CAPTAIN PLANET Live-Action Series Heading to Netflix

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Although Captain Planet may not be familiar to you since he’s been absent for approximately 25 years, he was a legendary hero who aimed to eradicate pollution completely. If he had stayed active after his cartoon series ended in 1992, following its 113 episodes from 1990, he might have achieved his ambitious goal. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Notably, Ted Turner teamed up to create Captain Planet and the Planeteers, an animated series, with a mission to make environmentalism more appealing. The impact of this show has been mixed, but it hasn’t deterred fans from wanting a revival. As reported by Deadline, the latest endeavor to bring him back is a live-action series on Netflix, produced by Greg Berlanti and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.

Since 2016, DiCaprio has been trying to produce a feature film based on that property. The script was written by Jono Matt and Glen Powell, who you may recognize from other projects. Originally, this project was with Paramount Pictures. However, unfortunately, the movie never came to fruition. Eventually, the rights to the property reverted back to Warner Bros, who had acquired the Turner catalog long ago. This is why Warner Bros owns properties like the Hanna-Barbera library, for instance.

In this upcoming series, Tara Hernandez, the co-creator/executive producer of Mrs. Davis, will be taking on writing duties. DiCaprio, along with Jennifer Davisson from Appian Way, will serve as executive producers, together with Berlanti Prods.’ Berlanti, Schechter, and Redman, for the live-action Captain Planet series. Although Powell is no longer part of the project, reports indicate that Matt will also take on a producing role.

The popular TV show “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” debuted as the 90s began, coinciding with a strong push by environmental groups for Earth’s clean-up. Back then, the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” was often heard. The show’s creation involved Ted Turner and Barbara Powell, an activist and filmmaker. The storyline centered around five young characters from different parts of the world, each gifted a ring by Gaia, the Earth spirit. These rings could summon earth, fire, wind, water, and heart (not an element but a symbolic fifth force). When faced with pollution-related crises that were too much for them, they could combine their powers to bring forth Captain Planet.

Using Ted Turner’s funds, they managed to recruit well-known actors for the roles of eco-villains in the series during its initial season. Notably, Jeff Goldblum, Meg Ryan, James Coburn, and Martin Sheen lent their voices to the villain characters. However, as the show began to lose some of its novelty, other voice actors stepped in to continue the roles. LeVar Burton provided the voice for the team’s leader, Kwame, while Whoopi Goldberg and Margot Kidder shared the role of Gaia.

The release date for the series on Netflix remains unknown, along with potential cast members. What’s creating a buzz is if Captain Planet will retain his iconic flat-top hairstyle.

Kyle Anderson, Senior Editor at TopMob, hosts the weekly pop culture podcast Laser Focus. You can find his movie and TV reviews here. Connect with him on Letterboxd.

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2025-07-18 01:33