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

In 2023, The CW made headlines by canceling a live-action series that reimagined the beloved *Powerpuff Girls* as adults. This morning, a teaser video that surfaced online offered a glimpse into what the show could have been, showcasing a darker and more mature take on the iconic characters. The footage, which was briefly available on the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters," was quickly taken down due to a copyright claim by Warner Bros. Entertainment.

The three-and-a-half-minute trailer set the stage for a series where Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have grown into young adults with complex lives. Blossom, portrayed by Chloe Bennet, is depicted as stressed and burnt out; Bubbles, played by Dove Cameron, struggles with alcohol; and Buttercup, acted by Yana Perrault, displays a rebellious streak and challenges gender norms.

The trailer's plot thickens as the trio accidentally kills a human named Mojo and subsequently flees Townsville. Years later, they return to visit their father, Professor Utonium, portrayed by Donald Faison. They find that Mojo's son, Jojo, has become the mayor of Townsville, brainwashed its citizens, and is plotting revenge against them. The trailer includes edgy humor, such as references to juggalos and suggestive remarks about Jojo's motivations.

While the footage has been confirmed by The CW to be genuine, it was not intended for public release. The live-action *Powerpuff Girls* project was first announced in 2020 but faced numerous challenges, including an unsuccessful pilot and the departure of Chloe Bennet, leading to its cancellation in 2023.

Reflecting on the project, CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz explained, "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."