‘Titans’ And ‘Doom Patrol’ To End With Current Seasons
by Erik Amaya
The DC Universe experiment is finally drawing to a close.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Titans and Doom Patrol will end with their current fourth seasons. Both shows debuted on DC Universe, the niche streaming service initiated by Warner Bros. before being sold to AT&T. In the immediate aftermath of the merger, the new owners quickly cancelled DC Universe’s Swamp Thing and simulcast the second season of Doom Patrol on HBO Max. It also arranged for the first season of Stargirl, another DC Universe original, to simulcast on The CW. The service, of course, was revamped into DC Universe — a comics only subscription service — and its non-scripted shows were cancelled. Doom Patrol and Titans found a second life on HBO Max while Stargirl moved exclusively to The CW.
But then the Warner assets were again sold to Discovery. Its CEO, David Zaslav, immediately looked to cut spending and all the pricey HBO Max originals were eyed for potential savings if nixed. Additionally, James Gunn and Peter Safran took over the renamed DC Studios last fall with a mandate to make the DC media universe a more coherent creative universe. It was only a matter of time before both shows witnessed red skies and saw their last production dates. Although, according to Gunn, the decision to cut the two remaining DC Universe expats “precedes us.”
The other surviving shows in DC’s once vibrant live action mutliverse include The Flash, Superman & Lois, Gotham Knights, and Peacemaker. The Flash‘s upcoming season, starting February 8th, was already announced as its last. Superman & Lois will presumably also end as the goals of DC Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Nexstar — The CW’s new owners — no longer include continuing small screen adventures for the Man of Tomorrow. Gotham Knights, a new series from veteran Arrowverse producers, will likely last the one year as Nexstar realigns The CW to a younger demographic and more non-scripted programing.
Peacemaker, spearheaded by Gunn himself, is expected to go forward with a second season.
Both Titans and Doom Patrol broke their fourth seasons into two parts, with the remaining six episodes of each expected to run later this year. Thankfully, the productions were aware of the impending cancellations and will reach conclusions, unlike so many other streaming shows cut off on cliffhangers.
