guides
What's Up With People Hating On The Live-Action 'Powerpuff Girls' Reboot? The Leaked CW Trailer Explained
The girlies from the iconic '90s Cartoon Network television show The Powerpuff Girls are back in the spotlight, but not for reasons sugar, spice and everything nice.
A leaked trailer for The CW's scrapped live-action reboot of The Powerpuff Girls has surfaced online, reigniting fan discourse that first erupted in 2020. But why all the fuss over an unaired pilot?
Here's a look at how the live-action show was first pitched to Powerpuff Girl fans and TV executives alike, and why internet users had such strong reactions to the leaks getting DMCA'd across Twitter / X and YouTube today.
When Did People First Learn About the Plans for a Live-Action 'Powerpuff Girls' Reboot?
News of a live-action Powerpuff Girls series first broke in August 2020 when Variety reported that The CW was developing a grittier adaptation of the beloved animated show.
This reboot aimed to portray Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup as disillusioned 20-somethings, grappling with the loss of their childhood to crime-fighting.
In August 2020, Twitter user and YouTuber Little Kuriboh made a post wondering why the show couldn't focus on Professor Utonium's attempts at being a good father to his girls, while @rosiehoya tweeted, "No one and I mean absolutely no one has watched the powerpuff girls and thought 'hmmm it would be even better as a live action series.'"
Despite the backlash, the project came to boast a notable creative team, including writer Diablo Cody and producer Greg Berlanti.
By February 2021, The CW had officially ordered a pilot episode, signaling a serious commitment to reimagining the iconic trio.
How Did People React to the Plans for a 'Gritty' and 'Dark' 'Powerpuff Girls' Reboot?
The announcement of a darker, live-action Powerpuff Girls was met with a mix of skepticism and outright horror. Fans took to social media to voice their concerns, questioning the necessity of a mature take on a show that thrived on its whimsical charm.
Some, like Twitter user @ManiiMade, felt that the original series already balanced childhood innocence with superhero responsibilities, making a gritty reboot redundant. Others worried that the series would villainize Professor Utonium, a man portrayed as an ideal and doting father figure in the original cartoon.
What's Up with People's Reactions to a Leaked CW Trailer for the Show?
Fast forward to March 2025, and the internet was abuzz once again as a leaked trailer for the canceled live-action reboot made its rounds.
The footage featured Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron and Yana Perrault as the titular trio, with Donald Faison (best known as Christopher Turk from Scrubs) portraying Professor Utonium.
However, instead of excitement or sadness at what could have been, the trailer was met with widespread criticism and mockery.
Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? We really dodged a bullet with this Powerpuff Girl live-action reboot. #ThisCantBeReal pic.twitter.com/ziZdBBCJIk
— TraditionalAnimation (@Traditional2D) March 6, 2025
Some internet users, like Twitter user @greatgavino12, pointed out the low-brow special effects employed by the creators or the show, likening it to a low-quality GIF that features Nostalgia Critic and Miranda Sings of all people.
Other viewers likened it to a parody, with comments highlighting its adult, campy tone and departure from the original's lighthearted yet moral vision.
The trailer's reception seemed to validate earlier apprehensions about the girls being aged up and problematized, reinforcing the sentiment that some reboots are best left on the drawing board or never thought up at all.
Still, many internet users joked about how they would happily hate-watch all eight seasons of the show, simply because of its IP value and how bad it could get.
For the full history of the The Powerpuff Girls Live-Action Reboot, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
