The Powerpuff Girls (2024 film)

The Powerpuff Girls is a 2024 American live-action/computer-animated superhero film based on the Cartoon Network animated series of the same name by Craig McCracken. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti, produced by Neal H. Moritz and Craig McCracken and written by Chris Viscardi and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller based on a screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. A remake of the 2002 film The Powerpuff Girls Movie, the film stars James Marsden, Millie Bobby Brown, Kiernan Shipka, Sadie Sink, Hailee Steinfield, Selena Gomez, Jim Carrey and Dylan O'Brien, with Amanda Leighton, Kristen Li and Natalie Palamides as the voices of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup respectively.

All is sunshine and rainbows in Chicago, when a portal springs open and shoots out three small girls, named Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Dr. Moody, an evil, villainous scientist, was back in town, threatening to destroy the Powerpuff Girls - the three girls' alias - and keep them away from the public eye indefinitely. With help from Jerry, a local reporter in the city in Illinois, the Powerpuff Girls set out on a heartstopping mission to save Chicago from Dr. Moody's wrath.

A remake to The Powerpuff Girls Movie was originally announced in 2004 following the commercial failure of the latter film. Originally in a bidding war between Viacom and TimeWarner, the first of the latter acquired the shareholding rights to the franchise in July 2004, with development planning to begin in September. However, after negotiations with Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing, TimeWarner purchased the rights to The Powerpuff Girls in December 2004, though had announced they had indefinitely cancelled the film.

The film was given the green light in 2021, with the idea of it being a blend of live-action and animation, similar to those of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Smurfs and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Principal photography commenced in June 2022 in Chicago, Illinois, with additional filming in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Original Film, the animation was produced at Reel FX Animation Studios and Mikros Image, with DNEG and Moving Picture Company providing visual effects. The film's animation workforce totaled over 140,000 employees across the globe.

The Powerpuff Girls was originally scheduled for release in June 2023, but was pushed to April 2024. Premiering at the El Capitan Theatre on April 2, 2024, the film was theatrically released in the United States on April 12, 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2D, 3D, RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, 4DX and Dolby Cinema formats.

Synopsis
All is sunshine and rainbows in Chicago, when a portal springs open and shoots out three small girls, named Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Dr. Moody was back in town, threatening to destroy the Powerpuff Girls - the three girls' alias - and keep them away from the public eye. With help from Jerry, a local reporter in the city in Illinois, the Powerpuff Girls set out on a heartstopping mission to save Chicago from Dr. Moody's wrath.

Main cast

 * James Marsden as Jerry, a reporter. He will bring his charisma and professionalism to the role.
 * Hailee Steinfeld as Dr. Moody, a villainous scientist who is determined to destroy the Powerpuff Girls.
 * Selena Gomez as Sally, Jerry's wife and a key member of the Powerpuff Girls team.
 * Dylan O'Brien as Tom, Jerry's friend.
 * Jim Carrey as Billy, the Newscaster.

Voice cast

 * Millie Bobby Brown as Blossom Utonium, the self-proclaimed leader of the Powerpuff Girls. Her personality ingredient is "everything nice", her signature color is pink, and she has long red-orange hair with a red bow.
 * Kiernan Shipka as Bubbles Utonium, the "softest and sweetest" of the three. Her signature color is blue, her personality ingredient is "sugar", and she has blonde hair in pigtails.
 * Sadie Sink as Buttercup Utonium, who is described as a "tough hotheaded tomboy". Her personality ingredient is "spice", her signature color is green, and she has short black hair in a flip. She loves to get dirty, fights hard and plays rough; she does not plan and is all action.

Development
In 2004, a remake film was announced by Warner Bros. Entertainment Chairman Barry Meyer. More later.

Animation
The live-action/CGI animation has been handled by some of the industry's top talent, including director Genndy Tartakovsky and writer Craig McCracken. The film promises to deliver a fresh take on the beloved characters Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as they navigate the challenges of growing up and facing new foes. Fans can expect to see stunning visuals and action-packed sequences that will keep them on the edge of their seats. The Powerpuff Girls movie is also set to feature an all-star cast, with A-list actors lending their voices to bring the iconic characters to life. From its catchy theme song to its empowering message, this film is sure to capture the hearts of both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

The CGI animation was handled by Dallas-based animation studio Reel FX Animation Studios, with additional CGI work by Mikros Image, with the main work handled in Paris, and additional work handled in Montreal, Canada. 2D animation was used in certain shots, with animation done by Mercury Filmworks and Munich Animation.

Casting
On July 19, 2023, Amanda Leighton was cast as Blossom; James Marsden was cast as Professor Utonium; and Hailee Steinfeld was cast as the new villain, Dr. Moody. This was followed by the casting announcements of Kristen Li and Natalie Palamides. And live action will be starred by James Marsden and Hailee Steinfeld. In the roles of Professor Utonium and Dr. Moody, respectively, Amanda Leighton will portray the iconic character of Blossom. The casting announcements of Kristen Li and Natalie Palamides have also generated excitement among fans of the beloved animated series. With a talented cast in place, fans are eagerly anticipating the release of this live-action adaptation in 2023. It remains to be seen how closely the film will follow the original storyline, but with such a strong cast, it's sure to be a hit with both longtime fans and newcomers alike. As we wait for more updates on this exciting project, one thing is for certain: the Powerpuff Girls are set to make a triumphant return to screens everywhere in just a few short years.

Release
Originally scheduled for release on June 16, 2023, The Powerpuff Girls was shifted back to April 2024 in order to avoid competition with Disney and Pixar. The film's official premiere was held at the El Capitan Theatre on April 2, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on April 12, 2024 in 2D, 3D, RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, 4DX and Dolby Cinema formats. It was rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for "rude humor, peril, and thematic elements".

Box office
Fans eagerly awaited the film’s release, which was set for April 12th, 2024. The movie was highly anticipated due to its star-studded cast and cutting-edge special effects. The film’s plot revolved around a group of astronauts who were sent on a mission to explore a distant planet. However, things quickly went awry when they discovered that the planet was inhabited by hostile alien life forms. The action-packed film kept audiences on the edge of their seats with its thrilling chase scenes and heart-pumping battles. Viewers were treated to a visual feast with the film’s stunning cinematography and breathtaking CGI effects. Overall, the movie was a massive success, grossing over $1 billion at the box office and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Its success spawned several sequels and spin-offs, cementing its place in cinematic history as a true classic.

Critical response
To be added.

Release Date

 * Trailers Teaser: November 18th, 2023
 * Movie theater: April 2nd, 2023
 * United States: April 12th, 2023