Having been a beloved comic book property for decades before becoming a darling among animation lovers beginning in 2003, one could say that the Teen Titans have been overdue for a live action adaptation for quite some time. Well, actually, they were set to headline their own movie with a theatrical release projected for 2010, but that endeavor was one of many unfortunately killed by the writers’ strike.
Thankfully, things have turned around as of late, with a live action Titans series slated to debut sometime in 2018 via a new digital streaming service that Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment are cooking up. Already, casting has been well underway, with Teagan Croft, Anna Diop and Brenton Thwaites signing up for the roles of Raven, Starfire and Dick Grayson, respectively.
Quite surprisingly, word got out several days ago that none other than Hawk and Dove would also be entering the fold. This especially came out of left field because that duo doesn’t normally spring to mind when one thinks of the Titans. But, lo and behold, they’ve been cast.
According to Deadline, Alan Ritchson (yes, Smallville’s Aquaman) is set to play Hank Hall AKA Hawk, “one half of the crime-fighting, vigilante and romantic couple of Hawk and Dove. The perfect example of opposites attract, Hawk is an aggressive, offensive bruiser, while Dove is strategic, defensive and lithe. The role is recurring, with an option to become a regular in Season 2.” As for Dawn Granger AKA Dove, the very same outlet reports she’ll be played by Minka Kelly (Jane The Virgin).
It’s quite interesting that they’re labeled as recurring with the options to become series regulars in the future. That knowledge coupled with Deadline saying “the producers also are exploring a potential Hawk and Dove spinoff series down the road” tells us that they may not actually be part of the Titans team itself, but may show up here and there to lend a helping hand.