Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: CW

  • Live-Action ‘Powerpuff Girls’ & Arrowverse ‘Justice U’ Spinoff No Longer in Development

    Live-Action ‘Powerpuff Girls’ & Arrowverse ‘Justice U’ Spinoff No Longer in Development

    It’s not too surprising, but the CW’s new leadership Nexstar is moving the company away from what made it popular. The broadcaster often created shows on a cheaper budget but also was the home for a wide variety of great classics like Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and many more. It was the last battlefront for traditional writer rooms and talent getting the opportunity to grow through the ranks while streaming made it quite a bit of a harsher environment.

    Now, we have the confirmation that Powerpuff, the live-action adaptation of Cartoon Network’s Powerpuff Girls, will no longer be reworked. After a failed pilot, one of its stars, Agents of SHIELD actress Chloe Bennet, did not reprise her role as an older Blossom. So, they tried to rework and start casting someone else in the leading role but nothing came of it for quite some time. Now, it has officially been laid to reset.

    The female-led Zorro series is no longer removing forward and they also canceled an Archie Comics spinoff focusing on Jake Chang. The bigger surprise is that the last battlefront for the Arrowverse to continue beyond The Flash’s final episode, John Diggle-focused spinoff Justice U, is also disbanding. An era is truly coming to an end alongside the last remnants of former CW president Mark Pedowitz’s. They might sell these projects to other studios, but it does seem unlikely as of now.

    Source: TVLine

  • CW Cancels ‘The Winchesters’ and ‘Kung Fu’

    CW Cancels ‘The Winchesters’ and ‘Kung Fu’

    CW is ready to enter a new phase of its lifespan, as it slowly starts moving away from the network shows that made it what it is today. Many expected that they will start axing shows left and right, as they are now under the new leadership of Nextstar and the rollout of cancelations has begun. The first victims of the new regime: the Supernatural spinoff The Winchesters and Kung Fu.

    It’s not all bad news, as All American and Walker have been renewed for the 2023 to 2024 season, which puts Nexstar on its goal to make it profitable by 2025; something the network is famous for never being. Supposedly, we might not see more than two to four series airing a season on the network which is quite a step down from its usual network offerings.

    Some big shows have been on CW like Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girls, Supernatural, The Flash, 7th Heaven, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris, Gilmore Girls, and many more. Now, the future looks rather bleak for the network as they cut down greatly with some series still on the fence with supposedly only three shows getting a renewal.

    They are likely going to bring back only one of the two DC shows with Superman & Lois being the bigger one, but it is also quite pricey compared to the cheap Gotham Knights; supposedly the cheapest show they ever produced, and not too surprising given its more street-level focus. They already have some of their biggest shows wrapping up this season with Riverdale, Nancy Drew, and The Flash but it’s unclear if they will roll out more series once CW is profitable, or if they will simply stick to fewer and fewer scripted shows as times goes on as they also haven’t ordered any new pilots during this development cycle.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Hellraiser’ Star Joins CW’s ‘Gotham Knights’

    ‘Hellraiser’ Star Joins CW’s ‘Gotham Knights’

    DC Studios has been busy reshuffling its future franchise to focus on projects that’ll crossover in multiple ways to establish one unified DC Cinematic Universe. Yet, there are still a few projects too far into development that is still going to see the light of day. We all expected The Flash and the Aquaman sequel to release in theaters, but many were surprised that Gotham Knights was given a series order after all on the CW.

    Even going by the first trailer, the project seemed like a far cry from what makes a Batman series what it is. Plus, CW was currently undergoing its own major management shift that’ll reshape the broadcaster’s future endeavors, as they seemingly move away from their usual release schedule. Still, Gotham Knights endured and it looks like we’ll see Hellraiser star Doug Bradley join the production in an iconic DC role.

    While he’s not one of the biggest of Batman’s Rogue’s gallery, Joe Chill definitely left the biggest impression given he was the one that killed Bruce Wayne’s parents. He’ll be featured in the upcoming sixth episode, as he is scheduled to be executed after sitting on death row for fifty years. Yet, it seems Gotham’s “Patron Saint of Bad Guys” won’t let his secret die with him. Series co-creators Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux, and Natalie Abrams had the following statement to share on his casting.

    When casting the iconic role of Joe Chill, arguably the man who created Batman, there was only one name we considered – Doug Bradley. We needed an actor with the kind of gravitas that would do justice to such a seminal character in DC Comics canon. And who better to embody the role of the classic Gotham fiend than the man whose legendary portrayal of another classic fiend – Pinhead in the Hellraiser franchise — continues to terrify generations of horror fans?

    Bradley definitely knows how to leave an impression with his performance, though it does seem like their take on Chill might be quite different from the man we’ve seen many times throughout cinematic Batman history. We’ve seen many variations of the character, one even ending up as Joker himself in Tim Burton‘s original Batman film. So, we’ll see what Gotham Knights has in store for us.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Superman and Lois’ Won’t Get Canceled According to New DC Studios Heads

    ‘Superman and Lois’ Won’t Get Canceled According to New DC Studios Heads

    Everything was on the chopping block until a few hours ago when the official line-up for DC Studios’ new take on the DC Cinematic Universe was unveiled. No longer where the TV shows and movies compete with each other but rather establish a more coherent experience moving forward. Yet, it seems that they aren’t completely dropping every project after all.

    In an interview with Variety, they have seemingly hinted that Superman and Lois will still go on for “one to two more seasons.” It would also match that they wrap up production on the series just as Superman: Legacy would be making its way to theaters. As such, they can keep the series running until they finish work on their new take that’ll truly kick off the DCU.

    Funny enough, it seems they have no comment in regards to Gotham Knights, the latest CW series whose first season is set to premiere on March 14th. Given that this series seemingly has little to do with its titular inspiration, the series has been dead on arrival. Still, who knows if it’ll find an audience after all as it is the most removed from the usual superhero fare.

    In an era where Doom Patrol and Titans got canceled, it is great to see some series survive to carry on the legacy. The long-running Arrowverse series The Flash is also coming to an end and likely the entire TV spinoff series with it. What that might mean for the future still remains to be seen as some series will remain canon while others aren’t. So, we’ll have to see if the DC Studios logo will be that signifier moving forward.

    Source: Variety

  • Jon Cryer Pitched a ‘Legion of Doom’ Arrowverse Spinoff Series

    Jon Cryer Pitched a ‘Legion of Doom’ Arrowverse Spinoff Series

    Jon Cryer may be famous for his time on Two and a Half Men, but he also gave us a memorable run as Lex Luthor in the Arrowverse series. He was first introduced in Supergirl before becoming a mainstay and a big part of its Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover series. In a surprise reveal, it seems like Cryer also wanted to lead his own series as he reveals in a tweet that he pitched a Legion of Doom spinoff series.

    While villain-focused projects are seldom, it’s kind of surprising that this never picked up any pace or even that CW wasn’t interested. Cryer was a household name and it would’ve stood out from the other projects in development. Though, it’s unclear if this may have happened around the time CW was already pulling back on its various projects especially with Superman and Lois moving away from the Arrowverse to tell its own story.

    Lex Luthor has become a popular addition to various projects, as we recently got Titus Welliver in the role of Titans and the recent casting of The Walking Dead star Michael Cudlitz in the role of Superman and Lois. We’ll also get a new version in the upcoming live-action Superman film in development from James Gunn, which will likely become the de facto version of the new DC Universe moving forward.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    DC’s Stargirl will not be renewed for a fourth season on the CW. According to a report by Deadline, the series will conclude following the Season 3 finale on December 7th, joining Nancy Drew, The Flash and Riverdale as CW network series that have been canceled since Nextstar Media Group assumed control following an acquisition in early October that saw them take ownership of 75% of the company.

    The trade report indicated that the writing team of the series was tipped off at the potential for the cancellation of the series, allowing for them to craft a fitting ending for the series rather than leaving it in limbo. Geoff Johns, who created the character in 1999 and has served as the showrunner of the CW series, gave the following statement:

    Stargirl has always held a special place in my heart for many reasons. With all the brewing changes at the network, we were aware this was possibly the last season, so we wrote with that in mind and have delivered what I believe to be the best season of Stargirl yet, with complete creative closure. The cast and crew are extraordinary, and I’d like to thank them for helping me bring this series to life. Brec embodied Courtney in every way possible — with grace, strength and humor — exceeding my wildest expectations. I am grateful to WBTV and The CW for giving us a home to tell this story and to honor my beloved late sister, and I’m beyond thankful to the press and fans who have always championed us for three amazing seasons. Most series never get this far. We couldn’t be more proud of our show and the fan community it’s built!

    Geoff Johns

    Star Brec Bassinger, who portrayed lead character Courtney Whittmore/Stargirl for three seasons also shared her thoughts on the series coming to an end.

    Getting to play Stargirl and be a part of the DC Universe has been the greatest honor, and I am so grateful for every moment of it. I would like to thank our fearless leader Geoff Johns, along with WBTV, The CW, the cast and crew of Stargirl, and of course, the fans. Thank you. This show will forever live in my heart.

    Brec Bassinger

    With DC’s Stargirl and The Flash coming to an end, only Superman & Lois remains alive as DC content on the CW, though its future is reportedly up in the air as well. Johns already has his next project in line with an adaptation of his Image Comics’ series Geiger in the works at Paramount.

    Source: Deadline

  • David Ramsey’s CW Arrowverse Series ‘Justice U’ Still in Development

    David Ramsey’s CW Arrowverse Series ‘Justice U’ Still in Development

    The CW’s future has been a big question mark for some time. As Warner Bros. Discovery seemingly was restructuring its future projects, it was unclear just how they’d keep their CW network going. As it turned out, they simply decided to give up their majority stake in it and are focused on still producing shows for the network.

    Still, quite a few of their DC shows are slowly coming to an end with the big question being if we can expect more in the future. Among them was a project spearheaded by Arrow veteran David Ramsay titled Justice U and it seems that he’s offered a little insight into where the project currently stands with TVLine.

    We’re on the second draft of a script, and we just closed the deal on a writer. I’m not sure I can say her name, so I won’t, but we’re very close to submitting our second draft. It’s still in development, and we’re moving forward.

    David Ramsey

    So, it seems like they are still working on it and they are still in the early script phase. This isn’t the same scenario as what we saw with Powerpuff, which had an entire pilot filmed before they decided to move on from the project; with still no update on where exactly it stands currently. So, we’ll have to see until they start confirming production starts on a pilot.

    Source: TVLine

  • Brec Bassinger May Have Confirmed a Rumored ‘Stargirl’ and ‘Titans’ Crossover

    Brec Bassinger May Have Confirmed a Rumored ‘Stargirl’ and ‘Titans’ Crossover

    Warner Bros. Discovery is going through a bit of a transitional period as of right now with many projects up in the air for now. Many were wondering if this would also affect shows like Titans, Stargirl and Doom Patrol following the plug being pulled on quite a few projects. Luckily, it seems they aren’t done with these series yet.

    With recent news that the fourth season of Titans would premiere in November, Stargirl actress Brec Bassinger teased that she could be making her way to the blue-filtered world. In the past few weeks, we have seen a few rumors hint at a crossover between Geoff Johns‘ series, Titans, Stargirl, and Doom Patrol, which would all come together as a culmination of the past few years. it seems Brec has all but confirmed that.

    Below you’ll see a recently shared photo of Bassinger suited up as Stargirl alongside Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, who if you look close enough can see he looks to be wearing an all-new suit and finally shed that dreaded jacket.

    Details on this crossover still remain under wraps and it’s unknown just how the Titans cross paths with the citizens of Blue Valley. Seems like the Titans could meet their universe’s version of Courtney, as they head back to San Francisco considering the two shows were confirmed to be taking place on different earths within the new DC Multiverse, which was created following the events of the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths event.

    It remains unknown just who from the Titans and Doom Patrol cast will appear and just where this crossover will even happen. Both Titans and Doom Patrol season 4 have wrapped filming with Titans set to debut sometime in November.

    Source: Twitter

  • REVIEW: ‘Stargirl’ 3×03: “The Blackmail”

    REVIEW: ‘Stargirl’ 3×03: “The Blackmail”

    A period of change can be incredibly stressful for any person, whether you’re trying to find a new job or if you’re uprooting your entire life. You never know where it might lead you. Yet, what happens when that big period of change is being buried alive? Well, Sylvester Pemberton is living that very nightmare and Stargirl has certainly flipped the veteran hero’s life upside down.

    The episode dives deeper into the suspects on the board that was set in the last episode. This time around it shifts its focus onto the Crock’s, as the team finds out that they’d been blackmailed by the Gambler for months. A little more of the Crocks is never a bad thing though, one of the best choices they could’ve made was bringing back Neil Hopkins and Joy Osmanski for season 3. The two just have great chemistry together as they somehow have this perfect harmony when interacting with each other.

    The reintroduction of Starman has been a surprisingly classic fish out of water story. Joel McHale works incredibly well as an out-of-touch, grizzled hero who just doesn’t know what his place in the world is anymore. The parallels between him and Courtney, as well as how they choose to act with the power of the Cosmic Staff gives the show an interesting balance.

    Fans will also find some enjoyment in a perfectly choreographed fight sequence within a grocery store. With that worryingly impulsive nature, Starman takes things into his own hands to confront the Crocks, leading to an dynamic and incredibly pleasing scuffle between him and the duo of Sportsmaster and Tigress.

    The stunt team for this series deserves some insane recognition for what they managed to put together. It’s one of the best aspects of the show that they continously improve upon and push the limits of whats possible for these characters. The dual style that Sportsmaster and Tigress have mastered truly makes this sequence pop the way it does.

    The best way to watch this season is to get into the mindset as if you’re watching an experiment unfold, seeing how these characters continue to coexist as if they’re reactive materials that could easily lead to an explosion at any time. In a way, it feels like a whole new way to enjoy the veteran show on CW.

  • Nexstar Acquires 75% Stake of The CW

    Nexstar Acquires 75% Stake of The CW

    We’ve reported on it some time ago, but there were hints that The CW was potentially going to have a new owner. It looks like it has finally been confirmed as the Nexstar Media Group is currently set to acquire a 75% stake in the broadcast network moving forward.

    As such, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will still retain a 12.5% stake ownership in the CW. It also means they will continue to produce scripted content for the network, but it’s unclear just how much that’ll be the case moving forward. It also seems that the leadership won’t change with Mark Pedowitz set to remain as CEO of the CW.

    There are no financial terms disclosed but it seems that a big part of this company acquisition is Nexstar taking over the CW’s debt rather than the usual “upfront considerations.” It’s a big move for the company, which includes quite a few local TV stations and even the cable network NewsNation. If you’re worried this might spell the end of the CW, it seems they intend to once again put the network on the ma

    Source: Deadline