All posts by Craig Byrne

Craig Byrne has been writing about comic book TV since 1995 with Lois & Clark. He is the author of five official companion books for the TV series Smallville.

Titans Episode Titles Confirm “Donna Troy”

Titles for the 8th and 9th episodes of the live-action Titans TV series have surfaced, and one of those two confirms the reports from last week that “Wonder Girl” Donna Troy is coming to the show.

Episode 8 is called “Angela,” and the only Angela we can think of in the world of the Teen Titans is Raven’s mother, Angela Roth, who we believe is being played by Twin Peaks’ Sherilyn Fenn.

Titans Episode 9 is a big one. “Donna Troy.” Conor Leslie appears in this episode. Fans of DC Comics and Teen Titans lore know Donna is one of the most major characters in this story, and we can’t wait to see her.

You can find compiled Titans spoilers at our TitansTV Spoilers Page; yes, we know it’s due for an update.

Titans is coming to the DC Comics streaming service when it launches, hopefully later this year.

Our thanks to Andy for the tip.

Is Conor Leslie Playing Donna Troy On Titans?

No confirmation from the studio, but it seems that actress Conor Leslie (The Man In The High Castle, Shots Fired) has landed a role in DC’s Titans for their upcoming DC-branded streaming service… and fans are speculating that she might be Donna Troy a.k.a. Wonder Girl.

One clue of a DC involvement is that Leslie recently followed DC’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns on Twitter, as many actors do when they join the DC Universe.

But also, it appears that Leslie is the mystery actress in a scene recently shot in Toronto that was caught by Instagram user “madgrahambino.” In the scene they were able to catch, which also features Brenton Thwaites, the character says “oh, I’ve missed you Boy Wonder,” implying a past between this character and Dick. Donna Troy definitely has a history with Dick Grayson.

You can see that video below.

We’ll let you know when or if DC confirms Conor Leslie’s casting. And beyond that… wouldn’t a Donna Troy streaming show be fun? Just saying….

 

Titans’ Anna Diop Calls Out Fan Racism & Rudeness After Pictures Surface

Some candid photos of Beast Boy (Ryan Potter), Raven (Teagan Croft), and Starfire (Anna Diop) “in costume” for Titans between takes of filming have leaked ahead of an official photo release…. no, you will not be seeing the pictures here, but to be fair, they were… not flattering.

In the last day, including on our TitansTV Facebook page, we’ve been getting some particularly rude comments, with some even taking it to a racist level. (One user that we called out even used the most offensive of those words.)

Sadly, some of that hate has also been projected toward the cast of the Titans show for the DC streaming service, and that actress Anna Diop addressed on her Instagram page (found here).

Here’s what she said.

To the ‘Titans’ fans:

Yesterday a photo of me on set leaked online. And it was unfortunate because fans have been waiting MONTHS for a photo of ‘Starfire’ and a sloppy (😐) photo of me on a curb in 15 degree weather is what they got instead 😂 For the sake of our incredible fans – I hated that this is the first picture people are seeing. It’s out of context and it’s a misrepresentation of the incredible character I get to play. And also a misrepresentation of the phenomenal production behind it all.

With that said – the hate speech that followed was deplorable. And though I am highly unbothered 💅🏿 I do want to use this as an opportunity to say that tearing people down is not something that I tolerate. For myself or anyone else. Too often social media is abused by some who find refuge in the anonymity and detachment it provides: misused as a tool to harass, abuse, and spew hatred at others. This is weak, sad, and a direct reflection of the abuser.

Racist, derogatory, and/or cruel comments have nothing to do with the person on the receiving end of that abuse. And because I know this – I’m unfazed 🙂 But for anyone out there who may not – I am here to remind you that whatever ugly and negative thing anyone ever chooses to say about you is always a reflection and revelation of themselves- it does NOT define you, and it certainly does NOT make you any less perfect than you are – Be you! Stay beautiful! Live breezy 🙂 As always,

Much love 💕

In over 20 years of covering comic book television, we have never experienced this kind of commentary, so: Cut it out. We agree, the costumes as they looked unofficially looked pretty bad. We here at TitansTV have nothing to do with it, though. And hopefully we’ll get some better pictures for a nicer idea of what we can expect. After all, Robin, Hawk and Dove looked so good….

Our thanks to Anna Diop for speaking out, though we apologize profusely for the childishness and racism of certain fans.

Now, DC/WB? Some official photos please?

Is Curran Walters Playing Jason Todd On Titans?

A report from an entertainment blogger in Toronto spotted Brenton Thwaites (Titans’ Dick Grayson) filming for the upcoming DC streaming service series in a club with actor Curran Walters.

Said blogger, Mr. Will Wong, posted photos with both of the actors that night.

It wasn’t said who Walters is playing on the series — fan speculation originally pegged him as a potential Roy Harper — but now that Episode 7 has [possibly] been revealed as “Jason Todd,” we’re wondering if this is where we see the origins of Robin #2 who we eventually see as the Red Hood in DC Comics lore.

Walters’ previous credits include Speechless, Girl Meets World, and Game of Silence. Curran Walters has not been officially confirmed for Titans by the studio, and he certainly has not been confirmed as Jason Todd! However, keep this page bookmarked in case we see this pan out on a larger site like Deadline. A glance at Walters’ Instagram – where fans are already hashtagging #JasonTodd – does reveal that he is currently in Toronto filming… something.

Titans is already shaping up to be a must-watch when it comes to the DC digital/streaming service. With fan favorite characters announced including Dick Grayson, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and the Doom Patrol, and now the potential appearance of Jason Todd, we are really excitedly anticipating this one! Sadly, no premiere date has been announced as of yet.

Follow @TitansTV on Twitter for updates on the series as they come in!

Is Jason Todd Coming To DC’s Titans?

Unconfirmed reports say the title of the seventh episode of the live-action Titans for the DC streaming service may have a familiar name… “Jason Todd.”

For those who know DC Comics lore, Jason Todd was the second Robin who replaced Dick Grayson in the role. The character was killed off in 1988 as part of a fan call-in; eventually, he resurfaced as the Red Hood.

In any vent, if this title is true, this could be very cool news for fans of the DC Universe…

The title is one of several purported titles for the first seven episodes, which might imply episode-by-episode introductions of each Titan on a slow basis. Here are those titles (subject to change, of course):

#1.1 “Titans” (Pilot)
#1.2 “Hawk and Dove”
#1.3 “Starfire”
#1.4 “Rachel”
#1.5 “The Doom Patrol”
#1.6 “The Messenger”
#1.7 “Jason Todd”

We are assuming “The Messenger” is not a reference to Anna Diop’s old TV show. 😉

UPDATE: It appears that Jason Todd may be played by actor named Curran Walters!

Thanks to Andy for the tip!

Titans Casting: Dwain Murphy Is The Doom Patrol’s Negative Man

Dwain Murphy will be the Doom Patrol’s Negative Man on Titans.

Den of Geek broke the news today that the Star Trek: Discovery and Rogue actor will be appearing on the upcoming live-action Titans show as Larry Trainor a.k.a. Negative Man. Look for him to make his first appearance in Episode 5, appropriately titled “The Doom Patrol.”

Here’s how the TV version of the character is described, which is pretty much the same as the character that first appeared in My Greatest Adventure comics over 50 years ago:

A pilot in the Air Force, Larry Trainor crashed his plane and was exposed to a mysterious “negative” energy. Wrapped in bandages to protect those around him, Larry struggles with this new strange power.

Jake Michaels In The Doom Patrol’s Robotman In Titans

Cliff Steele a.k.a. Robotman has been cast for the fifth episode of DC’s upcoming Titans live-action series for their streaming service.

The episode is called “The Doom Patrol” and of course, Robotman has been one of the most prominent members of that team.

ComicBook is reporting today that Jake Michaels (Designated Survivor) has landed the role. Here’s the official description for the character from the studio:

A former race car driver, Cliff Steele was in a horrific accident that left his body uninhabitable. Cliff’s brain was saved by the mysterious Dr. Niles Caulder and he lives on in a powerful robotic body.

Titans is heading our way later this year.

Titans Casts April Bowlby As Elasti-Girl

April Bowlby, whose previous credits include Drop Dead Diva and Two and a Half Men, will be appearing on DC’s Titans as Doom Patrol member Elasti-Girl, as revealed by EW.com today.

(Before you ask, DC Comics had an Elasti-Girl long before The Incredibles did.)

Here’s the description that EW provided:

An actress on the rise, Rita Farr was exposed to a toxic gas that altered her cellular structure — which, in the comics, allows her to expand or shrink her body at will. Longing for the days of old, Rita finds a place for herself among The Doom Patrol.

The character is expected to make her first appearance in the episode appropriately called “The Doom Patrol.”

Titans is expected to be coming to the upcoming DC streaming service later this year.

Titans Casts The Doom Patrol’s Chief

Bruno Bichir (Absentia) has been cast to lead the Doom Patrol in the upcoming DC streaming live action Titans TV series.

Bichir’s Chief is basically the Doom Patrol’s answer to Professor X. Here’s how his character is described, with a description coming from Deadline:

Bichir will play Dr. Niles (The Chief) Caulder, a pioneer in medical science, searching the world over for those on the edge of death in need of a miracle. Brilliant, but controversial, Dr. Caulder will stop at nothing to help those he believes are in need, including his collection of strange heroes known as The Doom Patrol.

The fifth episode of Titans is called “The Doom Patrol,” so chances are good he’ll be showing up around that time. Deadline’s post says the role will be returning.

Titans is expected to hit later in 2018 and will star Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson (Robin/Nightwing), Teagan Croft as Raven, Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, Anna Diop as Starfire, Alan Ritchson as Hawk, Minka Kelly as Dove, and many more. Hopefully we will have a start date soon.

Follow @TitansTV on Twitter for more show updates as they become available!