It's taken longer than we thought, but Marvel is starting to venture more and more into adult animation. Remember when we had a full slate of these series revealed? Well, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. wasn't the only one that survived the chopping block. Hit-Monkey did as well, and now we have our first look at the upcoming Hulu series. Take a look at the first teaser trailer.
I think it's safe to say that this will certainly be the most violent Marvel animated series to date. The logline provided by Marvel says that the series follows, "a Japanese snow monkey, aided by the ghost of an American assassin, who goes on a revenge quest and becomes the famous 'killer of killers.'"
You might have recognized a couple of voices when you saw the trailer. The cast is actually more impressive than you might think. Take a look at them, along with the character descriptions provided by Marvel:
- George Takei as “Shinji”
A lifelong public servant who has been the man behind the political career of Ken Takahara, his friend and political mentor. But when tragedy strikes, it falls to Shinji to pick up the baton and carry their political dreams forward. A good and honest man who raised his niece Akiko all by himself after the death of her parents. Shinji is the kind of politician everyone wishes they could have. - Olivia Munn as “Akiko”
Smart, ambitious, and powerful, Akiko is the niece of Shinji Yokohama the future Prime Minister of Japan. Having spent time in the west for College and Law School, she has returned with strong opinions about the future of her Uncle’s campaign. Her inherently good nature however masks a darker side, one that will emerge as the season progresses. - Jason Sudeikis as “Bryce”
A world-weary Assassin who’s made some unbelievably poor life choices. He drowns his sorrows in work, travel, and gambling but when it comes to doing hits, there’s no one better. After he’s killed in the Japanese Alps, the ghost of Bryce and Monkey are tied together on a revenge quest. A terrible mentor with a sarcastic, cynical view of the world, Bryce must ultimately dig deep within himself in order to complete his final mission and help Monkey become who he was meant to be. - Ally Maki as “Haruka”
An honest cop from a small town in the north, Haruka comes to Tokyo with dreams of reforming a corrupt city. But can she hold on to her values in the face of so much vice? Her new partner Ito will test her sense of right and wrong and ultimately prove to be the mentor she has always looked for. But when it falls to her to complete their case, will she have what it takes to become the cop she has always felt she could be? - Nobi Nakanishi as “Ito”
The laughing stock of the Tokyo Police Department, and struggling with a drinking problem, Ito is the only one in Tokyo who suspects that Hit-Monkey may actually be one of the good guys. But no one, not even his new partner Haruka believes him. He will have to dig deep into his past and face his demons in order to finally restore his honor. - Fred Tatasciore as “Monkey”
Monkey’s peaceful existence in the Japanese alps is shattered by the tragic loss of his tribe—setting him on a course of revenge and violence in the very world of humans that are responsible for his plight. He’s a killer of killers with a bit of a rage problem. Throughout the series, he must learn to navigate the struggle between his inherently sweet nature and the evil acts he must commit. It’s through his complicated friendship with the Ghost of Bryce (a former assassin and now, Monkey’s unwanted conscience), that will determine whether Monkey will be consumed by his rage or channel it for good. This is the story of Hit-Monkey.
The series is already drawing comparisons to Archer from fans on social media. You can understand why, but I think this show has a chance to break away from that comparison once fans get a chance to see a few episodes. Josh Gordon and Will Speck created the series, and will also serve as showrunners and executive producers. Marvel's Hit-Monkey arrives November 17th on Hulu. Keep checking back for updates.
Photo Credit: Marvel Entertainment/Hulu