After listening to Plumtree's "Scott Pilgrim", Bryan Lee O'Malley was inspired to create a shōnen-style comic book series. It became an enduring indie darling of the same name that would spawn a film, a video game and an upcoming animation series.
The premise: Scott Pilgrim is a Canadian slacker and plays bass in a band. Things took a turn of the unexpected when Pilgrim falls for Ramona Flowers. But here's the rub: before they can be an item, Pilgrim must defeat Flowers' seven evil exes.
Edgar Wright, who directed Shaun of the Dead, took the opportunity to adapt the comic book series. Called Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Wright hired Michael Cera for the title role and Mary Elizabeth Winstead for Flowers. Other actors that rounded up the cast include Chris Evans; Brie Larson; Mae Whitman; Ellen Wong and Kiera Culkin.
But even the film's positive reviews failed to save Scott Pilgrim vs the World from a lacklustre box office. (This movie was way ahead of its time and I'll fight anybody who says otherwise.) Slowly and surely, it became a cult darling. In 2020, the film was re-released theatrically for its 10th anniversary. And most of the cast reunited for a table read to raise funds for Water For People,
Thanks to the film's revival, a more faithful adaptation of the comic book series was set into motion. Now called Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the series is now animated. Science Saru, the studio behind Devilman Crybaby, takes up reins on animation. Edgar Wright and Bryan Lee O'Malley are producing the series and all the original cast will voice their own characters in the series. The animation looks great, the action sequences and sound effects really turn the excitement up to 11... and it sounds like, there might be new music for the series.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off will stream on Netflix on 17 November 2023.
