When Young Justice first aired in 2010, few could have predicted the dramatic saga that would unfold with the show's future over the course of the next decade and a half. The beloved animated series has had plenty of ups and downs throughout its runs and it still remains incredibly popular today, with fans constantly calling for a fifth season of the series.
The show was left at a bit of a crossroads when its fourth season, Young Justice: Phantoms, concluded in 2022. Having streamed on HBO Max while the Warner Bros. / Discovery merger took place, no further seasons of the show were ordered by the new bosses - despite clear demand for the series. Naturally, fans have been asking for a fifth season in the years since.
Now, the show's creator has an unexpected update for fans. Unfortunately, it's not the best news.
There are still no plans for Young Justice season 5 (but that couldn't change in the future)
Actor Zeno Robinson, who voices Victor Stone, a.k.a. Cyborg in Young Justice seasons 3 and 4, recently spoke to The Direct about the show's future prospects. When asked about whether a fifth season could be on the cards, he revealed that he has spoken to series creator Greg Weisman about it on multiple occasions, saying that the answer is usually: "No, but you never know."
He then referenced the show's history with having to prove itself and how that could ultimately what leads to a return someday, saying:
"When I talk to Greg [Weisman], the answer is always ‘No, but you never know.’ You know? 'Young Justice' tended to be a show that always had to– it always proved itself in numbers, right? It's always a HBO Max top 10 show, it's always a top five, Top 10 show, it's always a top five most in demand show. It proves itself in numbers every time."
Robinson is 100% right. Young Justice has always been fighting an uphill battle when it came to higher-ups making decisions on its future. The show proved to be extremely popular in its itinial iteration of Cartoon Network, pulling in strong ratings for the network and receiving critical acclaim for its compelling characters and impressive long-term storytelling, but it was cancelled when the toy deal - which provided the funding - was cancelled due to lower sales.
It arrived on Netflix in 2016 and quickly became a phenomenon, with fans attempting to get the streaming service to pick it up for another season. "KeepBingeingYJ" trended regularly on social media platform Twitter and a real movement was formed to bring it back - three years after its cancellation. Finally, when Warner Bros. launched the DC Universe streaming service, it was confirmed that Young Justice would return for a third season.
Titled Young Justice: Outsiders, it was more mature than its predecessor, picking up a significant amount of time after season 2 and featuring more graphic violence than the first two seasons. It also continued to focus on newer characters, building out the large cast of heroes further and further. And although the DC Universe streaming service went under, WB moved it to fellow WarnerMedia streamer HBO Max for its fourth season. And then, it was rested a second time.
It's important to note that Young Justice was never outright cancelled. HBO Max simply fulfilled its one-season commitment order when the show came over from DC Universe, and the subsequent Warner Bros. / Discovery merger likely brought about an end to the possibility of a fifth. That's not to say that Young Justice season 5 definitely won't happen. As Robinson points out, this is a show that has always had to fight for its own existence, so the fans could very well make another season happen down the line if they continue to give it the high-demand streaming figures that show the-powers-that-be that people still wan at least one more season.
Weisman has been very vocal in the past about how the creative team has a roadmap for seasons 5 - 7. They're just waiting on the green light to make it happen. Here's hoping that someone at Warner Bros. Discovery or HBO Max makes it happen in the near-future. Even with James Gunn's single, cohesive DC Universe franchise, there is still room for Elseworlds tales. Young Justice would be a perfect choice for one.
So, DC fans, are you ready to "KeepBingeingYJ" all over again? I know I am!