After years of stalled attempts, Captain Planet is officially getting the live-action treatment. Netflix has swooped in and secured the long-awaited adaptation of the cult ’90s environmental superhero series, and this isn’t your Saturday morning cartoon reboot.
The new project comes from some heavy hitters: Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions (the mind behind DC’s Arrowverse and You), Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, and Warner Bros. Television. Tara Hernandez, co-creator of Mrs. Davis, has signed on to write the series, which is expected to reimagine the eco-conscious classic with a modern-day spin.
While details are still under wraps, sources say the tone will lean more grounded and character-driven, moving beyond campy nostalgia and diving into the very real environmental challenges of our time.
Created by media mogul Ted Turner, Captain Planet and the Planeteers followed five teenagers from around the world — Kwame, Wheeler, Linka, Gi, and Ma-Ti — who each wielded a magical ring that controlled one of the elements: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart. When their powers combined, they summoned Captain Planet, a blue-skinned, green-mulleted superhero who battled pollution, deforestation, and corporate greed.
The original animated series aired for six seasons in the ’90s and was way ahead of its time in spotlighting climate change, environmental racism, and the dangers of unchecked capitalism. And now, as the climate crisis has only intensified, the timing couldn’t be more relevant.
A live-action Captain Planet adaptation has been floating around Hollywood for years. Back in 2016, DiCaprio’s Appian Way teamed up with Paramount and tapped Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell to co-write a script (and potentially star). That version eventually fizzled, and the rights reverted to Warner Bros. Discover, but Powell reportedly remained passionate about the project throughout.
Now, the baton has been passed. While Powell isn’t involved in the Netflix version, his co-writer Jono Matt is attached as a producer, signaling some continuity of vision from the earlier iteration.
DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson will executive produce for Appian Way, alongside Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman for Berlanti Productions. With Netflix behind the wheel, the project has new momentum.
Netflix has yet to officially comment on the series or announce casting, but the hype is building. No word yet on whether the original voice cast will be involved or if we’ll get updated versions of villains like Hoggish Greedly or Dr. Blight. But one thing’s for sure: the return of Captain Planet is happening.
