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

In 2023, The CW decided to pull the plug on a highly anticipated live-action series that reimagined the beloved animated classic, the Powerpuff Girls. The show was set to follow Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as grown women navigating the complexities of adult life. However, the project faced numerous challenges, ultimately leading to its cancellation. Recently, a teaser video emerged online, offering a glimpse into what could have been, and it has stirred up quite a bit of conversation.

The video, which appeared on the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters," was quickly removed due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros. Entertainment. The three-and-a-half-minute trailer introduced viewers to the adult versions of the iconic trio: Blossom, portrayed by Chloe Bennet, dealing with stress and burnout; Bubbles, played by Dove Cameron, struggling with alcohol; and Buttercup, brought to life by Yana Perrault, embracing a rebellious streak and challenging gender norms.

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

The trailer's plot sees the sisters accidentally causing the death of a man named Mojo and subsequently fleeing Townsville. Years later, they return to visit their father, Professor Utonium, portrayed by Donald Faison. Upon their return, they discover that Mojo's son, Jojo, has grown up to become the mayor of Townsville, has brainwashed its citizens, and is out for revenge against them. The trailer includes some edgy humor, such as Bubbles joking about juggalos and Buttercup making a crude remark about Jojo's animosity towards Blossom.

The CW confirmed to Variety that the footage is genuine, though it was never intended for public release. The live-action Powerpuff Girls series was first announced in 2020 but faced significant hurdles, including an unsuccessful initial pilot and the departure of Chloe Bennet from the project.

CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz reflected on the decision to cancel the show, 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."

The leaked teaser has reignited interest in what could have been a fascinating, if controversial, take on the Powerpuff Girls, leaving fans to wonder about the potential of this bold reimagining.