Leaked Trailer of Canceled Live-Action ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Sparks Debate

LOS ANGELES, CA — Footage from the canceled live-action ‘Powerpuff Girls,’ which stars Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, Yana Perrault, and Donald Faison, has emerged online, reigniting interest and sparking mixed reactions among fans. The CW confirmed to Variety that the leaked footage is authentic, although a final trailer was never completed before the series was scrapped.

The trailer, released on social media platforms Thursday, showcases the Powerpuff Girls in a much darker, adult context than the beloved animated series. The presentation features Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as young adults facing real-world challenges after their youthful heroics.

In this reimagining, Blossom (Bennet) is characterized as perpetually stressed, while Bubbles (Cameron) resorts to drinking, and Buttercup (Perrault) exhibits rebellious behavior. A key plot point reveals an incident where the trio accidentally kills Mojo Jojo, leading to a fallout that separates the girls for several years.

“I’m not wearing that dress anymore, it’s gender normative and ass ugly,” Perrault’s Buttercup declares in a moment that illustrates the show’s attempt to tackle modern themes.

After a seven-year hiatus, the Powerpuff Girls reunite to confront Mojo Jojo’s vengeful son, Joseph “Jojo” Mondel Jr. (Nicholas Podany), who has risen to power as the mayor of Townsville. The trailer climaxes with the girls saving their city and Father, Professor Drake Utonium (Faison), while dealing with new societal circumstances.

“Oh God, they’re all possessed. This is exactly like the gathering of the Juggalos,” Bubbles quips, humor proving to be a central theme of the series, albeit one that some find contentious.

In comments on social media, reactions have been polarizing. Some fans celebrate the nostalgic aspect of seeing the characters while others feel the tone has strayed too far from the charm of the original cartoon.

CW’s cancelation of the series followed the pilot’s filming in 2021, which encountered numerous setbacks, including a major overhaul before production was halted. CW Chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz previously stated, “The reason you do pilots is because sometimes things miss, and this was just a miss.” He acknowledged the creative team’s talent but cited the pilot’s failure to resonate.

While the series was intended to explore deeper life struggles of the trio, early responses suggest that the humor and dark twists may not align with what fans expected from the franchise. “Fans are both glad the show never saw the light of day and morbidly curious about what it could have been,” commented industry sources.

The trailer has since been removed by Warner Bros. following its leak, but not before amassing millions of views. The wave of engagement points to enduring interest in a live-action adaptation, reflecting a dynamic conversation about the responsibility of reimagining childhood favorites.