Arrowverse series set return dates while current seasons all cut short

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We already knew that The Flash, Batwoman & Supergirl would be going on hiatus for most of this month as The CW tries to spread out the already wrapped episodes that were already in the can before COVID-19 forced productions to go dark. What wasn't certain was a return date but The CW has revealed their returns this morning but it's pretty much a guarantee now that all of their current seasons will be cut short. 

The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow will be back on Tuesday, April 21 at 8 pm and 9 pm ET/PT, with back-to-back-episodes of Batwoman and Supergirl starting back up on Sunday, April 26 at 8 pm ET/PT. Legends of Tomorrow, along with Black Lightning, were not affected by COVID-19 because their current seasons were already shot and wrapped. Black Lightning actually aired its season 3 finale on March 9. 

The Arrowverse shows that were still in production were in various stages heading towards wrapping up their current seasons before they had to go dark. The Flash had reportedly finished shooting 20 of its planned 22 episodes for season 6 which means they're likely going to fall two short, although one new plan being thrown around is to condense those two episodes into one if they can. Season 5 of Supergirl was actually further along on their schedule and only has the season finale to complete. It's unsure whether they will carry that episode into next season or if they're hoping they'll be able to go back to work soon enough to finish it. Batwoman is likely to see its current season cut down by two episodes so any current story arcs are going to be cut short. The upside for all three shows, is that they were all already renewed for new seasons so they'll have time to re-work these narrative threads if necessary.

What's even more unclear is what the production delays will have on the future for the Arrowverse for next season. The good news for Legends of Tomorrow and Black Lightning is that they wrapped earlier than their peers but that means they go back to work earlier than their peers as well. Season 6 of Legends of Tomorrow is being planned out by the show's writing staff remotely and the same is likely being done for the fourth season of Black Lightning. There is also Superman & Lois, which skipped the pilot stage and was ordered straight to series for next season. That series is also being planned out remotely as the industry hopes things get back to normal by the time the full Arrowverse lineup needs to return.

Do YOU think the Arrowverse will carry over its unfinished episodes into next season?