"Leaked Trailer Reveals Canceled Powerpuff Girls Live-Action Series"

In 2023, fans of the iconic animated series were met with disappointment when The CW canceled the much-anticipated live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls following a series of production challenges. Recently, a teaser video that gives a glimpse into what the series might have looked like was briefly shared on the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters" before being swiftly removed due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros. Entertainment. The intriguing three-and-a-half-minute trailer provided a taste of the darker, more mature take on the beloved characters.

The trailer introduced us to the grown-up versions of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, portrayed by Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault respectively. In this new world, Blossom is depicted as stressed and burnt out, Bubbles has turned to alcohol, and Buttercup has embraced a rebellious streak, openly challenging gender norms. The plot thickens as the trio accidentally kills a human named Mojo and subsequently flees Townsville. Years later, they return to visit their father, Professor Utonium, played by Donald Faison, only to find themselves confronting Mojo's now-adult son, Jojo, who has become the mayor of Townsville. Jojo has brainwashed the town's residents and is set on revenge. The trailer includes bold humor, with Bubbles joking about juggalos and Buttercup making a provocative remark about Jojo's feelings toward Blossom.

Official images of the three Powerpuff Girls from CW's live-action effort: Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet, and Yana Perrault.

The CW confirmed to Variety that the leaked footage is authentic but emphasized that this specific trailer was not meant for public consumption. The live-action Powerpuff Girls project was initially announced in 2020 but faced numerous hurdles, including an unsuccessful pilot that led to its eventual cancellation in 2023. CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz explained the decision, stating, "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."