Netflix Revives Captain Planet with Live-Action Series from Greg Berlanti and Leonardo DiCaprio

Netflix is bringing back the 90s favorite Captain Planet, but this time as a live-action show. The series is being developed by Greg Berlanti’s production company, Berlanti Productions, together with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television, Deadline reports.

Tara Hernandez, who co-created the show Mrs. Davis, is writing the new adaptation of the original animated series, Captain Planet and the Planeteers. The cartoon, which ran for six seasons starting in 1990, followed five teenagers working with the superhero Captain Planet to fight against environmental problems.

Appian Way and DiCaprio have tried to bring Captain Planet to the screen before. In 2016, there was a planned live-action movie at Paramount Pictures, with Glen Powell co-writing and possibly starring, but that project never happened.

The rights later returned to Warner Bros. Discovery. Powell remains interested but is not involved with this new series. Jono Matt, who worked on the old movie script, is producing the new show.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson from Appian Way will executive produce, alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman from Berlanti Productions. Netflix did not comment on the project.

Ted Turner created the original series, which was produced by DIC Enterprises and Hanna-Barbera. It became famous for its focus on environmental issues and teamwork.

Greg Berlanti is no stranger to superhero stories. He created the popular DC Universe shows on the CW network. This Captain Planet series is Berlanti Productions’ second big project adapting a classic Warner Bros. animated series for Netflix, after their upcoming Scooby-Doo origin show. Berlanti also co-created the hit Netflix thriller You.

Besides Captain Planet, Berlanti Productions is working on several other shows like NBC’s Brilliant Minds and the CW’s All American. They also have projects in development for Apple, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way is known for its focus on environmental films and documentaries, including Emmy-winning projects like The Path of the Panther and Ice On Fire. They also produce the children’s animated show Ozi: Voice of the Forest.

Tara Hernandez has a long history in TV, working on The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon before co-creating Mrs. Davis. She is represented by WME, while Berlanti Productions and Appian Way are with CAA.

This news was first shared by Deadline.

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