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Cartoon Network is Developing a Live-Action 'Captain Planet' Movie

by Ethan Anderton
July 19, 2011
Source: Deadline

It sounds like the powers of wind, water, fire, Earth and heart have finally come together in Hollywood as Cartoon Network and Transformers franchise producer Don Murphy and his Angry Filmworks production banner have announced development of a live-action feature film adaptation of the environmentally sound 90's cartoon series Captain Planet. Why is now the right time for the mullet-sporting hero to make a return? Producer Susan Montford says, "With the earthquakes, tornadoes, melting icebergs and all the other problems threatening the world right now, Earth really needs her greatest defender." Read on!

If you don't know what we're talking about, here's the opening credit sequence from the original cartoon:

For those unfamiliar with the series, it followed a group of young people called The Planeteers who combine their special powers to summon Captain Planet, an environmental superhero, to battle the world’s worst eco-villains. In tune with the show's theme of environmentalism, the young eco-warriors used rings that harnessed the powers of wind, water, fire, Earth and heart to call upon the titular hero. Star Trek franchise star LeVar Burton was part of the original voice cast and big names like Whoopi Goldberg, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen guest starred on the series from time-to-time. Hopefully some big names will get attached to this live-action feature too.

I suppose with all the green agendas and talk of global warming and other such environmental issues, Captain Planet can still be relevant. However, I'm not sure if there's a big enough audience that will be interested in a live-action film like this unless it was some sort of tongue-in-cheek parody of the original series, and I doubt that's what will happen. Either way, this hero is coming back in a big way, but the question is who will suit up as our environmental hero? If he wasn't already so enveloped as other heroes, I'd say Ryan Reynolds has the perfect blend of comedy and action experience to take on the role, but that probably isn't in the cards. What do you think?

Filed under Development, Movie News

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