Scott Pilgrimis coming toNetflix, and not just to take on the world again. The streaming giant isreportedly producing a newScott Pilgrimanime series based on the graphic novel, previously adapted for the 2010 cult classic filmScott Pilgrim vs. The World. Its style of blending live-action actors and CGI special effects is one of the best movies to do so sinceWho Framed Roger Rabbit?In the film, Michael Cera plays the 22-year-old (23/24 in the graphic novel) bass-playing rocker knocked head over heels when Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) skates through his dreams. The movie also featured pre-MCU stars Chris Evans and Brie Larson playing, what else, but famous super-powered celebrities.
Though the film bombed on its initial release, it eventually became famous among a cult following and has a reputation as a truly unique romantic comedy. As a live-action movie, the project seemed to stay true to the animation style primarily by taking the actors' actions and overlaying classic comic book-style special effects over them. There were a lot of references to video game end-screens and power-ups and scenes where cool stunts would rack up meaningless points that were surprisingly effective at adding drama and intensity. There was some debate about whether or notScott Pilgrimwas problematic, but that’s a different article. At the very least, it is a genuinely unique story told differently from any other, and it is worth reading/seeing.
But in this adaptation to Netflix, what willScott Pilgrimbe like this time?
Getting the Band Back Together
While the movie merged live-action stars with CGI effects, this project is said to be an anime. Although Netflix has not officially ordered a series yet, there are producers and companies signed up to be involved. This means that the project is still in its infant stages of development. Whether the animation style will attempt to resemble the graphic novel or go for an original anime aesthetic is likely being debated as we speak. Brian Lee O’Malley, the creator ofScott Pilgrim, has said before that Japanese manga influenced him greatly when he created his work, so it might not be surprising to see a faithful anime from him.
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According toThe Hollywood Reporter, who first announced these rumors, Netflix is working with a branch of Universal Studios that helped createThe Umbrella Academy.And despite there not yet being an order for the series, executive producing credits are being handed out to many of those who helped produce the 2010 film. Edgar Wright (who adapted the graphic novel to film) will receive one, as are Nira Park, Marc Platt, Jared Leboff, Adam Seigel, and Michael Bacall. Bryan Lee O’Malley seems to be on board to run the show and write alongside BenDavid Grabinski.
In this fashion, O’Malley joins a popular trend of authors and graphic novelists who seem to be helping adapt their works to the screen. Among them is famous British author Neil Gaiman who will be bringing his graphic novelThe Sandmanto Netflix this summer. While Gaiman has said he has needed some convincing to adapt his works in the past (specifically withGood Omensdue to the loss of Terry Pratchett), he seems to have taken a liking to the process. So we might start seeing more of our favorite graphic novels be adapted in the future.
What Would Scott Pilgrim Anime Look Like?
As stated earlier, the show is barely in its infancy, without even a series order, so it’s impossible to tell what creative decisions have been made. But it’s fun to speculate! The previously linked Hollywood Reporter article states thatNetflix has the animeproduction studio Science SARU“on tap” to help animate the series. So it’s quite possible that the animation style might change. If so, O’Malley might be taking the character in a new creative direction. After all, we’ve already been told the story of how Scott Pilgrim won the heart of Ramona Flowers.
Related:Here’s Where the Cast from Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World Is Today
O’Malley’s writing partner BenDavid Grabinski has gained some renown for writing the 2019 seriesAre You Afraid of the Dark?and the 2021 movieHappily– staring Joel McHale for all youCommunityfans. If these projects are any indication, the series will probably be a little deeper than the movie. And if it is done in an anime style, and not just in the style of O’Malley, then coordinating with another writer could be a sign of an innovative direction in storytelling.
Batman was not-so-famously adapted into the anime movieBatman Ninja. And even though it was primarily a parody and wasn’t very good, it was absolutely everything you wanted from an anime movie and aBatmanmovie. However, it’s doubtful that studios would take on a project like producing Scott Pilgrim just to have a dual parody of genres. But knowing O’Malley, the series will not be without its big, funny clichés and points toward classic tropes and gags.
