The CW may want to revert to being called The WB (short for Warner Brothers) again.  Or maybe just The DC.  After airing the Superman prequel ‘Smallville‘ for ten seasons, the network has scored a hit with ‘Arrow’ based on the DC hero Green Arrow (who also appeared regularly on ‘Smallville’.)  ‘Arrow’ is being used to hopefully launch a series for ‘The Flash’ starring Grant Gustin.  Not to mention the fact that Black Canary (Caity Lotz) is now a recurring character on ‘Arrow’, a show which has already featured The Huntress (Jessica De Gouw) and a certain Watchtower.

Now it looks like another DC hero is headed to the network… Hourman!  The character originated in the Golden Age, in 1940’s ‘Adventure Comics’ #40.  The hero was really Rex Tyler who owned his own chemical company and invented a pill that could grant him super human powers for exactly one hour.  The hero went on to join the illustrious Justice Society of America and in later history the All-Star Squadron and The Freedom Fighters.  He was succeeded by his son, Rick who initially joined Infinity Inc. and later a modern-day version of the Justice Society of America.  Briefly, an android Hourman from the future existed in the present and served with the Justice League of America.  Through the magic of time travel, all three character were able to meet and share an adventure.

Here is the description of The CW take on the character:

‘Hourman’ centers on a brilliant-yet-troubled pharmaceutical analyst who discovers that the visions that have plagued him since childhood are actually glimpses of tragic events occurring one hour in the future. Determined to win back his ex-wife and son, he heroically prevents these tragedies from unfolding, finding both purpose and redemption along the way.

So… this doesn’t sound like the super hero at all!  Okay, for a hot second, Rick Tyler did have similar precognitive abilities, but this sounds more like a gimmicky procedural like ‘The Mentalist’ or even ‘Psych’.  It actually sounds a lot like Kyle Chandler’s old series ‘Early Edition’ in which he would always receive the next day’s newspaper and would fight to prevent tragedies from occurring.

So don’t expect to see the yellow and black hooded costume with the hourglass dangling around the neck.

Michael Caleo will be writing the script for the pilot and executive producing with Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz.

Is Hourman a good choice for a TV lead?  Will you tune in?

Source THR