Renewals for Titans and Doom Patrol are reportedly in doubt. Titans began life as the first scripted original on DC Universe in 2018, focusing on the eponymous superheroes led by Brenton Thwaites's Dick Grayson / Robin (now Nightwing) as they reform their titular group and fight crime across the United States. In 2019, Titans spawned the spinoff Doom Patrol, focusing on a team of outcasts who gain superpowers through tragic circumstances and transform into unlikely superheroes. Both the shows are part of the Arrowverse, although they are incorporated by leveraging the Multiverse as each is set on a different Earth.
After DC Universe was rebranded, both Titans and Doom Patrol switched base to HBO Max, where season 4 of each is impending. Considering their strong performance, viewers have been hopeful that shows will warrant more seasons at service, although a recent development has shaken their confidence. Earlier this month, after the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, HBO Max's nearly complete Batgirl movie was cancelled. Warner Bros. Discovery later issued a statement suggesting that it's course correcting its streaming release strategy to focus predominantly on theatrical releases. Since then, audiences have been worried about their favorite DC shows on HBO Max and on other platforms. Some of The CW's Arrowverse staples, including Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow, have already been cancelled, and the prospects for DC's HBO Max projects aren't looking bright either.
Now, a new report by Variety claims that the futures of Titans and Doom Patrol also hang in the balance. The decisions of their renewals will be reportedly announced when their new seasons air, although the adult-animated series Harley Quinn seems to be reasonably safe from cancellation.
The new report disputes earlier claims that Titans and Doom Patrol were safe despite speculation that additional DC properties were in danger at HBO Max. While viewership figures for Doom Patrol are not as transparent, Titans has been frequently cited among the most streamed shows in 2020 and 2021, with some metrics also indicating that during its season 3 premiere, it was the most viewed comic book show across all streaming platforms. Considering the shows' popularity and favorable reception, which has consistently improved every passing season, pulling them off-air could land WBD in hot water, putting the newly minted conglomerate at the center of backlash from DC enthusiasts. Some fans are already taking to social media to express their outrage and anxiety over Titans and Doom Patrol's potential cancellation, and if WBD proceeds with the rumored decision, it will surely face some severe flack from all around the world.
Confusion continues to loom over WBD's approach to DC's media franchise. There are conflicting reports all around, so any update should be taken with a grain of salt, considering the studio is still mulling over what to do with DC-based fare on HBO Max. Sources have suggested that planned TV projects like Green Lantern, Constantine, and The Batman's Penguin spinoff remain on solid ground and continue to move forward, while the future of some planned streaming movies like Supergirl and Static Shock remains decidedly bleak. Rumblings about Titans and Doom Patrol's cancellations are a part of this ongoing turmoil. But their fates would likely become clear once the details of WBD CEO David Zaslav's new 10-year plan for DCEU begin to unravel. Currently, WBD is scouting a Kevin Feige-esque figure to spearhead the DCEU, and it will likely be months before that position is filled. So taking that into consideration, viewers might need to hold tight to learn more about Titans and Doom Patrol's future, as a word won't likely come out for a while.
Source: Variety
