This outfit is as close as Tom Welling came to the Superman uniform during 'Smallville'

Even while the CW’s hit ‘Smallville’ was still on the air, fans were clamoring for the show’s star, Tom Welling, to put on the red and blue tights and become the Superman that he was destined to be. When Welling declined the part of the Man of Steel in 2006’s ‘Superman Returns’, fans were upset but not deterred.

After ‘Smallville’ went off this air this past May after ten seasons, fans began speculating on how the series could continue. The result was a fan-created continuation idea titled simply ‘Metropolis’. It made perfect sense. The characters had outlived Smallville and were ready for the big time. There were fan-made false trailers for the show, a Twitter account dedicated to it and, of course, the fan fiction.

Until now, though, ‘Metropolis’ has been merely a fan’s dream. But if IMDb is any indication (and that’s debatable), ‘Metropolis’ may actually make it to television screens by 2012. According to the film database site, ‘Metropolis’ already has the original ‘Smallville’ cast lined up including Welling (Clark Kent), Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Aaron Ashmore (Jimmy Olsen), and Michael McKean (Perry White). In addition to the Daily Planet’s crew, IMDb lists that ‘Smallville’ co-creator Alfred Gough is also on board.

Of course, this is on IMDb so speculation is high, especially considering that Gough left ‘Smallville’ in 2008. Of course, if any of this is true, Superman and ‘Smallville’ fans will have a lot to be excited about. ‘Metropolis’ is listed as being in “post production” which means that it’s nearing completion and it has a release date of September 25, 2012.

But, as someone who’s been constantly let down by hintings of new movies and shows (Dan Aykroyd, I’m looking at you. Where’s ‘Ghostbusters 3’ aready!?), I am keeping my hopes low and my fingers crossed for ‘Metropolis’.