This new series — just like most new series during their preparation and production stages — has gone through some large changes.
POWERLESS previewed it’s first pilot, which showcased the original insurance company angle, to an audience las summer at San Diego Comic-Con. These pilot reviews showed Emily (Vanessa Hudgens), an insurance company employee, dealing with her new, overpowering boss Teddy (Alan Tudyk). The company, though previously dealing with the constant damages of a world with super powered humans, must now deal with their own conniving super villain of a boss, all while showing that even the least powerful of people can be super in their own way.
Though POWERLESS had a catchy plot and a team of brilliantly hilarious actors and actresses, it still seemed as though they felt something was missing. Being screened well before a definitive premiere date seems to show that POWERLESS was looking for direction. By showing the pilot to a select audience, containing reviewers and fans alike, POWERLESS was able to gain an idea of whether or not their concept of a DC universe comedy, which has not been done before, would click with audiences.
This preview screening worked out in the series’ favor. This pilot was received with seemingly mixed reviews, with one reviewer on Newarama stating that the pilot was “toneless," while another review on Nerdist stated that POWERLESS is the show for fans of comic books and comedy alike. With these comments and criticisms in mind, POWERLESS began to make the changes they felt better reflected the intentions of the series.
First off, the month after the screening, series creator Ben Queen stepped down as showrunner. This change in production leadership is cited as being caused by "creative differences." It is important to note that Queen reportedly stepped down on good terms with the series, via Deadline, saying that the decision was mutual.
With two new showrunners, Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, taking control of the show, production practically restarted. They realized their original premise was holding back some of the storylines they were attempting to create for the show. Schumacker, during the Television Critics Association press tour via THR, spoke about changing to the security company setting, stating that this change allowed the series to “tell classic workplace comedy stories but in a way that kind of activates the DC universe a little bit more."
One of the last, yet most important changes that POWERLESS underwent is the change in Tudyk’s character. Though Tudyk was originally portraying Emily and her coworker’s new boss at the insurance agency, he now portrays Van Wayne, the current boss at Wayne Security and a cousin of the infamous Bruce Wayne.
This new connection to the DC universe shows that while POWERLESS is workplace comedy, it is still a comic book television show. Though Bruce Wayne / Batman won’t be making any appearances in the show, and not every joke will be a super hero pun or character reference, this still shows that POWERLESS is focusing on its connections to the comic books.
For POWERLESS, August to December 2016 was a mystery. No announcements, no news, not even a mention of the series was made, leaving audiences to wonderful what was to become of the series. This time period allowed POWERLESS to completely re-evaluate its course. Once December rolled around, and POWERLESS had time to figure out the show it wanted to be, this series was ready to reveal its premiere date.
Not only as a fan of everything that POWERLESS has previewed so far, but as the new POWERLESS beat writer for the DailySuperHero.com, I’m unbelievably excited for what this show has to offer. What has become the most apparent in all of these changes is that POWERLESS is never going to sacrifice its comedy. While it wants to live in its comic book roots, the production team and cast are foremost there to make the audience laugh.
In the current television landscape, with shows such as GOTHAM and ARROW, POWERLESS is going to provide much needed comic relief. With the comedic forces behind this show, POWERLESS has such an extraordinarily high amount of promise.
POWERLESS has taken its time and run its course to become the show it wants to be. This new series has taken a gamble, though, by changing so many of its details during production. Only time will tell if this gamble will pay off, so be sure to check out POWERLESS when it premieres at 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30p.m. C Thursday, February 2 on NBC.
Written by William Staton, POWERLESS Beat Writer -- Click to read William's posts
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