Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland is at it again with a new animated series, and this one has already got some hefty talent set to take up residence in the recording booth. The series itself, Koala Man, isn't exactly new information, but it's now got Hugh Jackman on board.
Jackman, the Australian actor who wowed audiences as Wolverine for well over a decade in the X-Men movies among countless other roles over the years, has just joined Roiland's upcoming animated show Koala Man. Having already received a full series order on Hulu back in March 2021, the project already had some legs to walk on even before Jackman joined up, but now it looks as though audiences have another reason to check out this promising new comedy.
Koala Man, which stars Australian animator Michael Cusack in its lead role, stems from an episode of the animated anthology seriesFresh Blood, which saw Cusack as writer and director of that specific episode. Per Variety, it follows "middle-aged dad Kevin and his titular not-so-secret identity, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil both cosmic and man-made lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready. He'll do whatever it takes to defeat villainous masterminds, supernatural horrors, or worse: jerks who don't take their rubbish bins down on the proper days."
Jackman will play Big Greg, the head of the Dapto Town Council and all-around beloved member of the community. His life has been one long string of successes, which makes his underling Kevin feel inadequate at every turn. As a little extra salt in the wound, the townsfolk regularly assume Big Greg is responsible for Koala Man's efforts at keeping the town safe. Sounds like how a lot of people probably felt when Jackman's Wolverine gave them orders.
The series looks to continue Roiland's trend of adult animated shows with charming characters and a deceptively optimistic sense of humor. Rick and Morty is often seen as a cynical show, but it tends to ultimately focus on positive messages once all the hilarious and often morbid dust settles. The story of a regular guy doing his best to be extraordinary sounds like exactly the kind of idea that will flourish in this format.
In a way, it almost feels like a spiritual successor to many of Adult Swim's classic animated offerings, though perhaps a bit less surreal than Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. A fun, potentially low-impact comedy like that could be just what many viewers need right now, and Jackman's dulcet tones are sure to be the icing on that already comforting cake.
Koala Man currently has no release date, but is planned to run for 8 episodes on Hulu.
Source: Variety