Legends of Tomorrow (season 5)

The fifth season of the American television series Legends of Tomorrow, which is based on characters from DC Comics, premiered on The CW on January 21, 2020. The season consisted of 15 episodes, which includes the special episode produced for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover before the season premiere. It is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with the other television series of the universe, and is a spin-off of Arrow and The Flash. The season was produced by Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and DC Entertainment, with Phil Klemmer and Keto Shimizu serving as showrunners.

The season was ordered in January 2019. Production began that July, and wrapped in January 2020. Principal cast members Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Courtney Ford, Amy Louise Pemberton, Nick Zano, Dominic Purcell and Matt Ryan return from previous seasons, while Olivia Swann was promoted to the main cast from her guest status in season four.

Main

 * Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer / Atom
 * Caity Lotz as Sara Lance / White Canary
 * Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Charlie / Clotho
 * Tala Ashe as Zari Tarazi and Zari Tomaz
 * Jes Macallan as Ava Sharpe
 * Courtney Ford as Nora Darhk
 * Olivia Swann as Astra Logue
 * Amy Louise Pemberton as Gideon
 * Nick Zano as Nate Heywood / Steel
 * Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory / Heat Wave
 * Matt Ryan as John Constantine
 * LaMonica Garrett as Mobius / Anti-Monitor

Recurring

 * Shayan Sobhian as Behrad Tarazi
 * Ramona Young as Mona Wu
 * Adam Tsekhman as Gary Green
 * Sarah Strange as Lachesis
 * Joanna Vanderham as Atropos
 * Mina Sundwall as Lita
 * Lisa Marie DiGiacinto as Ali
 * Emmerson Sadler as Lita (ages 5 and 7)
 * Scarlett Jando as Lita (ages 8, 9 & 10)

Guest
• Sisa Grey as Wolfie

• Michael Eklund as Grigori Rasputin

• Ryan Elm as Nicholas II

• Luisa Jojic as Alexandra Feodorovna

• Adam Beauchesne as Kevin Harris

• Jonathan Sadowski as Bugsy Siegel

• Beth Riesgraf as Kathy Meyers

• Garrett Quirk as Freddy Meyers

• Seth Meriwether as Freddy Meyers (young)

• Kazz Leskard as Napoleon

• Terry Chen as Genghis Khan

• Madeline Hirvonen as Pippa

• Devyn Dalton as Púca

• Robin Atkin Downes as the voice of the Bulldog Cane

• Chris Robson as Prince Charles

• Neal McDonough as Damien Darhk

• Erik Gow as Mr. Parker

• Rowan Schlosberg as William Shakespeare

• Timothy Lyle as Jack the Ripper / Dr. White

• Ben Sullivan as Clyde Barrow

• Abby Ross as Bonnie Parker

• Sean Millington as Black Caesar

• Chris Gauthier as Henry VIII

• Peter Ciuffa as Marcus Junius Brutus

• Samantha Liane Cole as Enchantress

• *Marion Eisman as Mrs. Hughes

• *Stephanie George as Egyptian Handmaiden

• Andrew Morgado as the voice of Marchosias

• Drew Tanner as Dionysus / Dion

• Sisqó as Sisqó Animatronic

"Crisis on Infinite Earths"
• Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / Flash

• Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers / Supergirl

• Ruby Rose as Kate Kane / Batwoman

• Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning

• Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers

• Nicole Maines as Nia Nal / Dreamer

• Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent / Superman

• Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane

• David Harewood as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter

• Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor

• David Ramsey as John Diggle / Spartan

• Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake / Black Canary

• Rick Gonzalez as Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog

• Audrey Marie Anderson as Lyla Michaels

• Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow / Frost

• Tom Cavanagh as Nash Wells

• Osric Chau as Ryan Choi

• Reina Hardesty as Joss Jackam / Weather Witch

• Eileen Pedde as the President

• Raúl Herrera as Sargon the Sorcerer

• Marv Wolfman as himself

• Benjamin Diskin as the voice of Beebo

• Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow

Development
On January 31, 2019, The CW renewed the series for a fifth season. Phil Klemmer and Keto Shimizu serve as the season's showrunners.

Writing
The fourth season ended with Astra Logue restoring many notorious historical figures like Genghis Khan, Joseph Stalin and Charles Manson to life. Klemmer said these characters would be called "Encores" and have the villain of the week treatment, while the Big Bad of the season would not be demon-related, later revealed to be Lachesis and Atropos of the three Fates. He explained this was done with the intention of returning to the series' roots, of being rooted "more firmly in history and historical periods and figures and true villains". Klemmer added that the season would explore what Zari Tomaz would look like if she "lived a more charmed life" and did not come from a "dystopian, authoritarian future". The season also explores Zari's relationship with her brother Behrad Tarazi. Following the season four finale, the Time Bureau was shut down and its former director Ava Sharpe was left unemployed. The fifth season sees Ava living on the Waverider with her girlfriend Sara Lance, trying to figure out how she fits on the team. It continues to grow the "Avalance" relationship, and also features Sara developing the power of precognition.

Casting
Main cast members Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Amy Louise Pemberton, Courtney Ford, Nick Zano, Dominic Purcell and Matt Ryan return as Ray Palmer, Sara Lance, Charlie, Zari Tomaz, Ava Sharpe, Gideon, Nora Darhk, Nate Heywood, Mick Rory, and John Constantine respectively. This is the final season for Routh, Ford and Richardson-Sellers, with the episode "Romeo v Juliet: Dawn of Justness" marking Routh and Ford's final appearance as series regulars, while Richardson-Sellers departed after the season finale. Olivia Swann, who guest starred as Astra Logue in the fourth season, was promoted to the main cast for the fifth season. Ramona Young, who starred as Mona Wu in the fourth season, returned as a recurring guest star.

Filming
Filming began on July 15, 2019. The fifth episode of the season, "Mortal Khanbat", marks Lotz's directorial debut. Filming wrapped in January 2020. Despite the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" episode being the eighth episode filmed, the events of the episode occur before the rest of the season.

Arrowverse tie-ins
In December 2018, during the end of the annual crossover "Elseworlds", a follow up crossover was announced titled "Crisis on Infinite Earths" based on the comic book series of the same name. The crossover features Tyler Hoechlin reprising his role as Clark Kent / Superman from Supergirl, while Routh portrays another version of Superman. It took place over five episodes–three in December 2019 and two in January 2020, with Legends of Tomorrow's episode of the crossover airing in January. The Legends of Tomorrow episode is considered a special episode, and not the series' season premiere.

Broadcast
The season premiered on The CW on January 21, 2020. The season ran for 15 episodes, which included the special episode produced for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover before the season premiere.

Marketing
The first official trailer for the season was released on December 5, 2019.