grown rather than manufactured. Veyari machinery uses darker materials, rigid geometry and crown-like projections. Obsidian technology was designed to appear practical and military, while Helix equipment incorporates visibly modified extraterrestrial components. Alex's abilities are depicted through silver-gold energy designed to resemble light moving beneath liquid metal. The visual-effects team avoided presenting the energy as conventional fire or electricity, instead giving it a sense of weight and allowing it to interact physically with Alex and his surroundings.
Music
Weston Doyle and Andrea Renwick composed the score for Superboy. They developed a combination of orchestral, choral and electronic music intended to represent the human and extraterrestrial aspects of Alex's identity.
Alex's central theme was designed to initially feel incomplete and restrained. Additional instrumentation and choral elements are introduced as he begins confronting his history and accepting the parts of his identity that he had rejected.
The Aethari are represented through layered vocal textures, metallic percussion and fluid melodic structures. The Veyari Dominion is accompanied by lower brass, distorted electronic sounds and more rigid rhythmic patterns.
Marketing
A promotional poster featuring the series' logo was released in June 2026.
Pre-premiere interview special
A live promotional program titled Superboy Interview — Before Premiere Special featured Brow discussing the origins, development and intended future of the series. Brow said his interest in storytelling began during childhood, when watching films inspired him to create characters, worlds and stories of his own. After recognizing the practical difficulties involved in producing film and television, he began experimenting with smaller projects before attempting a full series.
Brow emphasized that Superboy was an original production inspired by Superman rather than an adaptation of the DC Comics character. He explained that the concept initially centered on a Superman-inspired hero before he decided that the protagonist would be more compelling as a younger person. Brow declined to disclose significant plot details, but said Alex possessed an extensive history that would begin to be explored in the premiere and described the series' worldbuilding as unconventional.
He characterized the tone as "The Boys but for 13+" and said the eight episodes were designed to explore smaller individual themes while collectively forming a single overarching narrative. Brow described writing the scripts as the most difficult and time-consuming part of development, though he also identified writing and marketing as his favorite aspects of production. He recalled beginning the first script by typing a single period into an empty document to make the writing process feel easier to begin.
Brow said the marketing campaign was intended to reveal little of the story while gradually building anticipation. During the interview, he indicated that the first trailer was being targeted for July; it was subsequently scheduled for release on August 2.
Discussing the finale, Brow said it would not resemble a traditional season finale and argued that the greatest sense of finality should be reserved for the eventual conclusion of the series. He nevertheless described the episode as "badass" and said it was in a strong creative position while being written. Brow said he hoped to produce four or five seasons, but added that if the series ended after its first season, he wanted it to be remembered as a strong piece of storytelling.
The first trailer is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2026.
Release
Superboy is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 2, 2026. The first season consists of eight episodes, which will be released weekly through November 20.
References
Season 3 (2023)
- Articles with short description
- Use American English from July 2026
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- All Wikipedia articles written in American English
- Use mdy dates from July 2026
- Pages using infobox television with incorrectly formatted values
- Articles with hatnote templates targeting a nonexistent page