Why did Jordan Elsass leave Superman and Lois?

Jordan Elsass won’t be reprising his role as Jonathan Kent on Superman and Lois season 3.

Superman and Lois has enjoyed two successful seasons on The CW, holding the title of the network’s joint-most-watched show (along with Walker) in the two seasons that it has been on the air. When it returns for season 3 in 2023, however, there will be one noticeable difference: Jonathan Kent.

Earlier this month it was revealed that actor Jordan Elsass would be leaving the show after two seasons and that the role of Jonathan Kent would be recast. Given that season 3 is set to begin production in early September, the news caught fans of the show off-guard.

One of Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s twin sons, Jonathan is a huge part of Superman and Lois and Jordan Elsass has been nothing short of incredible in the role (and every bit as incredible playing Jonthan’s Bizarro doppelganger Jon-El).

Why Jordan Elsass left Superman and Lois

Warner Bros. TV issued a statement when announcing Jordan Elsass’ sudden exit from the show, revealing that the actor “notified the studio that he will not be returning to Superman & Lois for Season 3 due to personal reasons.”

The star himself has yet to release any kind of official statement on his departure, but he did break his silence via a video he recorded for a fan on Cameo. In the video, Elsass acknowledges that he is sad he won’t be a part of season 3 but that “mental health is definitely 100-percent priority”. He also suggested that he might be done with acting.

You can read the full comment below:

"“It’s been a tough few weeks, as you might imagine, with everything going on with the show. It’s sad, it’s a real shame. I know that I was pumped for Season 3, for sure, but what are you going to do? Anyway, mental health is definitely 100-percent priority. It’s pinnacle. It’s got to take precedence. And mine has been … the last couple of years … it’s been rough. I need some time to myself… I’m still debating whether I’m even going to act for a while. I may go in a different direction. I know that’s definitely going to be disappointing to some people.”"

Throughout the first two seasons of the Arrowverse-adjacent show, the Jonathan Kent character has struggled with the fact that his brother Jordan Kent (played by Alex Garfin) has super-powers and that he does not. He ultimately overcomes this and, after an incredible conversation with his mother Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch), he learns the importance of being the extraordinary human in a family of super people.

It’s unknown what the show has in store for Jonathan in season 3 as of yet, but it goes without saying that the show will miss Elsass’ incredible performance. That said, we all wish him the very best.

Superman and Lois season 3 premieres on The CW in 2023. Both seasons 1 and 2 are now available to stream on HBO Max.