Chloe Bennet exits The CW’s Powerpuff Girls reboot series as the pilot is reworked. The original animated Powerpuff Girls has long been a fan favorite, which means there is a great deal of intrigue surrounding The CW’s attempt to revive it for live-action. The rebooted series, tentatively titled Powerpuff, was put into development earlier this year, with Greg Berlanti serving as an executive producer and Diablo Cody writing the script alongside Heather Regnier. Agents of SHIELD alum Bennet was later cast as Blossom, with Dove Cameron and Yana Perrault filling in the roles of Bubbles and Buttercup, respectively.
Production on the Powerpuff pilot began in April, with the three leads being glimpsed on set in costume soon after. However, in the following month, The CW put the series on hold and opted to rework the pilot. Network president Mark Pedowitz later described the original episode as a “miss,” though some wondered if online backlash to a leaked Powerpuff Girls script contributed to the decision. Nevertheless, The CW remained committed to reworking the series.
Though Powerpuff is still in the works, it will be without Bennet. According to Variety, Bennet has stepped down from the series, and casting for the part of Blossom will begin in the fall. Sources say that while Warner Bros. wanted to extend Bennet’s option as the pilot is reworked, scheduling conflicts got in the way and forced her to exit. Cameron and Perrault are still attached to the series, as is Donald Faison as the girls’ father Professor Utonium and the rest of the previously-announced cast.
Losing Bennet is a blow for Powerpuff; her superhero role on Agents of SHIELD led many to believe she would be perfect for the part of Blossom. Though the leaked script earned criticism for its outdated stereotypes and poor depiction of Blossom’s PTSD (which is said to be a part of her new arc), Bennet’s casting earned praise. Still, it’s perhaps a good sign that she departed due to scheduling instead of creative conflicts. It’ll be interesting to see who is cast as Powerpuff‘s third lead instead.
With the new Blossom casting not taking place until the fall, it sounds like the reworked Powerpuff Girls is still a ways off. The CW initially hoped to have the series air this fall, but when it was put on hold, it looked more likely that it could debut in either the spring or the next TV season entirely. Though this is a rocky start for the show, its obstacles are not insurmountable. As the casting and writing process continue, expect Powerpuff to remain a pilot of interest.
