Today we are greeted with another DC Universe streaming series announcement: Doom Patrol.
13 episodes and a 2019 debut.
Entertainment Weekly lists the official show description as:
Doom Patrol is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved group of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence — and to protect Earth from what they find. Part support group, part Super Hero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them. Picking up after the events of Titans, Doom Patrol will find these reluctant heroes in a place they never expected to be, called to action by none other than Cyborg, who comes to them with a mission hard to refuse, but with a warning that is hard to ignore: their lives will never, ever be the same.
What have we learned here? Well, if Doom Patrol spins out of Titans, that sounds a bit like the Marvel Netflix formula, doesn’t it? Past that, having Crazy Jane in there means it’s Morrison or later take on the team. Also means there’s probably going to be a heavy emphasis on universe building. Then again, this is all Greg Berlanti and he’s got the CW shows crossing over left, right and center. This should not be a surprise.
And if you wanted to be old school, back in the early ’80s, the Doom Patrol was reintroduced through the page of New Teen Titans, so there’s that, too.
If you’re taking bets on when this streaming service debuts, I’d guess Q3 or Q4 with Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol as the second wave of shows.