The DCU’s Teen Titans Should Copy One Thing From The Team’s Controversial TV Show

DC’s recently announced Teen Titans project has a lot of excellent source material to take inspiration from, but it should also look to one of its least well-received iterations for guidance. At first, this may seem like bad advice, given how much good source material there is for the team. The DCU version of the Teen Titans will likely take inspiration from DC Comics, and the Teen Titans have also had popular TV adaptations like Titans and Teen Titans.

Apart from projects specifically named Teen Titans, the DCU could also look to popular projects like the early seasons of Young Justice for how to effectively tell stories about young heroes. With such a wealth of well-respected stories, it would seem like the upcoming DCU movie would do best to steer clear of any more controversial versions of the team. However, there is one aspect of the Teen Titans that one of the team’s least-loved versions arguably did just as well if not better than other adaptations.

Teen Titans Go! Remembered To Appeal To Younger Audiences

Teen Titans Go! (2013) Was A Reimagining Of Teen Titans (2003)

Teen Titans Go! was a Cartoon Network series featuring the titular team that included the same characters and voice cast as the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon. Despite having some of the same talent and recurring characters, the show was criticized by fans of the original show for its stark difference in tone. Whereas the original Teen Titans was serious with some comedic elements, Teen Titans Go! was much less serious and much more invested in making its young audience laugh. It didn’t help that Teen Titans Go! came out after Cartoon Network canceled the much-loved Young Justice show.

Though some felt that Teen Titans Go! should have been a more faithful continuation of the 2003 series, in truth, it was the right move for DC and Cartoon Network. Audiences who had grown up watching the original series would have been 10 years older, and much less likely to tune into Cartoon Network consistently. Teen Titans Go! was wisely designed to appeal to a younger generation of potential fans, and it is this aspect of the show that the DCU should apply to their Teen Titans movie.

While the DCU movie’s target audience shouldn’t skew as young as Teen Titans Go! did, it would still be smart for DC to try and appeal to younger viewers. After all, a teen-centric movie will already have some built-in appeal for younger viewers, so DC should lean into it. There is also no shortage of DC projects aimed at older audiences.

The DCU Already Has Several Adult Oriented Projects

Two Upcoming DCU Projects Exclude Younger Viewers

DC is wasting no time creating content that is strictly for adult viewers. The first official DCU project, Creature Commandos, has been described by star Frank Grillo as a “hard-R” rated project. Likewise, Peacemaker’s first season existed in the same ratings territory with its inclusion of harsh language, nudity, and extreme violence. Peacemaker also tackled heavier subjects like the cycle of violence and the way Chris’ father’s hateful ideology influenced his outlook on the world, making the show just as much for adults due to its maturity as its gratuity.

With several projects that are specifically aimed at older audiences already in the works, DC would be smart to do some counter-programming to cover a wider range of potential audience members. While Superman and The Brave and the Bold will likely not be as graphic as Peacemaker, it will most likely try to appeal to the widest range possible as opposed to honing in on a younger audience. This means that Teen Titans is DC’s best chance at attracting younger fans, something that could be crucial to the longevity of the DCU.

The DCU Teen Titans Movie Can Help DC Succeed Where Marvel Is Failing

Marvel’s Recent Theatrical Release Struggled To Attract Young Audiences

The Marvel Cinematic Universe recently showed the detrimental effects not attracting a younger audience can have on superhero movies. The Marvels struggled to attract Gen Z viewers and did much worse at the box office than its predecessor, Captain Marvel. This is a problem that will likely only get worse if not addressed, as Gen Z viewers make up larger portions of key demographics going forward.

DC would be smart to start laying a foundation for younger viewers early so that they will continue to follow the cinematic universe as it develops. Not only would this give the fledgling DCU a chance to fly, but it would also potentially give them an edge over Marvel if the MCU doesn’t address this issue soon. DC’s Teen Titans movie is perfectly positioned to be a project that younger viewers would care about, so DC should make sure they don’t let this opportunity pass them up.