There’s a new kid in town, and he’s ready to recreate the true story of America’s founding fathers. Okay, not really, but “America: The Motion Picture” on Netflix sounds like a wild adventure we don’t want to miss.
The creators of “Archer” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” have created an animated film that brings together some of America’s most renowned historical people — though it’s clear that true history isn’t what they had in mind.
“America: The Motion Picture” is directed by Matt Thompson (creator of “Archer”), written by David Callaham (“Wonder Woman”), and produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who worked on “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”) (via Collider). Is that, in fact, a Robocop centaur? Netflix has revealed some photos from the next adult animated comedy, which raise a number of issues.
This (and many others) will be answered when the film is released on Netflix, but there are a few questions we can address in the interim, such as when “America: The Motion Picture” will be published, who will play the lead roles, and what the plot will be. Here’s what we’ve discovered thus far.
When Will America: The Motion Picture Be Released?
Last month, Netflix released its Summer Preview video on YouTube, which featured “America: The Motion Picture” sandwiched between the upcoming animated family picture “Wish Dragon” and the sci-fi thriller “Blood Red Sky,” among other highly awaited original films.
We only saw a few seconds of the patriotic retelling of American history, but it was enough to pique our interest. Along with this all-too-brief preview, Netflix teased what’s to come in an April 27 Twitter tweet that also confirmed the film’s June 30 release date.
In an iconic image of George Washington’s boat crossing the Delaware, the Netflix post gives a video sample of some of the characters in “America: The Motion Picture.”
But there are some odd alterations from the iconic original artwork: Washington takes his typical profile posture, but there’s also a phantom Abraham Lincoln soaring overhead, carrying an axe, and Sam Adams pouring beer in the boat’s bow.
Nurse Clara Barton, who is wearing some killer glasses, joins Geronimo in raising the flag. A toy horse is being played with by another figure. Many people are curious about the movie’s cast because of this strange and anachronistic group, which leads us to our next inquiry.
In America: The Motion Picture, Who Plays The Lead Role?
With so many well-known historical individuals appearing in “America: The Motion Picture,” the voices behind those characters had better be equally well-known — and it appears that the film’s creators have done just that.
Channing Tatum, who portrayed George Washington in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” is the man behind the microphone, playing the group’s courageous leader and historical American Revolutionary War commander. Bobby Moynihan, a “Saturday Night Live” veteran, plays Paul Revere, who also appears in the Netflix photographs as the mysterious Robocop centaur.
Simon Pegg portrays the wicked King James, Olivia Munn portrays a gender-swapped Thomas Edison, and Judy Greer portrays the real First Lady, Martha Dandridge.
Raoul Max Trujillo will play Geronimo, and rapper Killer Mike will play Blacksmith. Comedians Andy Samburg, Will Forte, and Jason Mantzoukes also star in the animated feature, though their roles have yet to be announced.
What Exactly Is The Plot Of America: The Motion Picture?
Forget everything you learned in school about America’s founding, because this isn’t going to be that kind of film.
If the images and trailers Netflix has released thus far aren’t enough of a hint, the official synopsis for the film “”In this wildly tongue-in-cheek animated revisionist history, a chainsaw-wielding George Washington assembles a team of rabble rousers including beer-loving bro Sam Adams, renowned scientist Thomas Edison, acclaimed horseman Paul Revere, and a very pissed off Geronimo to defeat Benedict Arnold and King James in the American Revolution,” according to the trailer for “America: The Motion Picture.” Who will emerge victorious? Nobody knows for sure, but one thing is certain: these are not your father’s Founding… uh, Fathers.”
This “revisionist” account of the American Revolution will undoubtedly take audiences on a wild journey, despite the fact that the film’s R-rating indicates that it is not intended to educate children.
When “America: The Motion Picture” premieres on Netflix on June 30, viewers will be able to determine for themselves whether history is stranger than fiction.
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