ThunderCats’ Live-Action Movie Is Exactly What The 1980s Franchise Needs After 2 Failed Reboots

ThunderCats is finally getting a live-action movie, and this is exactly what the 1980s franchise needs after two failed reboots. The ThunderCats franchise has attempted to make a comeback several times since the ending of its orignial 1980s series, but these reboots just haven't worked out, with many wondering if ThunderCats will ever return to its former glory. With the announcement of a ThunderCats movie, however, it is possibly that things could finally work out, redeeming the original animated series after its recent failed reboots.

A live-action ThunderCats movie is officially in development, with this upcoming film set to bring the franchise back into the spotlight. Director Adam Wingard has promised that the upcoming film will stay true to the 1980s aesthetic while still bringing the world of ThunderCats back and to the big screen. ThunderCats may seem like an odd choice for a live-action reboot, but fans of the franchise are rejoicing, as it will bring ThunderCats back for a new era. While it is strange, this live-action reboot is perfect for ThunderCats in the wake of its previous failures.

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ThunderCats’ 2 Other TV Shows Were A Failure (For Different Reasons)

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Since the ending of the original ThunderCats series, two other ThunderCats TV shows have been made, although they were both failures for different reasons. The first ThunderCats reboot came in 2011, with it attempting to stay true to the story and tone of the original series. While it was beloved by fans, it wasn't commercially successful enough to continue, with it being canceled after 26 episodes. This was the last universally beloved ThunderCats project, with its cancelation being a tragic end for fans of the franchise.

Related Casting The ThunderCats Live-Action Movie: 11 Actors Who Would Be Perfect The Thundercats live-action film depends on its carefully chosen cast, bringing the beloved characters to life for both new and long-time fans.

The second ThunderCats reboot came in 2020 with the release of ThunderCats Roar, a reimagining of the series for Cartoon Network. Similarly to Teen Titans GO!, ThunderCats Roar took a more comedic approach and featured simplistic designs for the characters. ThunderCats Roar was a far cry from the 1980s ThunderCats that fans know and loved, with the critical reception of the series being a huge stain on ThunderCats. This is the last official ThunderCats project to have been released, with the franchise being in serious need of redemption.

ThunderCats (2011)’s Cancelation Proves Reviving The ‘80s Franchise Won’t Be Easy

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The 2011 ThunderCats series is considered to be exactly what fans of the ThunderCats franchise wanted, with it staying consistent with the tone and story of the original. Despite this, 2011's ThunderCats series was still a failure, showing that ThunderCats could struggle in the future even if it does stay true to the original series.

Because of this, the live-action ThunderCats movie could face the same problem, with it also hoping to stay true to the original show. ThunderCats 2011 proved that the franchise could do everything right and still fail, while ThunderCats Roar proved that the franchise could try something different and fail as well. Thus, the live-action ThunderCats movie seems to be in a lose-lose situation, with it needing to figure out the formula for a successful ThunderCats project if it wants to revive the 1980s franchise in a way that actually works.

What The Live-Action ThunderCats Movie Needs To Succeed

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ThunderCats is a really weird franchise, and if it wants to succeed it needs to make this weirdness marketable. Live-action CGI versions of human-cat hybrids haven't been successful in the past (with the Cats movie musical being a major point of reference), so the ThunderCats movie will have to figure out how to do this without being too weird for audiences. However, Marvel movies like Guardians of the Galaxy have proven that audiences are willing to accept some pretty weird stuff if it is done well, and ThunderCats could go down this same road.

Tons of live-action reboots of cartoons have failed by trying to adapt campy shows into ultra-serious movies, and ThunderCats simply can't do this. Maintaining the campy tone of the original 1980s ThunderCats series is a necessity for the live-action movie, with this being the movie's key to success. ThunderCats can't be taken too seriously due to how weird it is, but this made it perfect for the 1980s. Embracing the cheese will allow the live-action ThunderCats movie to flourish, and hopefully the upcoming movie reboot can pull this off.