CW’s ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Live-Action Footage Leaks: Bubbles Is Drunk, Buttercup Hates ‘Gender Normative’ Costume and More From Canceled Show
CW's canceled live-action 'Powerpuff Girls' footage leaked online.
In 2021, The CW network made a bold move by ordering and shooting a live-action pilot for 'Powerpuff Girls', a well-loved animated series from Cartoon Network. This live-action adaptation starred Chloe Bennet as Blossom, Dove Cameron as Bubbles, Yana Perrault as Buttercup, and Donald Faison as their creator, Professor Drake Utonium. Unfortunately, despite the promising cast and a fan-followed concept, the series never made it to television screens as it was canceled. Details around this decision were scant until recently, when leaked footage provided a glimpse into what might have been.
The footage, which appeared on YouTube, reveals a dramatic reimagining of the familiar characters as young adults. Sources close to CW confirmed the authenticity of the leak, though they clarified the footage was never meant as a final trailer. Instead, it might have come from a third-party vendor, possibly rejected by CW during its preparation for the TV upfronts. There's speculation that it might have been part of Warner Bros. TV's preparations for screenings at events such as Comic-Con.
Within this leaked content, viewers were introduced to the grown characters who are facing adult problems. Blossom, played by Bennet, is depicted as perpetually stressed, while Cameron's Bubbles handles her challenges with alcohol, even being shown vomiting in a trash can. Buttercup, portrayed by Perrault, displays a strong rebellious streak, criticizing her costume as "gender normative and ass ugly." This distinct departure from their cartoon portrayals offered an intriguing but controversial take on a classic series.
A pivotal plot point in the series involves the trio's confrontation with an adult human version of Mojo Jojo. Their accidental killing of him sets off a chain of events, leading to drastic changes in their lives: Blossom runs away, Buttercup becomes a firefighter, and Bubbles moves to Hollywood. Mojo Jojo’s son, Joseph "Jojo" Mondel Jr., portrayed by Nicholas Podany, rises to political power, becoming Townsville's mayor and brainwashing its citizens. The situation sets the stage for an inevitable reunion and showdown between the superheroes and Jojo Jr.
Despite the promising foundation laid by its creators, including Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier, the pilot was ultimately overhauled and reshot. CW's chairman and CEO, Mark Pedowitz, remarked on the decision, acknowledging the cast's talent and the strong creative team but citing the pilot's failure to resonate tonally. "The reason you do pilots is because sometimes things miss," Pedowitz stated. "In this case, the pilot didn't work... Tonally, it might’ve felt a little too campy."
Sources: Variety, ComicBook.com, Entertainment Weekly