The Joker Almost Crossed Over With The Powerpuff Girls (But Warner Bros. Killed It)

The Joker Almost Crossed Over With The Powerpuff Girls (But Warner Bros. Killed It)

As a gamer with a heart full of nostalgia, I can’t help but feel a twinge of regret and a dash of humor when I think about the missed opportunity that was the potential crossover between Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker, and the Powerpuff Girls. Having grown up with both these iconic characters gracing my television screen, the thought of their worlds colliding seemed like an absolute dream come true.

One of the most interesting things about entertainment are the stories of what might have been. There are countless tales of movies that almost happened, actors that were almost cast in iconic roles, and even interesting crossovers that nearly were reality all populating some “what if” reality that we really wish we could visit. Among those things we’ll never get to see is a crossover between two unlikely worlds, that of Batman and The Powerpuff Girls. It turns out that Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken once pitched the idea of a Batman’s biggest foe, the Joker, facing off with the trio — but Warner Bros. shot it down.

Back in 2016, McCracken shared on Tumblr about a proposed episode concept involving the Joker visiting Townsville and causing issues for the Powerpuff Girls. The storyline included the Mayor aligning with the Joker, which the Powerpuff Girls had to confront. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. vetoed the idea. McCracken also mentioned that they had specific designs in mind for the villain as well.

In an earlier stage, I had envisioned creating an episode where the Joker would visit our town and cause mischief. The concept was that the Mayor, thrilled to have a famous criminal in town, would even try to hinder The Girls from stopping him because the Joker’s chaos would put Townsville on the map! We aimed to use Bruce Timm’s designs for Batman: The Animated Series and get Mark Hamill to voice the character. Unfortunately, Warner Brothers turned down our proposal.

In 2021, McCracken restated the discarded concept of a Powerpuff Girls and Joker crossover on X, maintaining the same basic premise – the arrival of the Joker in town, with the Mayor enchanted by him and reluctant to let the Powerpuff Girls intervene due to his starstruck state. Regrettably, Warner Bros. declined to permit this collaboration. To fans, it’s the denial by Warner Bros. that seems like the true transgression. Originally airing on Cartoon Network in 1998, The Powerpuff Girls quickly became a massive success, spanning six seasons before concluding in 2005. The animated Joker, voiced by Hamill, was equally beloved, featuring in Batman: The Animated Series.

It’s surprising that such a crossover never happened, considering how reasonable the request seemed. The idea of the Joker appearing in a Cartoon Network series during the late 90s/early 2000s wasn’t entirely unheard of. After all, Cartoon Network had aired several animated DC shows like Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, with the latter even featuring the Joker at one point. This aligns well with the fact that Cartoon Network is owned by Warner Bros., which also produces the DC Universe.

Although a Joker/Powerpuff Girls crossover didn’t materialize on-screen, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of their worlds intertwining. In fact, it did occur – in the realm of gaming. The game MultiVersus boasts not just the Joker but also the Powerpuff Girls as playable characters. Although it may not be the animated crossover fans envisioned, it’s still quite exciting – and we’re more than happy to embrace it.

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2024-12-01 05:39