How Smallville Explained Its Two Morgan Edges (Compared To Arrowverse)

Not unlike the Arrowverse, Smallville introduced Morgan Edge and later recast him with a new actor. Both Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer and Patrick Bergin played the DC Comics crime boss in the Superman prequel series. Edge was a politician and a supporting character in the Superman comics, but after “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” he was transformed into the head of a powerful criminal empire in Metropolis and a foe of the Man of Steel.

Morgan Edge has never been in the movies, but he was adapted to the small screen for both Smallville and the Arrowverse. Played by Adrian Pasdar, the villain served as a major antagonist to Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) during Supergirl season 3. Later, he returned for Superman & Lois, but with a new actor in the role; Adam Rayner. This new version of Edge is being depicted as a well-connected businessman with a mysterious interest in Superman’s hometown, Smallville.

Interestingly, both Smallville and Superman & Lois have dealt with recasting Morgan Edge. In the Smallville season 3 premiere, Clark (Tom Welling) – under the influence of red Kryptonite — got himself involved with Metropolis gangster Edge, who eventually discovered Clark’s abilities and tried to make a profit off him by making a deal with Lionel Luthor (John Glover). After it was discovered that Edge was an accomplice to previous murders committed by Lionel, Smallville brought him back for a later episode in the same season. Except this time, he was played by Patrick Bergin. It was explained that Edge looked different because he received plastic surgery, knowing that Lionel would eventually attempt to have him eliminated.

Apparently, the decision to recast him occurred as a result of a scheduling conflict with Rutger Hauer. As for the Arrowverse, it too has a way of making sense of Morgan Edge’s sudden change in appearance. Though it hasn’t been explicitly stated on the show, it’s implied that “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is why Edge isn’t the same person that Supergirl and her friends had to contend with on Earth-38. The rebirth of the multiverse and the creation of Earth-Prime made an untold number of alternations to established Arrowverse characters, which means the Crisis can easily be used to explain away any big adjustments, whether it be a casting change, a different personality, or a new set of powers. Thanks to this, Superman & Lois has been able to ignore what Supergirl did with him, and in turn, create their own take on the villain.

Superman & Lois seems to have big plans for its Morgan Edge, considering that he may be the season’s big bad. However, the same can’t be said for Smallville’s interpretation of the character. Through Rutger Hauer, the series created what promised to be a compelling antagonist who could have caused the Kents and Luthors a great deal of trouble throughout the season. That’s why it was a shame he was brought back with a different actor and abruptly killed off before he could be utilized to his full potential.

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