For my last reboot I decided to recast one of the classic tv shows from youth into a modern movie. A lot of you liked the casting ideas, so I decided to recast another one of my fave tv shows from my youth. A lot of talk has been buzzing around the internet for years about a potential film most notably in 2011. If you’re not sure what program I’m talking about let me say one thing ‘Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooo’.
No I’m not insulting women or impersonating a WWF (sorry WWE fans, for us old school wrestling fans it will ALWAYS be WWF not the pg-era watered down version that is now WWE, anywho I digress!) wrestler called Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Who was Hacksaw Jim Duggan well he was a wrestler who carried a plank of wood to the ring and shouted hooooooooooo! No the meaning ho did not have the same meaning in the 80’s as it did now before any of you are like :oO * faints * If you haven’t guessed the program by now let me put you out of your misery, it’s the one, the only Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats!!!!!!
Besides having one of the best and I mean the BEST cartoon intro’s of all time. I know me and my brother (who’s twitter username is @captrodwell ) still know every word to this intro even though he may try and deny it ;o) Chances are if you’re not in the same age bracket as me you wouldn’t know Thundercats or you may have seen the remake. Trust me this one show like Transformers when the original cartoon is far, far, far superior!
For those of you who haven’t seen it, let me explain the premise if it to you. It was a show created in 1985 during the ‘golden era of tv cartoons’. The cartoon is about a race of catlike humanoid aliens on a planet called Third Earth. It begins with the Thundercats homeworld Thundera meeting its end, forcing the Thundercats to flee their homeworld. Whilst fleeing the fleet is attacked by the their enemies, the evil mutants of Plun-Darr who destroy most of the starships in the “ThunderFleet,” but spare the flagship hoping to capture the legendary mystic Sword of Omens they believe is on board. The sword holds the Eye of Thundera, the source of the Thundercats’ power, which is embedded in the hilt. Though the Mutants damage the flagship, the power of the Eye drives them back. The damage to the ship means the journey to their original destination is not possible, instead having to journey to “Third Earth”; which will take much longer than they had anticipated. The eldest of the ThunderCats, Jaga, volunteers to pilot the ship while the others sleep in capsules; however, he dies of old age in the process, but not before ensuring they will reach their destination safely. The flagship contains the young leader of the Thundercats, Lion-O, as well as Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, WilyKit and WilyKat, and Snarf.
When the ThunderCats awake from their suspended animation on Third Earth, Lion-O discovers that his suspension capsule has slowed, rather than stopped, his aging, and he is now a child in the body of an adult. Together, the Thundercats and the friendly natives of Third Earth construct the “Cat’s Lair,” their new home and headquarters, but before long, the Mutants have tracked them down to Third Earth. The two races making their presence known the Third Earth, does not go un-noticed. However a intrusion of these two alien races upon the world does not go unnoticed, however, as a demonic, mummified sorcerer Mumm-Ra recruits the Mutants to aid him in his campaign to acquire the Eye of Thundera and destroy the Thundercats so that his evil may continue to hold sway over Third Earth.
So there you have it! In a nutshell it’s a show about half cat-half human people forced to flee their dying home planet, they get attacked whilst leaving and land on a strange planet. Where they are followed by their enemies and the intergalactic battle continues on a strange new world for a weapon that can sway the battle in good or bads’ favour. If you are having trouble grasping this concept, subsitute the Thundercats with Autobots, Mutants with Decepticons, Third Earth with Earth and Sword Of Omens with Energon and you get the point! Ok, ok, it’s a Transformers rip off, I know but weren’t most shows in the 1980’s? The only difference was unlike Gobots this was good!
Now let’s get down to business and let me start casting the characters who I feel would be ideal for this movie.
Lion-O
In the heavily rumoured remake of 2011, it was leaning towards Brad Pitt as the central character, this for me was wrong. At the time of the Thundercats home planet being destroyed Lion-O was only 12 years old and due to his suspension capsule being broken, although he aged pshyically he did not age mentally and was a child trapped in a man’s body. For me I decided to choose someone who is well known in the public eye but some of you may go WHAT??? For me I went with KIT HARRINGTON. Why did I go with Kit? Well it did take me a lot of thinking but let me explain. For those of you who have see Kit’s work in Game of Thrones, will know that he is a brilliantly versatile actor and quite often he had to make a choice between what was good for himself or good for the Night’s Watch. I for one would like to see this kind of inner turmoil and added depth brought to the the character of Lion-O
Tygra
Tygra is quite often the voice of reason, a keen mixture of warrior and scientist. He is Lion-O’s second in command and the one he turns to for support and advice. Tygra is also responsible for the design of all the buildings on Third Earth. Tygra has a special and unique combat skill and this is the ability to create illusions in other peoples minds, kinda like Professor X in the X-Men. He is also the most quiet and reserved Thundercat but not afraid to fight when the occasion is called for it. For me there was only one choice, given not only his likeness, ability to act as the quiet laid back one who you can rely on when the chips are down is none other than HUGH JACKMAN. Think about it, if Hugh could slightly tweak his Wolverine character to that of Tygra I for one think he would be perfect.
Panthro
I know a lot of people will be going Vin Diesel, Vin Diesel, VIN DIESEL but I disagree!! Panthro is the Thundercat who is not only strong but also incredibly talented with his hands. For this you need yet another character who is able to bring the mix of Panthro to the big screen. On one hand Panthro is a family man with a great sense of morality, family pride and also an infectious laugh, he is also known as a stone cold warrior. For me the choice is easy and I have gone with THE ROCK. Yes I know I chose The Rock as He-Man but let’s face it, very few characters are able to portray these roles and few do it to the level as The Rock. Plus I’d love to see Panthro lay the smackdown on that candy ass Mumm-Ra!
Cheetara
Cheetara is a no nonsense asskicking female warrior. She is often the voice of reason amongst the gang and has a sixth sense for trouble. Yes she has the Spideysense! However this sixth sense also allows her to see visions many of which, she does not want to and as a result she often views this as a cure. Who would I pick for this role? Well it’s somebody who’s no stranger to being in torment I went with CHLOE BENNET. Some of you may be going who? But for those Team Marvel fans amongst us, who else thinks that the Skye character from ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’ would make an awesome Cheetara? Me for one! Plus we’d get to see Chloe in a Cheetara outfit for me that’s a win win situation!
WilyKit and WilyKat
These are the ‘children’ of the show, often referred to as ‘Thunderkittens’ for me this could be any child actor and actress, I wouldn’t know who to cast due to my lack of knowledge of child actors and actresses! Yes it may be a kop out but I bet you couldn’t think fo many acting 8 year olds!
Snarf
Snarf is a the loveable character, think Scooby Doo but a cat. Snarf was Lion-O’s protector when he was a boy, quite often protrayed as the comedic relief Snarf is in fact quite intelligent and surprises the Thundercats with witty thoughts and reluctance to shy away from battle. For me, although I was toying with the fact of Will Ferrel, I had to go with SETH ROGEN. Yes I know I used Seth in my He-Man reboot but he’s such an amazingly talented actor, try and tell me you wouldn’t want to see Seth Rogen portray Snarf. You can’t can you.
NOW FOR THE VILLAN!!!
Mumm-Ra
For me Mumm-Ra was one of the most terrifying people from my childhood, along with the person who did the voiceover in Count Duckula. So I have to get this right, I have to get an actor who will strike fear into another generation of children the same way he did to me when I was young. I mean for someone who is a ‘chief demon priest’ and the self proclaimed ‘everliving source of evil’ you need someone who can make an impact. Sorry Potterheads but for me Mumm-Ra would kick Voldermorts ass in a second. For me I thought long and hard about this, some off the wall names popped up like William Fichner. I went with someone who I feel was an inspired choice CHRISTOPHER WALKEN. Yes I know he’s in his 70’s and Mumm-Ra is meant to me some jacked up juiced up evil sorcerer, but for me I chose to focus on the psychological aspect and I for one think that Christoper would be great at this and I’d be scared to say no!
Right that’s my concept for a hypothetical Thundercats reboot, I hope you like the choices, I know each one of you may have your own opinions but that’s what this article is meant to do, get your creative juices flowing, who would you have as Lion-O let me know, hooooooooooooooo.
Besides it can’t be worse than the 2011 cartoon remake!
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