Things are about to get a little crazy in the DC Universe. Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black) will be joining the streaming service’s Doom Patrol in the role of Crazy Jane, joining the previously announced Niles Caulder (Bruno Bichir), Rita Farr/Elastigirl (April Bowlby), Clifford Steele/Robotman (Jake Michaels), and Larry Trainor/Negative Man (Dwain Murphy).
Beyond Orange, Guerrero played Lina on Jane the Virgin and Sofia on Superior Donuts. Crazy Jane will be a departure for the activist and author, allowing her to portray each of Crazy Jane’s 64 distinct personalities. Each personality has a different superpower, meaning she’s incredibly powerful… And incredibly dangerous.
Doom Patrol is based on the classic DC Comics featuring the publisher’s “weird” heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elastigirl and Crazy Jane. They’re led by a mysterious scientist named Dr. Niles Caulder. And in a twist on the comics origins, they’ll be sent on their ongoing mission by sometimes Justice League member Cyborg.
The series, which is expected to premiere in 2019, spins out of the first official show from the service, Titans. Fans got a first glimpse of that show at San Diego Comic-Con, and reaction was… Mixed. The decidedly dark take on DC’s grown-up teen heroes featured a now classic line: Robin (Brenton Thwaites) intoning, “F**k Batman.”
Still, the service is potentially revolutionary for the comic book industry, mixing new shows like Titans and Doom Patrol with classic series like Batman: The Animated Series and movies including the Christopher Reeve Superman films. And on top of all that, editors will curate a collection of comics tying into the shows available in the app. Meaning you could potentially watch the premiere of Doom Patrol, then read the first trade of Doom Patrol from the recent Young Animal imprint.
The Doom Patrol will debut in the fifth episode of Titans, before spinning off into their own series. The 13 episode series will be written by Jeremy Carver, based on DC characters originally written and drawn by Arnold Drake, Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.
Here’s the official longline from DC Universe:
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.
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