Rumors of a sequel to Disney’s superhero film Big Hero 6 have bounced about the web for quite some time. It’s clear, from directors Don Hall and Chris Williams neither confirming nor denying a sequel’s existence to Honey Lemon’s voice actress hearing “rumblings,” that Disney has something planned for the property. While these plans may not necessarily include a straight sequel per se, it definitely wouldn’t be like Disney to leave something as successful as Big Hero 6 to simply collect dust. Keeping this in mind, the following news report may prove both shocking and amusing all at once.
Bleeding Cool, courtesy of a MASSIVE tip from an anonymous source who’s reportedly “very close to Disney,” confirmed that the studio is in early development of spinoff films set in the world created for Big Hero 6.
You heard that right. Following in the footsteps of Warner Bros., the studio that is building a cinematic universe for its LEGO films (LCU), Disney will construct a cinematic universe for Big Hero 6!
From what we are told, the films that are currently in a stage of early development are solo films for two Big Hero 6 team members: Fredzilla (TJ Miller) and Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez). There will also be a third untitled feature that will apparently serve as a “prologue of sorts” to the next Big Hero 6 film.
Luckily for us, there are a LOT of details involving the films and where they might fall in the the larger Big Hero 6 framework. Let’s delve right in, shall we?
First up, FREDZILLA:
–Both this film and Honey Lemon will take place a “number of months” after Big Hero 6. In the case of Fredzilla, the film will take place during the summer.
–The film is being constructed to be a “comedic spy action-thriller” that “just so happens to have a superhero element at its center.”
–Details on the film’s plot remain sketchy. The main gist seems to be that, while on summer vacation at a gaming tournament, Fred gets mixed up with a “wide-spanning conspiracy” that forces him to team up with an underground spy organization to take down a “nefarious evil plotting to wreck havoc.”
–Fredzilla will also have a “buddy-film” element. Fred will team up with Nick Souza (Agent Souza), a young agent who works for the spy organization. He is biracial (half Caucasian and half Brazilian) and is, like Fred, a nerd at heart.
–The film will have a vastly different tone than Big Hero 6. Weirder, wackier, and more “free-for-all.” Our source tells us, “Think a more kid-friendly Kingsman: The Secret Service mixed with elements of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and that’s essentially the general tone that the film is aiming for.”
–While not a major element of the film, Fred will reportedly have a love interest.
–The main villain of the film is described as a “Lex Luther-type” millionaire who uses his wealth to fund a massive criminal industry disguised as a legitimate business. He also has something of a grudge against Alistair Krei and Krei Tech in general (but nothing to the extent that Yokai/Professor Callaghan had).
–The main villain will be aided by two hired mercenaries (named Whiplash and Lancer), who will both face off against Fred and Nick at multiple points in the film. Staying true to the rules of the Big Hero 6 universe, these characters won’t have actual superpowers. However, they will have state-of-the art technology and weapons (supposedly stolen from Krei Tech and repurposed for the villain’s uses).
–Whiplash is a villain from the 2008 mini-series from Chris Claremont and David Nakayama. In Fredzilla, she will be an African-American woman with dyed purple hair and a snarky attitude. Her primary weapon of choice is a bullwhip with a built-in electrical discharge that can stun her opponents.
–Lancer is a villain created specifically for the film. He is British and tends to make a lot of quips. He is the muscle of the two and, like Whiplash, he is only in it for the money (at first). His primary weapon is a medieval-style broadsword and power gauntlets that allow him to wipe the floor with his opponents during hand-to-hand combat.
–The majority of the film won’t be set in San Fransokyo. Instead, the film will take us to a version of Boston that will be consistent with the near-future look established in Big Hero 6.
–Fred’s father (voiced by Stan Lee) won’t appear in the film, but he does have a connection with the spy group that Fred partners up with.
–There is also a “mystery” character who appears in the film. Nothing much about this character is known, except that he has the appearance of a classic pulp hero (jet pack included) and also has a connection to Fred’s dad.
As for HONEY LEMON:
–The film will take place in the fall and will (for the most part) be set in San Fransokyo.
–The film is described as a “mystery-tinged action adventure with strong Sci-Fi elements.”
–The villain of the film will be a female mad scientist who goes by the nickname ‘Madame LaRoche’ (her real name is Kayla LaRoche Cardin).
–Madame LaRoche is meant to be the “antithesis” of Honey Lemon and what she stands for.
–Honey has a history with Madame LaRoche. When they meet for the first time since middle school, the two engage in a “good science vs. bad science” fueled conflict.
–The film will also examine Honey’s relationship with science. In particular, it will delve into the beginning of her chemistry obsession.
–One other member of Big Hero 6 will appear in the film (reportedly for an extended cameo).
–As with Fred, Honey will also have a love interest. However, Honey’s love interest will be more integral to the Honey Lemon plot (as he happens to be LaRoche’s half-sibling and an unwilling participant in her evil plans).
–Tonally, the film will embrace the more “anime-inspired” aspects of the Big Hero 6 universe.
As opposed to Fredzilla and Honey Lemon, we know very little about the third untitled Big Hero 6 spinoff film. We know that there will be two plot elements that will tie both Fredzilla and Honey Lemon together, and that one of these elements will be the main focus of the third spinoff film. We are also told that the third spinoff film will be “something of a conspiracy thriller” and that Abigail Callaghan, the daughter of Professor Callaghan, will appear in the film (possibly as a lead character).
As far as the screenplays are concerned, our source names a a few writers who are reportedly involved with the scripts. Animated TV writer-producer Jeff Kline and Marc Haimes (Kubo and the Two Strings,Titans) are said to be involved with Fredzilla. Jane Espenson (Warehouse 13 and Once Upon a Time) and Doug Langdale (El Tigre, The Book of Life) have been attached to Honey Lemon. Lastly, newcomer Matt Lieberman (who has a project set up at Paramount Animation) is being courted to take the reigns on the third spinoff.
On a final note, our source did tell us that Fredzilla and Honey Lemon are only the working titles for each respective film and that these spinoff films are constructed with the main conceit that “the appearance of a superhero team has caused a domino effect that will be explored in both the spinoffs and any Big Hero 6 sequels, should Disney pursue them.”
There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on here. Almost too good to be true.
Check out the complete report here on Bleeding Cool.
What do you think? Are these cool ideas for Big Hero 6 spinoff films?
Edited by: Hannah Wilkes
