When DC’s new streaming service, titled DC Universe, debuts later this year, its flagship show will be Titans, the first live-action adaptation of the teenage superhero team including Robin, Starfire and Beast Boy. In fact, the studio seems so confident in the series that they’ve already begun work on a spinoff in the form of Doom Patrol, an alternate team of misfit heroes who’ll first debut on Titans before getting their own vehicle.
Though this suggests a close relationship between the two projects, perhaps setting up an alternate DC TV shared universe to The CW’s Arrowverse, it seems some of the cast will differ. In particular, That Hashtag Show has revealed that Doom Patrol will feature a different actor in the role of Dr. Niles Caulder AKA the Chief, the gang’s somewhat Professor X-like mentor.
On Titans, Bruno Bichir will guest star as the character. For Doom Patrol, however, the top choice for the part is Kelsey Grammer, who’s previously starred in the Marvel universe, portraying Beast in both X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Grammer fans will also note the fun coincidence of him being linked to someone called Niles, as that’s the name of his character’s brother on Frasier.
The breakdown for Caulder was released last month and described him as “eccentric, brilliant, paternal, and mysterious.” So, in other words, a good fit for Grammer. Furthermore, it teased that “his disarming manner does little to conceal a steely determination and unwavering devotion to defending Earth from Evil’s oddest entities.”
There’s no word that the rest of the team – consisting of Elasti-Girl (April Bowby), Robotman (Jake Michaels) and Negative Man (Dwain Murphy) – will be recast, so perhaps it’s just the role of the Chief that’ll change. Presumably, DC’s just looking for a big name to give the series a boost.
And while it’s not known who’ll play him yet, Doom Patrol already has a pretty iconic superhero onboard. Cyborg’s said to feature in a prominent role on the show, with the intention being to cross him over to Titans in future seasons. Stay tuned for more on that front.