Lost CW Trailer for Powerpuff Girls Surfaces and Raises Eyebrows

LOS ANGELES, California — A long-lost trailer for the CW‘s controversial live-action adaptation of ‘Powerpuff Girls’ has emerged online, intriguing fans and fueling debates about the show’s potential. The trailer, which runs three and a half minutes, showcases the dynamic between the titular characters, now portrayed as troubled adults, and hints at a storyline rife with dark humor and unconventional themes.

Initially announced in 2020 with high hopes, the series was set to star Chloe Bennet as Blossom, Dove Cameron as Bubbles, and Yana Perrault as Buttercup. However, following a change in leadership at the CW and significant creative challenges, the project was shelved despite having completed filming for a pilot.

The released trailer was shared by Lost Media Busters, a YouTube channel dedicated to uncovering unreleased media, but has since faced a takedown notice from Warner Bros. due to copyright issues. In light of this, many fans are taking to social media to express their bewilderment over the series’ direction.

The narrative, as teased in the trailer, presents the Powerpuff Girls navigating their chaotic lives in their twenties—an unexpected divergence from their childhood heroics. According to the trailer, the girls have become reclusive and disillusioned with their past lives, with moments hinting at personal struggles, such as Bubbles grappling with alcohol issues.

“If we take the characters that were widely adored and depict them as millennials coping with adult life, we invite a unique twist,” said an industry source familiar with the project, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “But if the execution results in a lack of comedic depth, that’s a significant concern.”

Despite the problematic execution, some aspects of the show piqued interest. The trailer included millennial-centric humor and a plotline surrounding the girls’ complex relationships, such as Jojo’s son harboring vengeance against the professor for circumstances surrounding Mojo Jojo’s demise.

Mark Pedowitz, the chairman and CEO of the CW, stated prior to the cancellation that the network had hopes for the series, aiming for reworkings after an initial response indicated the pilot “felt a little too campy.” He noted, “It didn’t feel as rooted in reality as it might have.” Pedowitz’s commitment to the project provided a glimmer of hope, but after further review, the decision to halt production was made.

The now-viral trailer has resurrected nostalgia for the original animated series while simultaneously exposing the pitfalls of adapting beloved childhood icons into live-action narratives. Critics argue that even if the reimagined show had been flawed, it would have fostered discussions about identity and adulthood among its audience.

As fans reminisce about the Powerpuff Girls from their childhood, the released footage serves as a reminder of what could have been—a curiosity in the realm of lost media that inspires both mockery and nostalgia.