The project is a collaboration between Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Productions, Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way, and Warner Bros. Television, with Tara Hernandez (Mrs. Davis, The Big Bang Theory) writing the script.
The original animated series, created by Ted Turner, ran for six seasons (1990–1996) and followed five teenagers from different continents who, armed with magic rings and the powers of nature, summon the hero Captain Planet to tackle global environmental problems.
The first three seasons were produced by DIC Enterprises, the last three by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. The series became a symbol of climate awareness in children's television.
The project has a long history of development. In 2016, a live-action film was planned at Paramount Pictures, with actor Glen Powell co-writing (and potentially starring) alongside Jono Matt. However, that version never materialized, and the rights reverted to Warner Bros. Discovery. Powell is not involved in the Netflix version, but Matt will remain on board as a producer.
The new series will have a modern twist—although specific details remain under wraps. With Tara Hernandez as showrunner, the goal is to both maintain the nostalgia and update the story for a new generation of viewers. Her recent work on Mrs. Davis demonstrates her ability to tell genre-bending stories with socially relevant themes, which aligns well with the core message of Captain Planet.
For both Berlanti Productions and Appian Way, this project fits within their existing creative direction. Berlanti has previously built an impressive television superhero universe at The CW (including Arrow and The Flash (2014)) and is currently developing a Scooby-Doo live-action series for Netflix.
While Netflix has not yet issued an official statement, the project appears to be in good hands with experienced producers and a strong creative vision. Expectations are therefore high for this long-awaited reinterpretation of a classic.
