New Reboots of Beloved IP Are in the Works Confirms WB Executive!!

After announcing multiple reboots and spin-offs of popular classic Cartoon Network shows, it seems Warner Bros. is doubling down on its plans, teasing that the future of its animation division will involve bringing back existing IP as it “makes good business sense.” In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Warner Bros. executive Vanessa Brookman stated, “The easiest way for me to do that now is to do it with our really beloved IP.” Interestingly, Warner Bros. wants to bring back classic titles, as there were numerous reports of shows being pulled off Max, like Ben 10, Steven Universe, and The Regular Show, to name a few. It also doesn’t help that the Cartoon Network website shut down last year.

But while shows are being pulled from Warner Bros‘ streaming library, the studio did announce numerous new projects, such as a new season of The Amazing World of Gumball, more Adventure Time content, and a preschool reboot of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. “Scooby-Doo is like a vampire. You can’t kill it,” Robert Alvarez, a retired animator, told Bloomberg when speaking about the future of Cartoon Network. It’s not just animated IP that Warner Bros is banking on. The Harry Potter HBO series is about to enter production, where it plans to tell the story of all seven books for seven seasons.

Are Reboots Becoming the New Norm?

While movies like Sinners and TV shows like The Pitt have proven that audiences can get just as excited about original projects, many studios are still banking on content that we’re already familiar with. However, this can also be a gamble, as studios have to ensure that reboots and remakes still capture the same magic for fans rather than a bold-faced cash grab.

Reboots, remakes, and spin-offs aren’t new for animation. One notable example is the Scooby-Doo franchise, which has come out with multiple TV shows, spin-offs, and films. Additionally, Warner Bros isn’t the only media company doing this. The Walt Disney Company has announced the expansion of numerous titles, like the ever-growing Star Wars franchise, and the studio is bringing back Phineas and Ferb a decade after the series ended in 2015. Meanwhile, in the live-action setting, reboots are commonplace and tend to be a hit or miss. NBC rebooted the Suits franchise after the series found new success on streaming, with Suits LA, which was recently canceled. Meanwhile, the modern era of Doctor Who is technically on its second reboot, having already been revived in 2005, and starting fresh again with a Disney+ deal and a new Doctor back in 2023.