In the past three weeks, we've received
several inquiries as to what was going on with Cartoon Network
and Justice League Unlimited. We'd wondered, too,
and early in November contacted our sources within Cartoon
Network to ask what they knew.
At the time, a press representative told
us that January 2006 would see JLU return to the
schedule, but we've noticed that Cartoon Network had not
been touting that at all in December.
According to Comics
Continuum, a network representative has announced that
the popular show has been pushed back to return in late
Spring or Summer, but no official dates have been set. Furthermore,
the show's future has not been determined.
Here's what we know for sure: there are
at least three completed episodes in the can. Geoff Johns
has confirmed on the web that he worked on a second Hawkman
episode. At Comic-Con 2005,
Bruce Timm mentioned that both the Seven Soldiers of Victory
and Legion of Super-Heroes would have episodes, neither
of which have yet been broadcast.
Our sources at the studio agree that those
episodes do exist, though as we reported earlier, the Legion
of Super-Heroes episode was completed independently of the
Legion of Super-Heroes series currently in development,
which may or may not more strongly resemble Glen Murakami's
style on Teen Titans.
Why all the secrecy and confusion? We'll
try to track down some answers, but so far no one we know
is willing to share what they know. Rumors have swirled
on both sides; either Bruce Timm is no longer interested
in the grind of doing a series (quite possible and understandable)
or Cartoon Network is no longer interested in building the
Bruce Timm reputation (also quite possible).
At a certain point, children's shows also
stop being cost-effective -- and make no mistake, from a
ledger book perspective, we're talking about a children's
show. So though we love Justice League Unlimited,
the network may legitimately feel that they have enough
episodes to keep kids enthralled for years to come without
having to lay out any more cash.
Stay tuned.
