The CW Cancels Even More In-Development Projects
The CW continues cost-cutting by canceling four in-devolpment projects, including the final Arrowverse spin-off.
Following the Nexstar acquisition, The CW network has revealed the discontinuation of several projects that were in the developmental stage before the takeover. TV Line reports that among the shows that have been canceled are the live-action revival of The Powerpuff Girls, along with other series such as Justice U, a female-centric Zorro adaptation, and Jake Chang, a show that was to be based on the fresh Archie Comics character. Unfortunately, all these projects will no longer progress within the network.
Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment at The CW, has announced that the network has decided to return these projects to the studios, allowing them to explore alternative paths for development and potential sales. Prior to this announcement, Schwartz provided insight into a development slate curated by Nexstar. The upcoming lineup of The CW includes a sequel series to The Librarians, a show titled The Great American Bakeover, Patti Stranger: Millionaire Matchmaker, and an unscripted procedural called The Force.
The CW granted a pilot order to the reboot of Powerpuff Girls, simply named Powerpuff, in February 2021, following the project’s announcement in August 2020. The series was set to star Chloe Bennett as Blossom, Yana Perrault as Buttercup, Dove Cameron as Bubbles, and Donald Faison as Professor Utonium. In May 2021, Schwartz told reporters that the pilot did not proceed to full series, but he expressed the network’s intention to make modifications while retaining the same creative team and cast.
Powerpuff encountered a series of obstacles, notably including a leaked pilot episode script that received negative feedback from fans of the original cartoon. Furthermore, in August 2021, it was revealed that Chloe Bennett had left the project. However, despite these hurdles, the show persisted in active development at The CW as of July 2022.
David Ramsey was slated to reprise his role as John Diggle from The CW’s Arrowverse in Justice U. The plot would have revolved around his character, who, having fought alongside masked heroes for years, embarked on a fresh mission to recruit five young metahumans. These recruits would then assume undercover identities as freshmen at a renowned university.
After initially being pursued by NBC, the female-led Zorro series found its way into development at The CW in February 2022. The project was spearheaded by renowned filmmakers Robert Rodriguez and Rebecca Rodriguez, who has directed episodes of Snowpiercer and The Chi. The show was still in the process of finding its leading lady.
The CW initiated the development of Jake Chang, a live-action series centered around a newer character from the Archie Comics universe, in June 2022. This standalone show was intended to be separate from The CW’s existing adaptation of Archie Comics, Riverdale. Described as an Asian-American-led mystery, the series would have revolved around a young private investigator as he navigates Chinatown’s culturally vibrant and ever-changing landscapes.
With new ownership at The CW, it was anticipated that significant changes would be on the horizon. However, the current lineup of upcoming shows does not generate the same excitement as the projects on which the network has pulled the plug. Nonetheless, we’ll reserve judgment until we have the opportunity to witness these new shows firsthand.
