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 for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover that precedes 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 Tomaz and Zari Tarazi
 * 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

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

Guest
• Sisa Grey as Wolfie

• Michael Eklund as Grigori Rasputin

• Adam Beauchesne as Kevin Harris

• Callum Airlie as Edgar

• Haley Strode as Jeanie Hill

• Jonathan Sadowski as Bugsy Siegel

• David Diaan as Mr. Tarazi

• Clayton Chitty as Sullivan

• Mitra Lohrasb as Nasreen Tarazi

• Beth Riesgraf as Kathy Meyers

• Seth Meriwether as Freddy Meyers (young)

• Alice Hunter as Natalie Logue

• Terry Chen as Genghis Khan

• Robin Atkin Downes as the voice of the Bulldog Cane

• Madeline Hirvonen as Pippa

• Neal McDonough as Damien Darhk

• Rowan Schlosberg as William Shakespeare

• Jack Gillett as Declan

• Timothy Lyle as Jack the Ripper / Dr. White

• Ben Sullivan as Clyde Barrow

• Abby Ross as Bonnie Parker

• Marion Eisman as Mrs. Hughes

• Drew Tanner as Dionysus / Dion

• Sisqó as Sisqó Animatronic

"Crisis on Infinite Earths"
• Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor (Earth-38)

• Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / Flash

• Rick Gonzalez as Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog

• Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake

• Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning

• David Ramsey as John Diggle / Spartan

• Tom Cavanagh as Nash Wells

• Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow and Frost

• Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers

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

• Nicole Maines as Nia Nal / Dreamer

• Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent / Superman (Earth-38)

• Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane (Earth-38)

• Ruby Rose as Kate Kane / Batwoman

• Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers / Supergirl

• Osric Chau as Ryan Choi

• Reina Hardesty as Joss Jackam / Weather Witch

• Audrey Marie Anderson as Lyla Michaels

• Eileen Pedde as the President

• Stephen Amell as the voice of Oliver Queen

• Marv Wolfman as himself

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. Tala Ashe, who portrayed Zari Tomaz in seasons three and four, returned this season as Zari Tarazi, a new version of the character from an altered timeline while Zari Tomaz returned in a reduced capacity.

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. Although the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" episode was 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 Arrowverse 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 the Earth-38 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 concluding the crossover. The Legends of Tomorrow episode is considered a special episode, and not the series' fifth-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.