‘Titans’ EP Geoff Johns on New Series: ‘We Wanted to Do Something Different’
Preview
Over the last decade or so, the Teen Titans have become some of the most beloved DC super heroes on television.
Robin, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy have populated multiple comics and animated series, but they haven’t entered the realm of live-action drama — until now.
Titans is slated to premiere later this year on the comic giant’s soon-to-launch digital service DC Universe (dccomics.com/dcuniverse). And no one is more excited about bringing these characters to life than executive producer Geoff Johns.
“I think the reason Teen Titans has been so great is it’s a surrogate family of superhumans,” says Johns, who wrote a popular run of the comic from 2003 to 2007.
“There are a lot of super hero television shows and films out there, and we wanted to do something different — something that would be in the spirit of what the Teen Titans first did in the ’80s, taking these different characters from different walks of life and having them crash together to become a surrogate family. Then from there it deviates drastically. We’re telling the story in a very different way.”
Probably the most recognizable member of the group is Dick Grayson, aka Robin. When we first meet the onetime Boy Wonder, played by Australian actor Brenton Thwaites, he is at a crossroads. “
He’s left Gotham City and he’s left Batman,” Johns explains. “He feels like he was made into a weapon and he’s trying to get away from [fighting crime]. Things draw him back in, and he’s struggling.”
Chief among those is Dick’s encounter with troubled Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft), whom fans will recognize as the sorceress Raven. “Rachel is very young. She’s 13 years old and manifesting some strange abilities,” reveals Johns.
As in the early comics, the show’s first season will focus largely on her journey. “There are some really interesting parallels between Bruce Wayne taking in Dick Grayson and Dick Grayson crossing paths with Rachel, who needs help,” Johns continues.
“She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her and why. The audience will learn along with her who she is and where she comes from.”
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