Powerpuff Girls fans criticise gritty new live-action reboot in development at CW

Forthcoming series will show the beloved pint-sized superheroes as 'disillusioned teenagers'

The brand new Powerpuff Girls, coming in 2016 (Cartoon Network)

The Powerpuff Girls is getting an edgy live-action reboot and fans are not thrilled.

In the updated version of the beloved cartoon, the titular superheroes will have grown up to become “disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime fighting”.

According to Deadline, Diablo Cody, who previously helmed films including Juno and Jennifer’s Body, will be teaming up with writer Heather Regnier – previously Sleepy Hollow and the recent Veronica Mars revival – on the reboot for The CW.

Fans of the original, however, were quick to voice their scepticism when the news broke on Twitter.

One user wrote in a post that has received nearly 11,500 likes: “No one and I mean absolutely no one has watched the powerpuff girls and thought ‘hmmm it would be even better as a live action series.’”

Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body' (20th Century Fox)

Another said, “CW is actually making live action Powerpuff Girls and they’re going to be depressed adults? Can’t have s*** in 2020.”

While a third referenced the show’s previous revival, stating, “Because if the failed reboot didn’t drive a nail into the franchise’s coffin, then maybe a dark, gritty live action series on the CW that nobody asked for will.”

The original animated series, created by Craig McCracken, aired on Cartoon Network from 1998 to 2005. The show received a reboot in 2016 and ran new episodes up until last year.

The Powerpuff Girls followed three pint-sized pink, blue and green superpowered sisters – Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup – as they fought off villains in the fictional city of Townsville.

Although the synopsis for the live-action series sees the girls become jaded teenagers, it also hints there will still be plenty of crime-fighting too. “Will they agree to reunite now that the world needs them more than ever?”