Leonardo DiCaprio is “super passionate” about the Captain Planet movie

Glen Powell might have superpowers after all: He’s hoping to resurrect the junked superhero film Captain Planet, with Leonardo DiCaprio as producer.

The Top Gun: Maverick actor said the long-rumored Captain Planet movie could find new life because DiCaprio is still “super passionate” about the project. The adaptation of the 1990s cartoon was first announced in 2016, with Powell set to co-write the screenplay with Jono Matt (“Weird Waters”). Oscar winner DiCaprio produced with Jennifer Davisson Killoran (“Shining Girls”, “Richard Jewell”).

While noting that the fate of Captain Planet ultimately rests in the hands of Warner Bros. Discovery and “where all that superhero stuff ends up there,” Powell added, “I think those talks are going to happen shortly,” to officially green light the film.

“I know DiCaprio is very passionate about this. I’m super passionate about it. I think it could be great,” Powell told Entertainment Tonight. “I want this to work. I would love to play that superhero.”

Captain Planet is based on an environmental superhero fighting pollution. The film’s original storyline was set to take place years after the set of the animated series, in which Captain Planet confronted his legacy.

The animated series ran from 1990 to 1992 and focused on five teenagers from around the world who were given magical rings that had the power to control natural elements. Together, the group can summon Captain Planet, a superhero to help them fight environmental evils. A follow-up series ran from 1993 to 1996.

While Captain Planet may be put back into orbit, Powell also told ET he’s in talks with Set It Up co-star Zoey Deutch about an upcoming project.

“One project we were trying to figure out didn’t really materialize,” Powell said, “but Zoey and I are very committed to getting back on screen together.”

He also co-wrote “Hitman” with “one of my heroes” Richard Linklater, with whom he collaborated on the 2016 film “Everybody Wants Some!”.

“Rick and I just finished writing the script together which I’m really, really excited about,” Powell told IndieWire. “It will be his next film. We’re putting the finishing touches on some things right now, but we should be filming this fall. It is great. You’re gonna really, really love it. It’s something we came up with during the pandemic and then here we are. It’s just something that’s everything you love about Richard Linklater and yet something he’s never done before. So I’m really excited about it.”

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