The '90s nostalgia train never seems to run out of steam. Gargoyles, one of the arguably more underrated cartoon series of that particularly loud decade, appears to be making the jump to the modern age with a live-action movie, and it may already have one big name on board.
Having been largely absent from media since its original run, aside from an upcoming remaster of the classic Gargoyles video game, Gargoyles may have dropped from the minds of many in recent years. The '90s cartoon featured the unique premise where a group of supernatural beings from a thousand years ago are frozen in stone and reanimated in modern-day New York. It may not sound all that special at first glance, but Gargoyles drew in audiences with its mature tone and storylines, and it looks like those fans may finally see some vindication.
A new rumor has been swirling around that suggests a live-action Gargoyles movie is in the works. Not only that, but it also appears that the project will be helmed by Northern Ireland director Kenneth Branagh, who is known for directing several films, including 2011's Thor. The rumor initially came from Giant Freakin Robot before receiving a bit of a legitimacy boost from the Belfast Telegraph, as GFR's claims have previously proven misleading or even outright false. At the moment, these are still just rumors. But there's some steam gathering behind them, which could be good news.
Gargoyles aired from 1994-1997 as part of the Disney Afternoon block of programs. While its premise of nocturnal creatures reviving from stone at night to protect the city would have been enough to draw in the crowds, its voice cast certainly did some of the heavy lifting. Its main cast included the legendary Keith David as the lead character Goliath and the late Ed Asner (Carl from Pixar's Up) as fellow gargoyle Hudson. Others in the main cast included Jeff Bennett, Salli Richardson, and the iconic voice actor Frank Welker.
Interestingly, this isn't the first rumbling of a Gargoyles movie. The idea was initially floated before the series ended, with the film project eventually being scrapped after the finale. But 2011 saw a bit of a revival, with a script in the works from David Elliot and Paul Lovett, the writers from blockbuster action thingy G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. There's no word whether this new rumored project will feature that script or is even affiliated with previous attempts. But still, it's nice to have news.
It's unknown if any original stars will return for the live-action movie. But it's also worth repeating that this is still just a rumor, albeit one that seems likely. Branagh may have captured audiences' hearts on-screen as the top-witted detective Hercule Poirot, but here's hoping he can do the same from the director's chair for those who have waited decades to see their stoney Gargoyles heroes again.
Source: Giant Freakin Robot, Belfast Telegraph