Matthew Rhys and Liam McIntyre Star in First Trailer for SEGA’s ‘Golden Axe’ Animated Series Release Date Set
Video game adaptations have emerged as a reliable trend in Hollywood, often focusing on the most recognizable franchises. However, SEGA’s extensive back catalog includes many hidden gems waiting for their chance to shine, and one of the studio’s oldest properties is finally getting the animated treatment after years of delays.
The journey to adapt ‘Golden Axe’ for the screen began back in 2014, making the project’s path to Paramount+ a notably long one. Fortunately, that wait is almost over, as the fantasy-comedy series is set to debut on September 16, offering fans of the classic 1989 side-scrolling beat-’em-up their first glimpse of how the show brings that world to life through animation.
To mark this occasion, Entertainment Weekly has unveiled an exclusive first-look trailer and images showcasing the show’s tone and cast in action. The new adaptation leans heavily into meta comedy, with series regular Tyris Flare kicking things off by explaining how both the show and the original game function: facing “a series of progressively harder enemies until we have a big final battle with Death Adder,” before delivering the punchline that “we kill him for good.”
The storyline follows three returning heroes as they reunite to confront the formidable villain Death Adder, who, true to franchise tradition, refuses to stay dead. Emmy winner Matthew Rhys, enjoying a career resurgence thanks to ‘Widow’s Bay,’ lends his voice to Gilius Thunderhead, portrayed as “a grumpy battle dwarf with exceptionally poor hygiene and a chip on his shoulder.”
Liam McIntyre, known for his role in ‘Spartacus’ and currently voicing the title character in the ‘Marvel’s Wolverine’ video game, plays Ax Battler, a barbarian warrior whose “brawn outweighs his brains, but his heart outweighs his brawn.” Lisa Gilroy completes the trio as Tyris Flare, a battle sorceress described as “deadly in a fight and even deadlier with her sharp wit.”
Their reunion becomes complicated with the introduction of Hampton Squib, voiced by Danny Pudi, a newcomer eager to join their quest despite being wildly unprepared for the challenges ahead. Carl Tart also joins the cast as Chronos “Evil” Lait, a character originally introduced in ‘Golden Axe III,’ depicted as “a 100 percent badass humanoid panther.”
Initially greenlit at Comedy Central in April 2024, the series received a 10-episode season order from co-creators Mike McMahan, known for ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks,’ and Joe Chandler, whose credits include ‘American Dad.’ Production is handled by CBS Studios in association with Sony Pictures Television and Original Film, with animation by Titmouse Productions.
The connection to Comedy Central has since shifted, with the series now set to premiere on Paramount+ ahead of its September debut. This move reflects a broader trend within Paramount’s content strategy, where properties originally developed for cable networks are increasingly transitioning to the company’s streaming service.
This adaptation arrives amid a surge of SEGA properties making their way to the screen, a trend largely driven by the box office success of Paramount’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ film franchise. This success seems to have opened the door for the studio to explore deeper into SEGA’s catalog, with ‘Golden Axe’ being one of the more unexpected selections given the long period the property remained dormant without a serious screen adaptation.
With a star-studded voice cast, a self-aware comedic tone, and nearly a decade of development struggles finally coming to fruition, ‘Golden Axe’ appears ready to carve out its own niche among the growing wave of video game adaptations hitting streaming platforms. Fans of the original games will get their first comprehensive look at how faithfully, or irreverently, the show handles its source material when it premieres next month.
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