With so many old-fashioned animated TV shows having made the jump to the big screen in recent years, the news that Captain Planet is getting a cinematic makeover shouldn’t come as too big a shock.
Cartoon Network is joining forces with production company Angry Filmworks to begin development of a live-action Captain Planet movie, based on the popular environmental superhero animated series from the early 1990s.
Angry Filmworks is headed by producer Don Murphy and his partner, Susan Montford. Murphy worked behind the scenes on all three of Michael Bays’s Transformers movies, while both he and Montford are involved with this year’s other giant robot action flick, Real Steel.
For those of you unfamiliar with Captain Planet (or who have blocked memories of the series from your mind), here’s some background information on the show, from Cartoon Network’s official press release:
In an effort to inform younger viewers about serious environmental issues, legendary cable entrepreneur Ted Turner partnered with DIC Enterprises in 1990 to create the world’s first animated environmental series, “Captain Planet and the Planeteers.” The series was about a group of young people who combine their special powers (The Planeteers) to summon Captain Planet, an environmental superhero, to battle the world’s worst eco-villains.
“Captain Planet and the Planeteers” premiered in fall 1990, airing domestically and internationally in syndication and on cable networks TBS and TNT. Six full seasons of the series were produced in the original run of the series, featuring the voice talents of multiple guest celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg (Gaia), Meg Ryan (Dr. Blight), Martin Sheen (Sly Sludge), Edward Asner (Hoggish Greedly), James Coburn (Looten Plunder), Dean Stockwell (Duke Nukem) and Sting (Zarm). Winning multiple Environmental Media Awards across its production, “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” also scored several Daytime Emmy nominations.
As you undoubtedly picked up from that description, Captain Planet was never a subtle show when it came to teaching younger viewers about how to properly care for the environment and be responsible about their use of natural resources. Despite its overly-preachy nature, the old-school animated series was indeed a big hit back in the ’90s. Nowadays, it mostly just has nostalgic value (good and bad) for the generation of people who grew up watching it – like the majority of animated shows that are being turned into feature-length productions.
A Captain Planet movie would likely be an effect-heavy production that uses modern CGI and digital animation to realize the powers of The Planeteers (who can controls elements like earth, wind, fire, water, and…um, heart, with their magical rings) and the titular flying super-powered hero, on the big screen. So imagine a film that combines computer-generated effects from films like The Day After Tomorrow, The Last Airbender, and Superman, and you’ll have a rough idea of what a Captain Planet movie could offer, in terms of visual spectacle (for better or for worse).
While Transformers was both a major marketing tie-in success and hit animated TV series before it was turned into a live-action franchise, Captain Planet was only ever the latter. Expect the eventual box office returns for the film adaptation to reflect that difference.
Source: Cartoon Network
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It is officially impossible to parody Hollywood now.
I couldn’t take this show seriously when I was a kid in the 90s. I’m supposed to want to see it now? I mean, the only thing this show ever taught me was how ridiculous environmentalists tend to be.
This has Fail written all over it….and for the actor who has to play the kid who has the power of Heart……we shead a tear for you sir…by the way I totally expect Jaden Smith to be in this
I loved the Captain Planet show, because the villains where so awesome! I’ve always been a fan of Nicolas Cage style over acting and the villains of this show where basically the only way to get that on Saturday morning. They where all so over the top. If they get Mickey Rourke in a Hawaiian shirt for Duke Nukem, they have my money already.
Also, given how far left leaning the show was, what are the odds they go all out and make Captain Planet gay?
What’s funny is I was totally thinking about being a Planeteer for Halloween this year, my best friend has even agreed to be Captain Planet. Of course I want this movie to happen! I don’t want it to suck, but I expect the effects will still be awesome. Come on now, nobody watched Transformers for much more then the cars that turned into robots, so as long as Captain Planet is a good enough film with great dialogue, this film will not be the FAIL that some of you want it to be.
This among some of the dumbest of things I’ve heard in a long time. It’s cheap Superman ripoff made environmentalist. I want clean air and water too, but this stuff makes me want to dump a bunch of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunantly, someone did that for me.
It’s not going to be about cleaning the air or the water, it will be aboug Global Warming and how we have to destroy our economy, our society or will be killed by this thing that may or may not happen.
They’ll blame Tsunami’s on Global Warming, despite the fact that it was earthquakes that caused those.
That and this cartoon was lame even by Filmation standards.
Doug ftw!
if the movie gets made, I pray it’ll be preachy like the cartoons. it’ll make for great comedy.
Eleven men died in the Gulf oil spill. One of them was a high school classmate and friend of mine. That incident is not funny in any way. Your comment…”this stuff makes me want to dump a bunch of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunantly, someone did that for me.”…is NOT appropriate IN ANY WAY.
Fantastic news! Now a new genration of kids/People can endure seeing how crappy monty’s power ring is/was.
Clap hands my friends! Clap Hands.
Yes! Msybe they will nake Attack of the Killer Tomatoes next!
….sarcasm…
Air with more carbon dioxide traps more heat than air with less. Much more carbon dioxide is being released than ever before. Is this negatively harming the enviroment? Up for debate, but global warming is happening as a direct result of human impact.
….
Do you really want to start that here?
And, no. It’s not.
The earth goes through cycles. Look up data other than what the ideologues want to feed you. Take into account both sides and formulate your own opinion rather than spewing the rhetoric of of just one side.
We are not doing anything to better our planet, but it’s hubris to think that we can change the global climate. Volcanoes do more harm than we do.
Ouch. Anyway, It’s already started. Just thought I would throw some scientific fact into this debate. Clearly your not interested. My opinion is my own. I doubt yours is.
This started out as a comment section on wether or not this idea would make a good movie. I was just giving my informed opinion on the matter as others have already started this debate, if you were paying attention. And its not hubris to think that we can make a difference. Every action has an opposite and equal reaction.
Yeah cause its not like plants need carbon dioxide!
This is hilarious.
I liked Captain Planet, but some things just weren’t meant to be more than a cartoon.
you couldn’t have said any better. Hollywood.
Attention Cartoon Network – SAMURAI JACK please.
Captain planet has disaster written all over it unless if its a parody like the brady bunch movie. But i agree Samurai Jack movie would be awesome to see!
Kids movie or not, judging by the environmental debate going on in the comments it will definitely have people talk.
When I was younger for some reason I associated Capt Planet with MacGyver lol
It’s the mullet.
Worst idea ever.
Here’s a promise: If they name the film “Captain Turdsausage” I’ll give them my $10 and watch it.
WARNING: Sarcasm ahead..
This makes absolute sense especially in this day and age where so many are doubting the depletion of the ozone layer, I mean with so many doubting global warming, no thats not right either; with so many doubting Climate Change, that is doubting the climate is changing because of the air we exhale; wait a second, that doesn’t sound right either. I go it now.
This makes total sense to do with so many currently doubting that climate change is bad, not believing that its mans fault and that we need to be taxed heavily and have those proceeds go to the IMF so they can create neutral carbons to counter those we create when we exhale, and so enter the 90′s animated carbon crusader, Captain Planet and the Planeters.
I heard they will need to update him ( moving from save the ozone layer mode to Climate Change is your fault mode ) to make the Captain Planet look appeal to the iAdd generation. I hear his costume will have short piffy messages all over like “Meat Is Evil”, “Tax Your Part” and much needed “IMFISAOK”.
In all seriousness, of all the possible source material from popular animated shows from just the 80s and 90s to draw upon, how can anyone look at this proposed Captain Planet project and not see this as carbon tax propaganda? Its bad enough Hollywood can’t simply entertain without all the political correctness but a CP movie takes it to a whole new level.
Im not sure about this. I liked the show some. From what i remember as a kid, it was one of those shows i watched while i waited for another show that i really liked on another channel to come on. To pass the time cause nothin else was on i liked better probly. I only liked the planeteer with the Fire ring outta the group while the rest i found boring & Captain Planet of-course was good but from what i remember from the show, he’d only be seen for what, 5 or 10 mins at most cause those group have to have their rings together to summon him? I remember a few villains, one kinda looked like Hobgoblin, another looked like the Thing, & a female villain reminds me of Talia Al Ghoul, only blonde hair w/ a hair cut. I can imagine Captain Planet being completely cgi like Silver Surfer was, maybe. Anyways, im not sure what to say about it but im sure people will talk more & more about it as more about the film developes & comes out.
honestly, this? where is Voltron!!!!
I think that at some level this just might work. Sort of like a re-imagining of the cartoon with a mature point of view. I just hope they don’t take 1 and a half hours and preach about eco-responsibility. Give the Planeteers some character.
I will watch this out of sheer curiosity but if theyre gonna go old school action cartoons on us then how about some Bravestarr, Silverhawks, Thundercats or He Man already!?
@ Scarecrowe
Months ago, didn’t they cancel a Thundercats live-action film for the time being? They’ve done He-Man already, Piss poor job of it i must say, excuse my choice of words. But read they plan a remake/reboot? of it. I loved the cartoon but never saw the movie till few years ago cause i never knew they made a live-action one back then & wouldn’t matter knowing my parents wouldn’t let me see it probly. It was awful imo. I seen a fair amount of bad movies people bring up about like Batman & Robin, Star War prequels, etc but imo Masters Of The U As niverse is among the worse that tops such films ive listed. As Phil mentioned a day ago, some things just weren’t meant to be more than a cartoon. I have to agree. I have to admit id be skeptical about a live-action Captain Planet film, aswell as a He-Man remake.
Paul Walker can make an awesome Captain Planet and I think he will be a great actor playing the Earth’s Greatest Hero saving the People from turbulent disasters. I say Paul Walker can star in Michael Bay’s Live Action CAPTAIN PLANET film. Lets give him a High 5
Ooh, in the end they should reveal that Captain Planet is really a child molestor and all of this was just a trick to get the kids to join up with him… Teach kids a REAL moral of the story, do not trust a guy in tights that offers you a ring in order to join his adventures…
If the Deadpool solo film is dead, Ryan Reynolds might be a good choice. Captain Planet isn’t a comic book character is he or didn’t start off as one least of all?
It’s not dead.
Everytime i look at the picture above, i miss watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I thought about buying a multi-regional dvd player so i buy season sets.
Soo … Is Screenrant gonna cover the Voltron movie that’s about to be made as well?
Wally they just added all 18 seasons of Power Rangers to Netflix streaming, as for the 80s Masters of the Universe movie i dont even count that bag of crap. Masters of the Universe would make a sick movie if done right, think Thor meets Lord of the Rings.
@ Scarecrowe18
Im not familiar with Netflix. After a hour search for good multi- regional dvd player i bought one yesterday. I never watched the 80′s Masters Of The Universe again after one time. If they remade/rebooted id have to read alot of great things about it to convince me to see it. I agree it would be great if done right in the right hands. Like the Robocop reboot, i might get bashed & the director probly wouldn’t be interested but id like to have James Cameron take over the Robocop reboot after he’s done with Avatar sequels. With the success he had the Terminator films, im sure he could do the same with Robocop. Thats just my opinion.