With all the recent uncertainty surrounding HBO Max, it seems like anything could happen on the streaming platform. Between scrapping an almost completed Batgirl movie and the complete and utter destruction of its animated content, no series or film seems safe. Warner Bros.' current approach to the entertainment business can best be compared to George R. R. Martin's wantonly killing off characters in HBO's own Game of Thrones, except they are going after tax breaks instead of the throne of Westeros. However, despite all this carnage, one show that started on an entirely different streaming service and has always seemed like it was on the brink of cancelation is coming back for an improbable fourth season.This underdog status feels thematically appropriate for Doom Patrol, which made its underseen debut on the short-lived DC Universe and has gained a cult fanbase over its next two seasons on HBO Max. The show's surreal nature and celebration of weirdness always destined it to fly somewhat under the radar, but much like the fictional superhero group it depicts, Doom Patrol has survived against all odds. In honor of its surprising continuation, let's take a look at what's in store for Earth's strangest heroes this time around.
Doom Patrol Season 4: The Plot
When last we saw the intrepid Doom Patrol, they were finally committed to becoming a real superhero group. However, in typical Doom Patrol fashion, this acceptance of the call to adventure was anything but standard, with the group traveling three minutes into the future to fight a giant scrotum at the Suez Canal. This ending felt like it was meant to be a potential finale for the show while also serving as a jumping-off point for new adventures. The biggest shakeup was the addition of the former adversary, Madame Rogue, to the team, which will surely lead to bickering and conflict down the line.
Thankfully, we don't have to restrict ourselves to blind speculation about what is in store for the Doom Patrol. According to Bleeding Cool:
In the upcoming fourth season, the team unexpectedly travels to the future to find an unwelcome surprise. Faced with their imminent demise, the Doom Patrol must decide once and for all which is more important: their own happiness or the fate of the world?
This sounds like the usual Doom Patrol fare, with the show mostly focused on bringing Grant Morrison's iconic run on the comic to life. However, the inclusion of a new character for this season might provide a big shakeup to the status quo.
Doom Patrol Season 4: The Cast
Fans of My Chemical Romance and Umbrella Academy should be particularly excited for this new season of Doom Patrol, as the show's official Twitter account has announced the addition of a character that was introduced during Gerard Way's stint on the comic. Casey Brinke, Danny the Ambulance's driver, has been added to the cast. She will be portrayed by former child actress Madeline Zima, who got her start on The Nanny and has since appeared in projects like Twin Peaks: The Return, Heroes, and Californication, among others.
The rest of season three's cast will return with Brendan Fraser as Robotman, AKA Cliff Steele, Matt Bomer as Larry Trainor, Joivan Wade as Cyborg, AKA Vic Stone, Diane Guerrero as Jane, April Bowlby as Rita Farr, and Michelle Gomez as Laura De Mille AKA Madame Rouge. Thankfully, Fraser wasn't too busy starring in the award-winning The Whale or Martin Scorsese's upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon to participate in the streaming program.
It has not been announced whether Timothy Dalton or Abigail Shapiro will be appearing as The Chief or Dorothy, respectively, but it seems unlikely due to the direction their story took.
Release Date
After receiving news of renewal last October, no information about the show's next season came out for almost a year. However, that drought finally ended when Jovian Wade announced that season four had wrapped filming on August 11th. More official confirmation came through a brief clip of Dorothy on the moon that was included in a new HBO Max sizzle reel, with the words "New Season" superimposed over the footage. Soon after that, the casting announcement of Madeline Zima as Casey Brinke from the official Doom Patrol Twitter account also mentioned that the show would be premiering this December.
Only a couple of months stand between more Doom Patrol and us, but if you're craving it between now and then, definitely check out the comics from Grant Morrison and Gerard Way, which are easily accessible through trade paperback editions.