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Booster Gold Dead at DC: HBO Confirms Cancellation
DC Studios Cancels "Booster Gold" TV Series: What Happened and What It Means
The Big News: Show Officially Shelved
DC Studios and HBO have decided not to move forward with the live-action "Booster Gold" television series. The news came directly from David Jenkins, the writer who was hired to create the show. He announced it on Friday via Threads (a social media platform similar to Twitter).
Important Callout
This is a significant cancellation because:
- The show was part of DC’s major reboot announcement in 2023
- A showrunner was already hired (July 2025)
- DC co-CEO James Gunn had confirmed it was still in development as recently as April 2025
Who Is David Jenkins?
David Jenkins is a TV writer and producer best known for creating the hit HBO pirate comedy "Our Flag Means Death."
- July 2025: Hired to write the pilot episode and serve as showrunner (the person in charge of the entire show)
- Friday: Posted on Threads: "My ‘Booster Gold’ won’t be moving forward."
- He compared the situation to Mahershala Ali leaving Marvel’s "Blade" movie after years of delays
The Mahershala Ali Parallel: "If They Wanted To Do It, We Would’ve Done It"
Jenkins shared a quote from actor Mahershala Ali (Oscar winner for Moonlight and Green Book) about his departure from Marvel’s Blade movie:
"For whatever reason, that project is not for me. If they wanted to do it, we would’ve done it. So I have to move on… You had me under contract, they have billions of dollars, if they wanted to do the movie, we would’ve done the movie."
Jenkins is saying the same thing happened with Booster Gold — the studio had the money and the talent, but chose not to make it.
Background: DC’s 2023 "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters" Slate
When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios in late 2022, they announced a huge slate of projects in January 2023. Here’s where things stand now:
| Project | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Superman (movie) | Released | Summer 2025 |
| Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (movie) | Released | 2025 |
| The Batman: Part II | In Production | Due 2028 |
| Creature Commandos (animated series) | Released | 2024 |
| Lanterns (HBO series) | Debuts Soon | Premieres next month |
| The Brave and the Bold (Batman movie) | In Development | Director: Andy Muschietti |
| Swamp Thing (movie) | In Development | Director: James Mangold |
| Waller (Amanda Waller series) | In Development | Spin-off from Peacemaker |
| Paradise Lost (Wonder Woman prequel) | "Extreme Development" | Per Gunn (April 2025) |
| The Authority (movie) | Cancelled | Confirmed dead by Gunn (April 2025) |
| Booster Gold (series) | Cancelled | Latest cancellation |
Who Is Booster Gold? (ELI5 Character Guide)
Imagine Tony Stark (Iron Man) meets Doctor Who — but goofier and more selfish (at first).
Booster Gold Basics
- Real Name: Michael Jon Carter
- From: The 25th Century (the future!)
- Job: Former security guard at a superhero museum
- Plan: Stole future tech, traveled back in time to our present, became a celebrity superhero for fame and money
His Gear & Sidekicks
| Item | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Flight Ring | Lets him fly (Legion of Super-Heroes tech) |
| Force Field Belt | Protects him from punches, bullets, explosions |
| Wrist Blasters | Shoots energy bolts |
| Skeets | Tiny robot sidekick (floating AI companion) — thinks he’s better than Booster |
Best Buddy: Blue Beetle
- Ted Kord (the second Blue Beetle)
- No powers — just genius inventor, acrobat, martial artist
- They’re comedy gold together: Booster = flashy/impulsive, Beetle = smart/cautious
Where You’ve Seen Him
- Animated shows: Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice, Harley Quinn
- Live-action: Never had his own show — only cameos (Smallville, Legends of Tomorrow)
- This would’ve been his FIRST live-action starring role
Timeline: How We Got Here
- January 2023 — DC Studios announces "Booster Gold" series as part of new universe slate
- July 2025 — David Jenkins hired to write pilot + showrun
- April 2025 — James Gunn says: "Booster Gold remains in development"
- Friday (Latest) — David Jenkins announces: "Won’t be moving forward"
- Present — DC Studios has not commented (didn’t reply to Variety)
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
Key Insight
This is the second major cancellation from the original 2023 slate (The Authority was first). It raises questions about:
- How firm are DC’s announced slates?
- Budget constraints at Warner Bros. Discovery?
- Creative differences between showrunners and executives?
- Priority shifts toward proven hits (Superman, Batman, Lanterns)?
Summary
- Confirmed: "Booster Gold" HBO series cancelled
- Source: Showrunner David Jenkins (creator of Our Flag Means Death)
- Timeline: Announced 2023 → Writer hired 2025 → Cancelled 2025
- Parallel: Mirrors Mahershala Ali leaving Marvel’s Blade after 6 years
- Character: Time-traveling, fame-seeking hero from the future with robot sidekick Skeets
- Unknown: Why it was cancelled (DC hasn’t commented)
- Other DC projects: Most still moving forward (Lanterns, Superman, Batman 2, Paradise Lost)
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Was the show actually filmed?
No. Only the pilot script was being written. No casting, no filming, no sets built.
Could it still happen someday?
Technically yes — IP (intellectual property) never truly "dies" in comics. But not in this current DC Universe (DCU). A future regime could revive it in 5–10 years.
Why did James Gunn say it was "in development" in April if it was cancelled?
Development ≠ Greenlight. "In development" means people are working on scripts/ideas. It can still be killed before official "greenlight" (order to series). Gunn wasn’t lying — it was in development until it wasn’t.
Is this because the Superman movie flopped?
No — Superman hasn’t released yet (comes out summer 2025). This decision was likely made months ago based on budget, script quality, or strategic priority shifts.
Should I be worried about other DC shows like "Lanterns" or "Paradise Lost"?
Probably not. Lanterns is filming now (premieres soon). Paradise Lost is in "extreme development" per Gunn. Booster Gold and The Authority were the riskiest, weirdest concepts — most likely to get cut.
Where can I watch Booster Gold right now?
- Animated: Justice League Unlimited (Disney+), Harley Quinn (Max), Young Justice (Max)
- Live-action cameos: Smallville (Hulu), Legends of Tomorrow (Netflix/Max)
- Comics: Booster Gold (2007–2011 run by Geoff Johns/Jeff Katz) — highly recommended!
