Confirming enduring rumors, The New York Times reports that Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" will indeed debut next year as an animated series on Disney XD.
Naturally, the series will feature the characters (Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Drax the Destroyer) from the blockbuster film, which has grossed $324 million domestically since its Aug. 1 premiere. Disney did not comment on whether the movie's stars will be involved. It's hard to imagine A-list stars such as Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel and Zoe Saldana signing on for an animated show, but stranger things have happened in this realm. People forget that Tom Cruise was once signed on as the original voice of "Captain Planet" back in the '90s.
Footage of a "Guardians" cartoon was shown in July at Comic-Con International, sparking numerous reports that an animated series was heading to Disney XD. Nevertheless, Marvel Animation was quick to dismiss these claims, with Vice President of Current Animation Stephen Wacker stating: "We definitively did not announce a 'GOTG' animated series. We just showed some test footage that one of our animators was working on."
That statement appeared to be nothing more than a rather large (and ineffective) smokescreen, as Wacker is now telling The Times this series is the "real deal," and the producers will attempt to replicate the hit film's offbeat humor while continuing its plot. To that end, Thanos, the mad Titan himself, will have a prominent role in the series.
He said the hope is that "Guardians" reflects "Phase 2" of Marvel Animation, which already produces "Ultimate Spider-Man," "Avengers Assemble," and "Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H." for Disney XD.
"We've learned what works on TV and what doesn't," Wacker said, explaining that one lesson is "not to underestimate the audience. "You can't be afraid to go deeper, to explore stories and characters with some depth. This audience may be young, but it can spot a stinker a mile away."
