Tyler Hoechlin is one of the many actors who have portrayed the fan-favorite DC superhero, Superman, for years. Despite his successful run as Clark Kent on the TV screens, his career seems to have taken a hit. He is no longer seen in any popular movies or shows, besides the ones that helped him establish a name.
What happened to Hoechlin’s career then? Did he do something problematic that led to his blacklisting from Hollywood, or does he plan to retire? Longtime fans of the star are aware that he stays away from controversies.
Here are some of the possible reasons why Hoechlin is no longer a favorite choice in the business:
1. Tyler Hoechlin Left Teen Wolf for a Failing Movie Career
Hoechlin’s first big role in a TV series was as the werewolf Derek Hale in the supernatural teen drama, Teen Wolf. He appeared regularly in the show for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014 and even won a Teen Choice Award for his performance.
However, he parted ways with the show after Season 4. In an interview with BuzzFeed in 2015, show creator Jeff Davis revealed that Hoechlin would not be a part of the show, saying:
Tyler Hoechlin decided he wanted more time to pursue movies. We talked and creatively agreed that maybe this was a good season to refocus on the teens of Teen Wolf, and while he won’t be a series regular anymore, I can say that you probably won’t have seen the last of Derek Hale. We love him and miss him.
Hoechlin pursued movie roles for a couple of years. While his film Everybody Wants Some!!! performed well, others like Undrafted and Stratton did not do too well. After his guest role in Teen Wolf in 2017’s Season 6, he appeared in many other movies, but none of them earned him as much recognition as his TV roles.
2. Tyler Hoechlin Wanted to Add His Own Touch to Superman
Tyler Hoechlin was cast as the superhero cousin of the lead character in the drama series Supergirl. He reprised the character several times over the years, but he never took any inspiration from those who had played the character before. In an interview with the New York Post, he said:
I’ve intentionally stayed away [from Superman since getting the role]. I’ve found it more beneficial to have an impulse and trust it without the hesitation of, ‘Oh, so-and-so already did that.’ It makes it easier to just go do my thing without overthinking it. Since it wasn’t something that I grew up so close to, it allows me to play it without that pressure.
While his Superman was well-received, it also risks boxing him into “the nice guy superhero” mold. Since he leaned into warmth and optimism, studios might hesitate to cast him in edgier or villainous roles. That said, playing the character comes with its own challenges.
3. Tyler Hoechlin Left His Twilight Role to Play Varsity Baseball
From a young age, Hoechlin had his mind set on pursuing one of two professions seriously: baseball or acting. Due to his busy schedule, he had to often choose one over the other. One such instance was when he picked varsity baseball over a role in Twilight.
While appearing as a guest on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Hoechlin revealed how he was almost cast as Edward Cullen’s brother, Emmett Cullen. However, he dropped in at the last second in favor of playing in the first season at UC Irvine for baseball. His commitment to baseball was only one of the reasons; the second one was, in his own words:
It could be something that comes and goes, and nobody ever really cares about, or it could be the biggest thing in the world. It was the biggest thing in the world [laughs].
When the movie was released, Hoechlin and his friends went to watch it. The star was even subjected to light ribbing from his mates, who called him stupid for not taking the role.
4. Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman in Supergirl Had Mixed Responses
Hoechlin appeared as the Man of Steel in only six episodes of Supergirl, which aired for six seasons from 2016 to 2021. While some fans praised his portrayal of the characters, others were not as impressed. A fan expressed their “unpopular opinion” on Reddit in December 2018.
The fan opined that they were ardent Superman fans and believed that Hoechlin’s portrayal did not “come off as a powerful superhero.” This kind of mixed reaction, which could have lacked authority, may have made some studios hesitant to consider him for larger blockbuster leads.
5. Tyler Hoechlin Has Been Playing Similar Characters for Years
Hoechlin’s career has had a pattern since the beginning. His breakout film, Road to Perdition, was based on the first eponymous graphic novel from DC Comics. Although he did not play a superhero in the film, the fact that it was associated with DC was uncanny.
Then came his role as Derek in Teen Wolf. Again, this was not necessarily a superhero series; it featured supernatural themes. After his guest role in Season 6, he reprised his character in Teen Wolf: The Movie, which was released in 2023. He has also notably produced the film.
Hoechlin’s other most prominent role is Superman. Here is a list of the Arrowverse shows in which he has appeared as Clark Kent, even if his screen time was brief:
On one hand, this is a sign of his commitment to the role. On the other hand, it highlights the risk of being too closely tied to a single character, potentially limiting the variety of roles he is considered for.
Hollywood often typecasts actors, and Superman’s shadow looms especially large. While he has not publicly addressed this, there is a possibility that this is one of the reasons fans have not seen much of him lately. In fact, he even expressed an interest in starring as Batman in James Gunn’s DCU.
6. Tyler Hoechlin Has Switched Agencies
Hoechlin has officially made a career move off-screen, signing with Independent Artist Group (IAG) in August 2025 (via Deadline). The decision comes months after the conclusion of Superman & Lois. According to Booking Agent Info, he was previously represented by United Talent Agency.
The reason for this move has not been revealed publicly. That said, it suggests a strategic repositioning, stepping out from under the Superman mantle and looking toward roles that showcase his range beyond the superhero genre. His past agency could also be one of the reasons why he was creatively stuck.
7. Tyler Hoechlin’s Last Movie Did Not Perform Well
Hoechlin began appearing in ad-films when he was a baby and landed his first serious role in a video for Disney’s Sing-Along Songs at the age of 11. His first big movie role came in 2002, when he beat almost 2000 child actors for the character of Michael Sullivan Jr in Road to Perdition.
However, his movie career has not been the best lately. His last big screen project was the live-action film titled Teen Wolf: The Movie, which has a score of 32% on Tomatometer, while it has a rating of 5.6 out of 10 on IMDb.
It premiered on Paramount+ in January 2023, and even fans were not too impressed as the Popcornmeter score is 64%. This poor performance of the film casts a shadow on Hoechlin film career, which seems to be on hold on since the past two years.
Why do you think Hollywood is no longer casting Hoechlin in major roles? Share your thoughts below!
Superman & Lois is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video.
