“The Powerpuff Girls” could soon fly again. Variety has learned that a live-action version of the classic Cartoon Network series is in development at The CW.
In the updated version of the series, the titular superheroes are now disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime fighting. Will they agree to reunite now that the world needs them more than ever?
The project hails from writers and executive producers Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden will executive produce via Berlanti Productions. Warner Bros. Television will produce.
The original “Powerpuff Girls” was created by Craig McCracken. In that series, Professor Utonium accidentally created the elementary school aged super team of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup by combining sugar, spice, and everything nice with the mysterious Chemical X. The show ran for six seasons and 78 episodes between 1998 and 2005. “The Powerpuff Girls Movie” was released in 2002, while a rebooted animated series began airing on Cartoon Network in 2016.
Should the show go to series, it would check multiple boxes for The CW. The network and Berlanti have built up a large swath of superhero programming via the DC Universe, while also placing an emphasis on representation for people of color and women onscreen. The CW has also found great success in programming more adult-themed reboots of beloved IP, such as what they did with the Archie Comics franchise and “Riverdale,” another Berlanti production.
Regnier is currently under an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. Her past credits include the recent “Veronica Mars” revival, “SMILF,” “iZombie,” “Falling Skies,” and “Sleepy Hollow.”
She is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.
Cody is best known for writing the critically-acclaimed comedy feature “Juno,” for which she won the Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2008. Her other films include “Jennifer’s Body” and “Young Adult.” She also co-created the Amazon comedy series “One Mississippi” alongside Tig Notaro and Showtime’s “United States of Tara” starring Toni Collette.
She is repped by WME, MXN, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.