Titans Finds Its Robotman
by Erik Amaya
The initial Doom Patrol cast on DC’s Titans is nearly complete.
According to Comicbook.com, actor Jake Michaels will play Cliff Steele, aka Robotman. Created by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani just before the arrival of writer Bob Haney on Doom Patrol, Drake’s initial name for the character was “Automaton,” but it was quickly switched to the better, and kitschier, “Robotman.” Steele was a race car driver whose brain was transplanted into a robot body after a horrifying accident which may have been orchestrated by Dr. Niles Caulder, the Doom Patrol’s “Chief.” Cliff subsequently battled depression about his situation, which would be a key hook for a television version of the character. It will be interesting to see how the show realizes Robotman visually as well considering his look is fairly retro.
Michaels joins Bruno Bichir as the Chief and April Bowlby as Elasti-girl. The only remaining original Doom Patrol character left to cast is Haney’s Negative Man.
Titans stars Blue Lagoon: The Awakening‘s Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson, Batman’s original Robin, who must assemble of new team of young heroes. Anna Diop also stars as Starfire with Teagan Croft as Raven and Ryan Potter as Beast Boy. Alan Ritchson and Minka Kelly will also recur on the program as Hawk and Dove.
The series is expected to debut later this year.