'Smallville' fans rejoice! Lex Luthor is back!

Last week disappointed fans were coming to terms with news that Michael Rosenbaum wouldn't be returning as Lex Luthor for the series finale. Well, now it seems Rosenbaum was listening to the wailing and gnashing of teeth, as he's changed his mind. Was it our own Brad Trechak's 'Open Letter' that did it?

In an interview with TVLine.com, Rosenbaum confirmed that he's signed a deal to play Superman's archnemesis in the two-hour season finale. "I'm delighted to return for the series finale," he said. "I'm simply doing it for all of the fans out there who made 'Smallville' the great success it is. I appreciate all of their passion, their relentlessness, and even their threats. Ha ha."

Rosenbaum continued, "I can't wait to hug the old crew back in Vancouver one last time and see all of my old friends once again. Oh, and for Lex to become the bad-ass he's destined to be."

'Smallville' executive producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson said, "It feels like the stars are aligning, literally. We couldn't be more excited. And as far as the way he returns ... there'll be no doubt about how Lex becomes the great rival in Clark Kent's life. He is the villain of the story."

Rosenbaum's return was considered by many to be the missing piece of the drama's tenth and final season, which has welcomed back cast members such as John Schneider and Annette O'Toole (as Jonathan and Martha Kent) and John Glover (Lionel Luthor).

Laura Vandervoort will take a break from alien invasion duties to reprise her role as Supergirl in one of the final episodes, and Callum Blue confirmed that he'll be back as Zod. Even so, wrapping up the series without Lex Luthor seemed just so, well, wrong.

Every superhero has to meet his nemesis and, despite the months of uncertainty surrounding Rosenbaum's plans, there's been a season-long storyline strongly hinting at the supervillain's return. When the final season was announced, 'Smallville' star Tom Welling said exactly what many were thinking: "With Clark propelled into being Superman, how do you do it without a Lex Luthor? That just doesn't make sense to me."

Now, thanks to fan power, we won't have to find out.

The 'Smallville' series finale airs May 13 on The CW.