The CW's live action Powerpuff Girls pilot, now called Powerpuff, has cast Donald Faison as Professor Utonium. The reboot is based on Cartoon Network's beloved series by Craig McCracken, which originally aired from 1998 to 2005. When it was first announced back in August, it was clear the trio would be getting the classic CW treatment. Powerpuff positions the superhero trifecta as bitter twentysomethings who wish they hadn't missed out on a normal childhood due to crime fighting.
The pilot was trending in March after revealing their three leads: Dove Cameron (Descendants franchise) as Bubbles, Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Blossom, and Yanna Perrault (Broadway's Jagged Little Pill) as Buttercup. Powerpuff also has a powerhouse production team in writer-producers Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body), Heather Regnier (Sleepy Hollow), and CW staple, Greg Berlanti.
Variety confirmed that Faison (Scrubs) has signed on to play Professor Drake Utonium. The CW will depict the scientific genius, who created the Powerful Girls, in a quirky light. Faison's portrayal is described as debonair with a dash of vanity. While he's incredibly proud of his girls, it seems like their relationship isn't in the best place at the start of the series.
In the cartoon, Professor Utonium created Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup by accident when he combined sugar, spice and everything nice with Chemical X. He became a father figure to the three Bs, often giving them pep talks or encouraging them in a stereotypical parent fashion to do things like eat their veggies. It sounds like Faison's take will pay homage to McCracken's original character.
Faison is certainly no stranger to television or the Cartoon Network family. Among his extensive lists of credits, the actor lent his voice talents to the Adult Swim (Cartoon Network's late night alter ego) series Robot Chicken. His most recent live action television stint was ABC's short-lived primetime drama, Emergence. Of course, he's most known for his starring series regular role in all nine seasons of the hit sitcom, Scrubs. Oddly enough, he also has a distant link to the CW's Archieverse, having appeared in the 2001 Josie and the Pussycats movie.
Faison will no doubt bring his usual charm and comedic flare to the CW series, which hasn't yet been picked up for a full season. Under Berlanti Productions, Powerpuff is on track to receive the same kind of update as Riverdale and Nancy Drew. The CW has found much success in rebranding iconic content geared toward children into grittier young adult entertainment. The Powerpuff Girls franchise is a fertile ground to mine, as it already has an anime series, comic books, video games, and a 2016 cartoon revival under its green, pink and blue belt.
Source: Variety