The CW Announces New Season Launching in January 2021

The CW has announced its programming for the 2020/2021 season and TV viewers are getting their first look at how the network will attempt to move forward with scheduling once production can resume.

The network will push most of its returning and new series to slots in January 2021 for the new season, with a balance of original, acquired scripted series, and alternative programming taking over the fall.

The released 2020 prime-time schedule will see alternate programming such as The Outpost, Swamp Thing, and Tell Me a Story join the fall lineup, with Supernatural also returning to finish up its fifteenth and final season.

The four new series announced for the 2021 launch include Superman & Lois, Walker, Kung Fu, and The Republic of Sarah. Returning series include The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Riverdale, Nancy Drew, All American, and Legacies.

“This year, The CW has made the proactive strategic decision to launch its new season in January 2021, rolling out a line-up of our signature returning series which will be joined next year by our four new series. And by moving our new season to January, we are stocking our fall with a balance of original and acquired scripted series and alternative programming that fits The CW brand and provides fresh programming through the fourth quarter,” announced Mark Pedowitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The CW on what would have been the date of the network’s upfront presentations.

“As we manage the current crisis, we’ve developed a methodical programming strategy for this year and well in to next that we believe works for The CW, our advertisers, affiliates and audience, while keeping the health and safety of our productions and creative partners front of mind.”

The CW is planning a “smaller” version of its traditional Arrowverse crossover to air in 2021 featuring Batwoman and Superman & Lois. Meanwhile, the Green Arrow and the Canaries series is still in limbo as the network as yet to opt for a pickup.

Superman & Lois sees the return of DC’s most iconic superhero and power couple, Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), as they face their greatest challenges yet as working parents in today’s society. Facing the daunting job of raising two boys together, Clark and Lois will also have to deal with the fact that their sons Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alexander Garfin) could inherit their father’s Kryptonian superpowers one day.

The series sees the two return to Smallville to handle some family business, a task made all the more interesting with the return of old flames like Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and the introduction of a mysterious new stranger (Wolé Parks) whose presence threatens to upend their lives.

The series is written and executive produced by Todd Helbing (The Flash) and executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns.

Walker reimagines long-running series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and will follow Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki), a widower and father of two with his own moral code, who returns Austin after two years undercover to discover there’s more work to be done at home.

The series follows Walker as he attempts to reconnect with his creative son (Kale Culley) and rebellious teenage daughter (Violet Brinson). Walker will have to navigate family clashes as he reinserts himself back into their lives while finding common ground with his new partner (Lindsey Morgan) as he comes to terms with the suspicious circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.

Kung Fu follows young Chinese-American, Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang), as she has a quarter-life crisis and drops out of college to go on a journey to an isolated monastery in China. When she returns to San Francisco, she finds her hometown is overrun with criminals and corruption with her parents (Tzi Ma and Kheng Hua Tan) at the mercy of the city’s powerful Triad.

Nicky will have to rely on her tech-savvy sister (Shannon Dang), pre-med brother (Jon Prasida), Assistant District Attorney/ex-boyfriend (Gavin Stenhouse), love interest (Eddie Liu), and of course her martial arts skills to protect her community and bring these criminals the justice they deserve — all while searching for the ruthless assassin (Gwendoline Yeo).

The Republic of Sarah centers around Greylock, New Hampshire, a town upended when a mining company threatens to extract an incredibly valuable mineral from underneath the town, wiping the place from existence in the process. With people in danger of losing their homes, rebellious high school teacher Sarah Cooper (Stella Baker) attempts to stop Lydon’s bulldozers and her estranged brother, Danny Cooper (Luke Mitchell) at all costs.

Sarah enlists fellow teacher Corinne Dearborn (Hope Lauren), police officer Amy “AJ” Johnson (Nia Holloway), and diner manager Grover Simms (Ian Duff) in the fight against Danny, proposing an intriguing solution: Greylock could declare independence. The land on which Greylock sits was never properly claimed by the United States, so if Sarah can convince the town to vote for independence, Greylock would gain international sovereignty and could protect its land.

After a federal judge agrees that Greylock was never part of the United States, the town becomes a new nation. Now, Sarah and her allies must confront an even more daunting task — building a country from scratch.

*Note that additional pickups, schedule information, and specials will be announced at a later date.

Here’s a look at The CW’s Fall/Winter Schedule.

THE CW FALL 2020 SCHEDULE (All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

8:30-9:00 PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

9:00-10:00PM PENN & TELLER: FOOL US

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SWAMP THING

9:00-10:00 PM TELL ME A STORY

WEDNESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES

8:30-9:00 PM DEAD PIXELS

9:00-10:00 PM CORONER

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SUPERNATURAL (Returning for final season)

9:00-10:00 PM THE OUTPOST

FRIDAY

8:00-8:30 PM WORLD’S FUNNIEST ANIMALS

8:30-9:00 PM WORLD’S FUNNIEST ANIMALS

9:00-10:00PM PENN & TELLER: FOOL US (Encores)

SUNDAY

8:00-8:30 PM MASTERS OF ILLUSION

8:30-9:00 PM MASTERS OF ILLUSION

9:00-10:00PM PANDORA

THE CW WINTER 2021 SCHEDULE (All Times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM ALL AMERICAN

9:00-10:00 PM BLACK LIGHTNING

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM THE FLASH

9:00-10:00PM SUPERMAN & LOIS (New Series)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM RIVERDALE

9:00-10:00 PM NANCY DREW

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM WALKER (New Series)

9:00-10:00 PM LEGACIES

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM PENN & TELLER: FOOL US (New Night)

9:00-9:30 PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (New Night)

9:30-10:00 PM WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (New Night)

SUNDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BATWOMAN

9:00-10:00 PM CHARMED (New Night)

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