The not-so-super inhabitants of the DC Universe are set to star in a new comedy pilot POWERLESS commissioned by US network NBC.
Deadline reports that the pilot is set to be developed by writer/producer Ben Queen, the creator of romantic comedy A TO Z and co-creator of the short-lived action/drama series DRIVE.
POWERLESS will air in the form of single-camera, half-hour workplace based comedy predominantly focusing on ordinary people in the DC Universe ‘set at one of the worst insurance companies in America’.
The show will explore ‘the reality of working life for a normal, powerless person in a world of superheroes and villains.’
It is unknown whether any of the DC Universe’s A-List characters would appear on the show, or audiences would have to settle for seeing the Teen Titans purchase pet insurance for Beast Boy.
Viewers will most likely see the ‘Average Joe’ employee, sharing the same environment as an overwhelming, merciless boss and various ‘slacker’ colleagues. All while wondering if the job is really worth having to pay the rent, fighting with a whole punch, and dodging the laser beam from a supervillain’s ray gun.
Just imagine the challenges of:
• Selling motor insurance to Batman to cover the Batmobile exploding every other week after a high speed chase with the Joker. Even worse would be the dealing with the uncountable times Wonder Woman’s invisible plane goes missing or is ‘stolen’.
• The Legion of Super-Heroes wanting travel insurance to cover the voyages of their ‘Time Sphere’ from the 31st Century to the present day.
• Deathstroke the Terminator applying for life insurance, just in case he is killed by one of his targets or misthrows a grenade.
• Giganta purchasing medical insurance as protection for every time she needs debris removing from her foot after stamping on a building.
• Count Vertigo talking about PA insurance for each time he is thumped by Green Arrow.
Comedy is a whole new genre for the DC Universe with characters usually being presented as ultra-serious, ‘grim and gritty’ bad asses too cool for a sense of humour. GREEN ARROW is more involved in love triangles, and Superman is too busy snapping necks to crack a joke.
POWERLESSÂ has not yet received an air date.
