DC Studios Reportedly Working On A Live-Action Teen Titans Movie
The Hollywood Reporter just put out an exclusive story that announced the Teen Titans will be getting their own live-action movie at James Gunn/Peter Safran's DC Studios, written by Ana Nogueira (who is also writing 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' for the studio) and I'm really stoked about this one!
"But Robbie, you get 'really stoked' about EVERY comic book movie that comes out, you NERD!"
While I see where you're coming from there, dear reader, Teen Titans is a little different for me - and I think a lot of comic book fans around my age would agree!
Despite the Titans debuting in the 1960s, it hits the nostalgia bone extra hard for our generation because the Cartoon Network animated Teen Titans series that ran from 2003-2006 was massively popular with kids back then….and highly meme'd today.
I was between the ages of 5-8 in that time and thought it was the coolest show I'd ever seen. I had all the toys, all the apparel, the stuffed animals, the sleeping bag, the video game….hell, it was so good I'd dress up as Robin to play around the house and leave my Batman costume in the back of the closet! They had us idolizing and pretending we were the sidekicks! And it was awesome while it lasted.
Another series entitled 'Teen Titans: GO!' hit Cartoon Network 2013 (which of course led to a crossover between cartoons) and that one is still on the air and also very popular. It even got its own theatrically released movie in 2018, which I once watched in a hotel when I couldn't find the television remote - and it wasn't half bad! It has a ton of in-jokes and pokes and the greater DC Universe, but it's a little after my time (Cartoon Network-wise) so I'm not super familiar with it.
There's also a live action series called 'TITANS' that I never watched, which shockingly lasted four seasons (and 49 episodes!) considering it looked like a CW superhero show with the forced edginess of Bill Simmons saying "I believe billionaires should pay for their own fucking stadiums"….
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The second I heard Robin say "Fuck Batman" with the delivery of someone in a cheap porn parody in that trailer, I was out. I've heard some people defend it over the years, saying it got better over time, but it always looked like a couple piles of turds to me.
My point in saying of all of this being: I don't think the Teen Titans have been done justice (no pun intended) in a live action world just yet, but now is the perfect time. It's going to capitalize on the younger generation who grew up with the cartoons, the older fans who have been Titans readers since Nightwing wore a blue disco collar….
….and the casuals who will recognize Robin/Nightwing (whichever iteration they end up going with, probably Nightwing tho) from his connection to Batman.
Maybe you even cast Timothee Chalamet as Dick Grayson to watch all the ladies flocking to the theaters in droves as well….
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Fuck it, Zendaya as Starfire too. Let's just Dune it up!
Plus, if James Gunn is as involved in crafting the DC movies as Kevin Feige is the Marvel movies - you've got arguably the best ensemble superhero movie director of all time helping lead the way. Gunn can take this from a Young Avengers type of movie that gets met with eyerolls from the general public….
….to a Guardians of the Galaxy-level sleeper megahit.
The Titans always were cooler than the Young Avengers anyway, so they're starting with an advantage in my eyes.
I truly can't wait until James Gunn/Peter Safran's DC Studios is up and running and these projects start releasing, because everything that trickles out news-wise just makes me more and more excited/hopeful for a great live action DC Universe on the horizon.
P.S. I hope this Titans team features Cyborg. It felt weird seeing him with the Justice League after growing up watching him with the Teen Titans. Like he left his indie band we all loved to go