Back in 2023, The CW's ambitious project to transform the beloved animated series, the Powerpuff Girls, into a live-action show met an unfortunate end following a series of reported challenges. However, a recent teaser video has reignited interest by offering a glimpse into what could have been. This intriguing footage surfaced on the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters" before being swiftly removed due to a copyright takedown from Warner Bros. Entertainment.
The three-and-a-half-minute trailer sets the stage for a darker, more mature take on the iconic characters. It introduces us to Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as young adults navigating the complexities of life outside their childhood home. Blossom, portrayed by Chloe Bennet, is depicted as stressed and burnt out, while Bubbles, played by Dove Cameron, turns to alcohol to cope. Buttercup, brought to life by Yana Perrault, embodies a rebellious spirit and openly challenges gender norms.
The trailer follows the trio as they accidentally cause the death of a human named Mojo and subsequently flee Townsville. Years later, they return to visit their father, Professor Utonium, played by Donald Faison, only to confront Mojo's adult son, Jojo, who has become the mayor of Townsville. Jojo has brainwashed the town's citizens and seeks revenge against the Powerpuff Girls. The trailer includes edgy humor, such as Bubbles referencing juggalos and Buttercup's provocative comment about Jojo's vendetta against Blossom.
The CW confirmed to Variety that while the footage is genuine, it was not an official trailer meant for public viewing. The live-action Powerpuff Girls series was first announced in 2020 but faced cancellation in 2023 after multiple setbacks, including an unsuccessful initial pilot and Chloe Bennet's departure from the project.
Reflecting on the project's challenges, CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz stated, "The reason you do pilots is because sometimes things miss, and this was just a miss. We believe in the cast completely. We believe in Diablo [Cody] and Heather [Regnier], the writers. We believe in the auspices of Greg Berlanti and Warner studios. In this case, the pilot didn’t work. But because we see there’s enough elements in there, we wanted to give it another shot. So that’s why we didn’t want to go forward with what we had. Tonally, it might’ve felt a little too campy. It didn’t feel as rooted in reality as it might’ve felt. But again, you learn things when you test things out. And so in this case, we felt, let’s take a step back and go back to the drawing board."
