CW's 'Powerpuff' Hasn't Been Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice as the Reboot Hits Another Snag
CW's live-action Powerpuff is hitting rock bottom once again. As per Variety, one of the show's stars, Chloe Bennet, recently stepped down from the lead role.
Bennet was supposed to reprise her role as Blossom Utonium, one of the three Powerpuff Girls, in the upcoming pilot episode of the reboot. As per a source close to the project, Warner Bros. Television wanted Bennet to play the role.
However, scheduling conflicts between her and the production team reportedly forced her to exit the show.
Bennet's exit marks the second hurdle that has come in the way of the live-action production. Previously, the pilot season of the series was scrapped, making way for the reboot.
About 'Powerpuff's Dismissed Pilot
CW initially announced the development of Powerpuff back in August 2020. The production team made the show based on Cartoon Network's famous animated series, The Powerpuff Girls, created by Craig McCracken.
However, the show couldn't get a series order. Following this, the company discarded the pilot on May 2021 and ordered a reboot.
The chairperson and CEO of CW, Mark Pedowitz, talked about the dismissal in an interview with TVLine on May 25, 2021. He shared the pilot didn't work because it might have felt too "campy."
He then stated they were giving it another shot for they could see the project's potential. Pedowitz believed in the cast, writers, and producers completely.
It didn't feel as rooted in reality as it might have. But again, you learn things when you test things out.
He also mentioned that the team agreed to return to the drawing board to get it right before presenting it to their audiences.
Famous writers Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody wrote Powerpuff, whereas Maggie Kiley had directed the original pilot. Regnier, Cody, Kiley, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden served as executive producers.
The Remaining Cast of 'Powerpuff'
In the original episode, Bennet played Blossom, the character with 'everything nice' ingredients.
Dove Cameron played Bubbles Utonium with the 'sweet' element, and Yana Perrault played Buttercup Utonium with the 'spice' factor.
Though Bennet won't be reprising her role, Cameron and Perrault are still attached to the show.
Other original cast members who might return for the reboot are Donald Faison (Professor Drake Utonium), Nicholas Podany (villain Mojo Jojo), and Robyn Lively (Sara Bellum.)
The live-action reboot will see the animated pint-sized superheroes as real human beings, disillusioned twenty-somethings who regret their childhood fightings.
Blossom will fight her repressed kiddie-superhero trauma amid anxiety and aim to be a leader once again. Bubbles, on the other hand, will exhibit her fame-loving persona with a surprising twist.
The show's final piece, Buttercup, would try to live an anonymous life despite her tough exterior.