'Doom Patrol' Season 4 Premiere Date Announced!
See the new trailer.
*Spoiler alert: This post reveals spoilers about season 3 of Doom Patrol. If you're not caught up, stop reading and start watching! Come back to get everything we know about Doom Patrol season 4.
The previous season of Doom Patrol was a doozy, was it not? Our not-so-hero heroes fought off the Candlemaker (voiced by Lex Lang), mourned the death of their Chief (Timothy Dalton), died by the second episode, became undead (as in zombies), became undead (as in resurrected), and fought off were-butts (yes, lycanthrope rear ends)—all before the mid-season break!
The quirkiest of all DC Comics-based shows (in a running tie with DC's Legends of Tomorrow), Doom Patrol has received great ratings and critical adulation from fans and TV critics alike. So much so that HBO Max picked up the series for season 4 shortly after season 3 premiered back in September 2021.
The show is set after the events on Titans, a series currently streaming on HBO Max and has a spin-off (sort of) in the works with The Dead Boy Detectives.
Read on for more details about season 4 of Doom Patrol.
What is Doom Patrol?
The show follows a group of unlikely heroes who were mutated through tragic circumstances to achieve their "superhero" status. This caused them to be generally shunned by society. Each hero's new form has its downside and side-effects, all of which are treated by Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton), known as The Chief, who gives them refuge and residence in his mansion while under his care.
“When I pitched my take on it, I was adamant that this was a character-first show,” showrunner Jeremy Carver told Entertainment Weekly. “These were not typical superheroes to the extent that they didn’t even consider themselves a team or superheroes. This was about people who have been severely damaged, emotionally and physically, and found themselves stepping back into a world that has long shunned them, and them being just as surprised by the crazy things that ensued as we were."
When was Doom Patrol created?
Doom Patrol first appeared in comic books in 1963. Created by Arnold Drake and Bob Haney with artist Bruno Premiani, Doom Patrol follows an oddball group of misfits with superpowers.
Is Doom Patrol appropriate for children?
Absolutely not! The series is rated TV-MA, which means it contains profanity, violence and sexual situations.
What happened in Doom Patrol season 1?
In season 1, the Doom Patrol go in search of The Chief who has been captured by Mr. Nobody (Alan Tudyk). As they progress in their search, they discover more about themselves and their abilities. They also learn that The Chief is the one responsible for the events that gave them their powers.
What happened in Doom Patrol season 2?
Doom Patrol season 2 introduces us to Dorothy Spinner (Abigail Shapiro), the Chief’s daughter who possesses the ability to bring her imaginary friends to life. While the members of the Doom Patrol face their own personal dilemmas, Dorothy inadvertently endangers the world when her powers threaten to unleash an ancient entity known as the Candlemaker.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Doom Patrol Season 2
What happened in Doom Patrol season 3?
The third season premiere opens with Dorothy’s battle with the Candlemaker that leads to the Chief's (Timothy Dalton) death though his spirit tells Cliff (Brendan Fraser) that he can't fully move on until his body is incinerated. As each member of the team deals with their grief and continues to struggle with their personal dilemmas, a new villain enters the fray. Madam Rouge (Michelle Gomez) arrives in town on a time machine with a mission, except she can’t remember what that mission is.
Throughout the season the Doom Patrol suffers many afflictions: They die, go to purgatory, escape hell with the help of the Dead Detective Boys, become zombies, eat the Chief's brains as zombies so they can become human again—and that's just the beginning. The show is as zany, weird ride and a standout among DC shows.
The back half of the season saw an attack of were-butts. The team also ended up in their subconscious and by season's end, Negative Man (Matt Bomer/Larry Zuk) merged with a space parasite, Vic became fully human but lost his powers, Crazy Jane seemed to be Kay again and also without powers, Rita was bent on revenge, and Cliff's robot body was taken over by the Brotherhood of Evil's The Brain as Cliff continued to deal with Parkinson's disease.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Doom Patrol Season 3
What will happen in season 4 of Doom Patrol?
Season 4 opens with the team unexpectedly traveling 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 personal happiness or the fate of the world?
When does season 4 of Doom Patrol begin filming?
Filming on the fourth season of Doom Patrol began back in February 2022. Eric Dietel, a writer on the show tweeted this on the first day of filming:
The show will likely filmed through June and possibly into July.
Where is Doom Patrol filmed?
Doom Patrol is filmed in the state of Georgia.
Meet the Doom Patrol cast
Diane Guerrero (Kay Challis/Crazy Jane)
Jane is the dominant identity of a young woman who developed multiple identities—64 to be exact—due to a trauma she experienced as a child. She subsequently received powers for each identity after she was involuntarily subjected to an experiment.
Diane Guerrero plays Jane and two other identities—Driver 8 and Karen—while other actresses play her other identities. Think of a superhuman version of Sybil. You may recognize Guerrero from her roles on Orange Is the New Black and Jane the Virgin.
Follow Guerrero on Instagram @dianexguerrero and on Twitter @dianneguerrero_.
April Bowlby (Rita Farr/Elasti-Girl)
Rita is a former Hollywood starlet, whose body was altered after she was exposed to toxic gas. Her new viscous and pliable state has stalled her acting career as she struggles to maintain solidity. Think a female Stretch Armstrong.
Rita is played by April Bowlby, whom you may recognize from her roles on Two and a Half Men or Drop Dead Diva.
Follow Bowlby on Instagram and Twitter @aprilthebowlby.
Matt Bomer/Larry Zuk (Larry Trainor/Negative Man)
A former U.S. Air Force pilot, Trainor made contact with a negative energy after his plane crashed. The negative energy now lives inside him. He is covered with special bandages to hold in the radioactivity that he now emits. Matt Bomer voices and appears as Trainor sans bandages. Larry Zuk portrays Trainor when bandaged.
Bomer previously starred as Neal Caffrey on USA Network’s White Collar.
Follow Bomer on Instagram and Twitter @mattbomer.
Brendan Fraser/Riley Shanahan (Cliff Steele/Robotman)
Steele is a former NASCAR driver whose body was destroyed after a car crash. His brain was transplanted into a cyborg. He is voiced by Brendan Fraser, who also appears as the human version of Steele (in flashbacks) while Riley Shanahan portrays him in cyborg form.
Fraser is best known for George of the Jungle and Encino Man.
Follow Fraser on Instagram @brendan_fraser.
Joivan Wade (Victor “Vic” Stone/Cyborg)
Following an accident that killed his mother, Vic was given cybernetic enhancement from his father. Vic is played by Joivan Wade.
The British-born Wade is best known for his roles on Doctor Who and The First Purge.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @joivanwade.
Michelle Gomez (Madame Rouge/Laura De Mille)
Season 3 brought a new villain to the Doom Patrol in Madame Rouge. She arrives by time machine with a very specific mission, except she can't remember what that mission is.
Gomez is best known for her roles on Doctor Who and more recently, The Flight Attendant. She is married to fellow actor Jack Davenport (Smash, The Morning Show).
Follow Gomez on Twitter @michellegomez and on Instagram @michellegomezofficial.
Related: John Cena Says He Loves the Conflicted Nature of His Character in The Suicide Squad
Danny the Street/Brick/Ambulance
Danny the Street is a genderqueer (they/them) living and sentient piece of geography who appears as a street in season 1 of Doom Patrol. They use street signs, marquees, and other means to communicate. By the end of season 1 they were reduced to a brick and content to live out their days as part of Niles Caulder's manor until they are broken by Dorothy in season 2. In season 3 we see them as an ambulance.
Who is the Chief?
The Chief is Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton), a medical doctor who seems to be immortal. He’s over 100 years old at the time the series takes place. The Doom Patrol live at his mansion as he treats and cares for them. He has saved their lives but he has also been the one to instigate the events that caused the members of the Doom Patrol to gain their powers. He’ll do anything to protect his daughter, Dorothy (Abigail Shapiro), who has remained at the age of 11 for decades. The Chief is played by Timothy Dalton, who is best known for his turn as James Bond in The Living Daylights and as Prince Barin in the cult favorite film, Flash Gordon.
What channel is Doom Patrol on?
Doom Patrol airs exclusively on HBO Max.
Where can I watch and stream Doom Patrol?
Doom Patrol seasons 1-3 are currently available to stream on HBO Max. Season 4 will stream exclusively on HBO Max.
When did season 3 of Doom Patrol premiere?
Season 3 of Doom Patrol premiered on Sept. 23, 2021 on HBO Max.
When does season 4 of Doom Patrol premiere?
Season 4 of Doom Patrol will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, Dec. 8 with one episode dropping weekly on Thursdays on HBO Max until Jan. 5. The back half of season 4 will debut sometime in 2023.
Is there a trailer for the new season of Doom Patrol?
Yes! HBO Max recently dropped this teaser trailer for season 4 of Doom Patrol.
How many episodes are in season 4 of Doom Patrol?
The first three seasons have a combined total of 34 episodes (10-9-12). Season 4 will have a total of 12 episodes.
Does Doom Patrol have any spinoff series?
Sort of. Characters in the show, the Dead Boys will have their own series coming to HBO Max though different actors will play the roles.
The show, developed as a horror detective series, will use elements from The Sandman and Dead Boy Detective comics. It's described as a, “fresh take on a ghost story that explores loss, grief, and death through the lens of two dead British teenagers—Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and their very alive friend, Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson). So, it’s a lot like a vintage detective series—only darker and on acid.”
Other cast includes Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher, Ruth Connell as the Night Nurse, Yuyu Kitamura as Niko and Jenn Lyon as Esther.
