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First announced last September, not much has been heard about the live-action TNT Titans DC Comics TV series other than confirmation of the team from a few months ago, which will consist of: Dick Grayson as Nightwing/Robin, Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, Hank Hall and Dawn Granger as Hawk and Dove, respectively, and Rachel Roth as Starfire.
Now TNT president Kevin Reilly offers an update in that Titans may begin production this Summer following casting.
Reilly spoke with TV Line offering Titans will be “groundbreaking” and “very true” to the comic book property; Akiva Goldsman (Batman & Robin, A Beautiful Mind, Fringe) is executive producing the series and penned the pilot episode with Marc Haimes.
“Akiva’s been very busy doing some other things,” but it’s his hope that “maybe this summer” they will lock casting and ramp up production.
It’s noted that TNT is making an effort for Titans to be unique amongst the superhero landscape currently on TV.
“I sat down with Akiva and said — and he ultimately agreed — that the [TV] landscape right now is well-serviced on the superhero front. So what space is this going to inhabit? And really what he wants to do is be very true to the source material.
Reilly continues with mention of just how groundbreaking Titans was in the comics.
“There were consequences to things that happened; it wasn’t somebody died and they moved on. There was the first superhero to be an addict [in Roy Harper’s Speedy]. It’s a coming-of-age story for Robin, who feels like Batman has betrayed him.”
Previous character details on Titans revealed at the start of the series/pilot Dick Grayson will still be using his Robin identity, but will eventually become Nightwing, and has been working as a private detective in Boston; Barbara Gordon will be wheel-chair bound and will be the team’s hacker; Hawk and Dove are said to be in a relationship; Starfire is said to appear at the end of the pilot and involved in a love triangle with Nightwing and Batgirl.
Regarding Cyborg and Beast Boy, it was stated they don’t show up in the pilot, but it’s possible to include them eventually.
It’s also been said Titans may be in the same universe as Arrow and The Flash.