It’s finally happened. The long-lost footage of The CW’s ill-fated live-action Powerpuff Girls reboot has leaked online, and let me tell you — it’s a hot mess. After watching the trailer that briefly surfaced on YouTube before Warner Bros. swooped in to ‘scrub it from existence’, I can confidently say: we dodged a bullet.
When were they going to make a live action version of Powerpuff Girls?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, back in 2021, The CW network decided it would be a great idea to take the beloved animated show, Powerpuff Girls, and reimagine them as disillusioned twenty-somethings grappling with trauma, fame, and existential dread.
As Variety reported, the network ordered a pilot starring Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault as the grown-up versions of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.
The plot is truly so random. After accidentally killing Mojo Jojo (yes, that Mojo Jojo, reimagined as a human), the girls go their separate ways. Blossom disappears, Buttercup becomes a firefighter, and Bubbles heads to Hollywood. Seven years later, they reunite to face Mojo’s son Jojo Jr., who has brainwashed Townsville and become its mayor.
You can watch the leaked trailer here:
What happened to the live action remake of the Powerpuff Girls?
On paper, this reboot had some serious talent behind it. We’re talking Oscar-winner Diablo Cody, Veronica Mars writer Heather Regnier, and Arrowverse guru Greg Berlanti. But somewhere between concept and execution, the project became a flop.
Apparently the CW initially tried to salvage the project after the first pilot didn’t land, with then-CEO Mark Pedowitz admitting to Variety that it was “a miss”, saying it felt “a little too campy” and not grounded enough in reality.
Even Dove Cameron (Bubbles) admitted to Entertainment Tonight in June 2021 that they were reshooting because getting the tone right was a struggle: “It’s so specific… we’re removing some elements and replacing others.” Spoiler alert: they didn’t get it right.
The internet is not impressed
As you’d expect, the online reaction to the leaked footage has been brutal. Most have compared it to a SNL skit, a weird parody movie or a car crash.
One YouTube commenter summed it up nicely: “They did my childhood show dirty… but then again at least it was cancelled.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. A few brave souls admitted they’d have watched out of sheer morbid curiosity. One even reckoned it “looked self aware” and “could have been alright”. I too wish to be this level of delulu.
If you think I’m being too harsh, that’s totally fair. Not everyone has the same sense of humour, but I just wanted to see my childhood girlies have some justice, you know?!
I think it’s safe to say not everything needs a reboot. Please take notes literally every single person in Hollywood!
At least Townsville fans can rest easy. Your childhood memories are safe — for now.
Lead image: CW / X
