Among many of Sega’s dusty IPs, one I never would have dreamed of being roped into an animated comedy series is Golden Axe. And yet here we are. Indeed, Golden Axe is heading toward the silver screen as a 10-episode animated comedy series on Comedy Central.
You’d think I’d be making an absurdly late April Fools joke, but the premise is at least eye-catching. The Golden Axe animated series seems to mostly follow the events of the first game, viewed through a comedy lens. But the characters you grew up with, like Ax Battler, aren’t alone on their journey to defeat Death Adder for good.
They’re paired with the unfortunately named Hampton Squib. He’s being played by Community‘s Danny Pudi, in what’s likely a straight man-type role to a group of half-naked battle maniacs who look like they fell out of a Boris Vallejo painting.
The Golden Axe animated series is coming from the people behind American Dad and Star Trek: Lower Decks
The series will be produced by CBS and led by folks with credits in many popular comedy shows. Mike McMahan, with roots in Star Trek: Lower Decks and Solar Opposites, is the co-writer of the show’s first episode along with Joe Chandler (American Dad!). McMahan will continue as the executive producer, while Chandler takes the showrunner role.
Many familiar characters will grace the series. The hunky Ax Battler is being played by Liam McIntyre (The Flash, Spartacus); Gilius Thunderhead, the dwarf, will be portrayed by Matthew Rhys (The Americans); and the role of Tyris Flare, the fire sorceress, is going to Lisa Gilroy (Jury Duty).
Let’s see where this is going
Interestingly enough, the show will also feature at least one character who often flies under the series’ radar. The panther-man Chronos “Evil” Lait from Golden Axe III will appear in the show, played by Carl Tart (Star Trek: Lower Decks, Grand Crew). The team promises even more cameos from the series.
I am, at least, intrigued by what’s being attempted. Whether or not it’ll please ornery, old Sega fans like myself is impossible to say at this point. With the given information stating that Gilius Thunderhead is grumpy and smells bad, and that Chronos makes people uncomfortable with his self-inflated ego, I’m going to have to wait and find out.
There is some potential for humor in the series, to be fair. I’d like to see what they do with the goofy Chicken Leg enemy/mount, the midnight elf thieves, and how you can defeat most enemies by sidestepping their charge while near a ledge. That always made me laugh, anyway.
