What nobody predicted was that some of those bit parts would become the earliest glimpses of stars who would eventually headline major superhero and genre projects. His Smallville appearance is now overshadowed by his iconic work on Supernatural, but it is still part of his early career trajectory. Ritchson’s early work on The CW shows that even actors who go on to major success often have humble beginnings in the superhero television space. Routh’s CW run shows how the network did more than just give actors a single guest role. ​Her career is a reminder that The CW’s superhero shows were part of a larger ecosystem.