There was speculation about a live-action film version of the classic cartoon series from the 80s, Thundercats it's been a long time. The excitement reached its peak in March when Deadline reported that Godzilla vs. Kong director, Adam Wingard, is on board to direct the film and will rewrite the script with Simon Barrett. The idea is to take the concept of the incredible 1985 animated series and transform it into a hybrid of CGI and animation.
If the project actually goes ahead, it could be a visually stunning experience, as the animated series not only had great characters like Lion-O, Cheetara, and Panthro, but also featured many sequences that would look amazing in live-action. film. The series' fantastic location, plus its wonderful array of heroes and villains, would look great in a film version, and filmmakers would have plenty of options when it comes to reimagining some of the most exciting sequences and characters.
10
The Thunderians escape their home planet Thundera
“Exodus” Season 1, Episode 1
The pilot episode of Thundercats would be the perfect starting point for a live-action film. The plot follows the Thunderians as they flee their dying homeland of Thundera. In pursuit are their archenemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr, who destroy most of the fleet but spare the flagship, as it contains the legendary and mystical Sword of Omens. It's an engaging start to the animated series and introduces the main characters who are already in great danger.
A live-action film needs to happen, and an opening space battle, with modern visual techniques and visual effects, would be a spectacular way to start the film. Showing Thundera being destroyed would give the film, and a potential franchise, a compelling narrative from the start. It would also be a great way to introduce the main villain, Mumm-ra, who teams up with the Mutants in their quest to destroy the Thundercats.
9
Creating the Ultimate Mumm-Ra
Seasons 1-4
Mumm-ra is one of the most iconic animation villains of the 80s. He has a zombie appearanceand gray skin with large glowing red eyes and jagged teeth. His body is covered in mummification bandages and he wears a red cape at all times, covering his withered body. He's the kind of villain who would look great with a Thanos-like motion capture performance.
He's the kind of villain who would look great with a Thanos-like motion capture performance.
A fan-made trailer for the potential live-action film was recently posted to YouTube and featured Willem Dafoe as Mumm-Ra, which would be a great choice. His usual form makes him appear withered and weak, but as soon as he utters the phrase, “Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decaying form into Mumm-Ra, the Ever Living!”, he transforms into a muscular demon. A mix of mo-cap, plus a serious actor, would bring Mumm-ra to life perfectly.
8
The Warrior Maidens
“Trouble with Time,” Season 1, Episode 7
The Amazonian-like Warrior Maidens would be a great addition to a live-action film. They are a tribe of Amazon-like women who live in the Treetop Kingdom, in the forest of the Third World, and are all skilled marksmen and skilled archers. Their first appearance, in the season 1 episode “Trouble with Time”, sees them confronting the Thundercats after they appear on their land.
The Warrior Maidens joined Cheetara in Thundercats tradition, and they should have had more screen time. If the live-action film followed the Season 1 narrative and had them forge allies with other Third World inhabitants who are initially hostile, it would create an intriguing dynamic for the plot. The Warrior Maidens are central to the events of Season 1 and would be a formidable ally to feature in the film.
7
“The Tower of Traps”
Season 1, Episode 8
Two of the most prominent and very cute characters from the best Thundercats episodes, are WilyKit and WilyKat, or, as they are affectionately known by their colleagues, the Thunderkittens. The live-action film will have to appeal to a younger audience and the eighth episode of season 1 The Tower of Traps, has a sequence that would perfectly showcase the Thunderkittens. Great danger for the brothers awaits if the film borrows key story beats from this sequel.
Much like when Simba and Nala escape to the elephant graveyard in The Lion KingThunderkitten's adventure in the trap tower would be a pivotal moment for them. In the series, WilyKat goes missing, and Lion-O and WilyKit must navigate a series of deadly traps to find him. The sequel had a fun Indiana Jones sense of adventure, and that would look great in live action Thundercats film, especially when the gargoyles come to life at the end.
6
“Lord of the Snows”
Season 1, Episode 13
Fantasy shows and movies often use some wonderfully named devices to move the plot forward. avatar had the ridiculously named Unobtainium, a valuable energy source, and Thundercats it also had its own element that was vital to how everything was fueled; Thundrillium. In “Lord of the Snows,” Lion-O travels to Hook Mountain to retrieve a meteorite that contains Thundrillium, and the snow-filled sequence would look incredible in a live-action film.
The view of Hook Mountain, with the beautiful ice castle at the top, would be incredible, and Lion-O's subsequent battle with Snowman would make a great action sequence. What's more, in the series, Snowman attacks Lion-O while riding a giant lion, named SnowMeow, which was a fan favorite in the cartoon. Additionally, Lion-O proves his worth as the Lord of the Thundercats by taking control of SnowMeow and befriending Snowman. The sequel would be exciting and make up for some of the franchise's biggest mistakes.
5
Panthro confronts his evil clone
“Spitting Image” Season 1, Episode 18
Lion-O could be the main protagonist in Thundercatsbut the series often shifted focus to other characters in order to establish them and give them more agency in the narratives. Panthro is one of the more headstrong members of the team, and the Season 1 episode “Spitting Image” includes some excellent character development that would be vital to the film.
The sequence where Mumm-ra creates Panthro's evil clone would be a great addition for live action Thundercats reboot, as it's one of the cartoon's darkest moments. He pushed the limits of what a children's series could do in the 80s and created an exciting and suspenseful narrative. Thundercats often showcased the strengths of the various Thunderians, and Panthro's character arc in this episode would be a great inclusion in the film.
4
“Lion-O's Final Anointing Day: The Judgment of Evil”
Season 1, Episode 61
One of the coolest visually cool locations that would look amazing in live action Thundercats film, it is the home of Mumm-ra the Ever Living; the Black Pyramid. Aside from a brief moment in “The Unholy Alliance,” we only get a glimpse of the exterior of the pyramid and the interior of the chambers. Therefore, it would be a really cool moment for fans to see a fully realized version of Mumm-ra's lair in the film.
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IMDB's highest-rated episodes Thundercats |
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Episode |
IMDB Score |
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Last day of Lion-O's anointing: the judgment of evil |
8.3 |
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The Last Day |
8.3 |
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Second day of Lion-O's anointing: the speed test |
8.2 |
A live action Thundercats it's exactly what the franchise needs, and with its visually inventive landscapes and buildings, it's rich for exploration in the live-action film. There's a limit to how much the film can include, but if it can delve into the destroyed civilization that is hinted at in the creation of the Black Pyramid, it would be very exciting. Additionally, this episode features one of the best battles between Lion-O and Mumm-ra, and although they have a lot of fights, the opportunity to learn more about Mumm-ra's history would increase their rivalry.
3
“The Phantom Warrior”
Season 1, Episode 11
Jaga is the mentor and master warrior of all Thundercats. He was one of Thundera's best fighters and also served as Lord of the Thundercats for a short time. He often appears to Lion-O as a ghost to offer him guidance.just like Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: A New Hope. The Season 1 episode, “The Ghost Warrior,” features a plot that would look incredible in a live-action film, if the film did the cartoon justice.
Jaga has the opportunity to do more than just act as a wise old mentor for Lion-O, and also gets some great character development. However, it is his fight with Grune the Destroyer, a Thunderian warrior from Jaga's past who haunts the Thundercats, that would be a great spectacle in the film. The episode ends with a thrilling fight between two giant ghosts in the sky, which is the perfect action sequence for the live-action reboot.
2
WilyKit and Wilykat launch Mongor
“Mongor” Season 1, Episode 19
Satanic imagery wasn't the most common aspect of 80s children's cartoons, but the Season 1 episode “Mongor” features just that. Furthermore, it was the series' lovable villains, the Thunderkittens, who unleashed the devil in the episode, which would have given impressionable children nightmares in the 1980s.
It would also be intriguing for a live-action film to push the envelope in terms of potential darkness and horror, which the cartoon hinted at in episodes like “Mongor.”
WilyKit and WilyKat are the film's main selling points for younger audiencesTherefore, situations of great danger for the pair are essential. It would also be intriguing for a live-action film to push the envelope in terms of potential darkness and horror, which the cartoon hinted at in episodes like “Mongor.” The devil's design in the show was suitably macabre and had a Freddy Krueger-like way of feeding on your fears. The live-action film would benefit from leaning in this darker direction.
1
Lion-O Vs Mumm-ra
“The Last Day” Season 2, Episode 45
The battle between good and evil is the most compelling part of any fantasy series or film, and Lion-O's battle with Mumm-ra would be one of the most exciting aspects of a live-action film. The stakes increase considerably in one of the best Thundercats episodes“The Last Day” from season 2. Mumm-ra's aggressive violence throughout the episode is genuinely terrifying and would make for an incredible spectacle in the film.
Furthermore, the weight of the entire series fell on the confrontation between Lion-O and Mumm-ra, and “The Last Day” provided a masterclass in dramatic storytelling. The way the scene is created in the series would be the perfect storyboard for the live-action film to draw inspiration from. It is inevitable that the film will feature a final fight between the two main characters in ThunderCatsand if the film manages to stay true to the 80s cartoon, it would be an emotional climax for the film.
Sources: Deadline