DC's upcoming live-action Teen Titans TV series, Titans, has cast Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) as the superhero Dawn Granger aka Dove. An adaptation of DC Comics' younger superhero team was in development for sometime at TNT, but the network announced early last year that they decided not to pursue the project, citing script issues and superhero saturation in the market as reasons for their decision. Instead, DC Comics is launching their own streaming service, which will house not only Titans, but season 3 of Young Justice.
With filming on Titans season 1 set to begin this fall, the cast has been filling out in recent weeks. First, Teagan Croft joined as Raven, then Anna Diop was cast as Starfire, with Brenton Thwaites tapped for the role of Dick Grayson last week. Though it was specified the actor would portray Dick during his Robin days, fans have wondered whether Thwaites will suit up as Nightwing - the mantle Dick Grayson takes on in the comics after growing out of the role of Batman's sidekick. Today, DC has added two additional actors to Titans, with Alan Ritchson being cast as Hawk, and Kelly as Dove.
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Deadline is reporting that the Friday Night Lights alum has joined Titans as the recurring character of Dawn Granger aka Dove, one half of the superhero duo Hawk and Dove. Additionally, as with Ritchson's deal to play Hawk, there is an option for Kelly to become a series regular in season 2, or to co-headline a potential Hawk and Dove spinoff. DC has since confirmed the casting of both Kelly and Ritchson.
The pair of Hawk and Dove is described as "a crime-fighting, vigilante duo and romantic couple." While Hawk is the "aggressive, offensive bruiser," Dove's skills are more strategic and defensive. Although Ritchson falls in line with earlier reports concerning the frontrunners for Hawk and Dove on Titans, there were no rumors about Kelly being interested in the role. Instead, it was reported Rebecca Rittenhouse was the top choice to play this live-action version of Dawn Granger. Still, while Ritchson may have more superhero experience under his belt - having previously played Aquaman on Smallville - Kelly has done some action work on the short-lived Charlie's Angels reboot and FOX's Almost Human.
With the casting of Ritchson and Kelly, it would seem Titans has officially filled out their main superhero team - though Beast Boy has yet to be cast as well as more supporting characters. Written by Academy Award-winning scribe Akiva Goldsman, DC Entertainment President Geoff Johns, and Arrowverse architect Greg Berlanti, the series will follow Dick Grayson as he becomes the leader of a brand new superhero team. Given those involved behind the scenes and the strong cast assembled so far, Titans is proving to be an intriguing project.
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Titans premieres on DC’s streaming service sometime in the first half of 2018.