Powerpuff, the live-action adaptation of The Powerpuff Girls, has cast Mojo Jojo’s son. The adaptation will follow Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crimefighting. This leads to the question of whether the trio will agree to reunite now that the world needs them more than ever. Powerpuff will be c0-written by Diablo Cody, who wrote Juno and Jennifer’s Body, and Heather Regnier. Maggie Kiley, who has helmed a number of television dramas, will be in the director’s chair.
The CW pilot has already filled out important roles. Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault have been chosen to portray Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup respectively. And, more recently, it was revealed that Scrubs star Donald Faison will play Professor Utonium. The latest casting news offers some details on a new character.
According to Variety, Nicholas Podany will appear in Powerpuff as Joseph “Jojo” Mondel Jr. As a nerdy kid, power-hungry, and insecure, Jojo formed an obsession with The Powerpuff Girls in spite of his father’s grudge against them. Now an adult, Jojo finds both his sweetness and rage in constant battle. Podany is a Juilliard graduate, who previously had guest roles on shows such as Heart of Dixie and Archive 81. He also starred as Albus Potter in a Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Mojo Jojo is arguably the leading antagonist of the animated show. The character, a mutant chimpanzee voiced by Roger L. Jackson, was once Professor Utonium’s lab assistant. Referred to as Jojo back in those days, he accidentally pushed Utonium towards the container for Chemical X which gave Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup their powers. It also gave Jojo his intelligence and the ability to experience new emotions like envy and inferiority, which he directed at the Powerpuff Girls for stealing the attention of Utonium. It’s possible that the pilot will pull and expand on this thread, pitting Mojo Jojo against Utonium while his son finds himself conflicted about the trio that are meant to be his adversaries. At the same time, as fans of the Cartoon Network classic will know, Mojo Jojo is a complicated character that has even helped to save the world.
From the brief description of Podany’s character, it seems as though Powerpuff could be setting up the sort of star-crossed romance that would be familiar to CW viewers. On the other hand, it’s possible that despite Jojo’s potential for kindness, his obsession and sense of insecurity will nudge him in the direction of villainy. By adapting such a popular animated franchise, the live-action series has a lot of pratfalls to avoid. But, if it’s executed well, it could also experience the sort of immense popularity that Riverdale enjoyed early in its run. For now, the casting announcements will offer both defenders and detractors plenty to speculate over.
