Sega is turning Golden Axe into an animated series

Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes of Golden Axe, an animated show based on the fantasy beat ’em up sidescroller games. Deadline writes that it will be both “hilarious and loving” in its adaptation of the game. If I remember my Sega Genesis days well, I think that means there’ll be fighting over who gets to ride the purple bird dinosaur and that, at some point, a gigantic hairy skull will float down and hotbox everyone.

Who’s big idea was this, you ask? You can blame producers Mike McMahan (Star Trek: Lower Decks) and Joe Chandler (American Dad!), who will also write the first episode together, with Chandler serving as the showrunner afterward. A timeline for the show’s release hasn’t been announced yet.

According to Deadline, Gilius Thunderhead (aka the battle dwarf, aka the best character) will be played by Matthew Rhys (Cocaine Bear). The show will also star Lisa Gilroy (Glamorous) as the fire-wielding Tyris Flare and Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) as Ax Battler, a barbarian who doesn’t battle with an ax.

In case you don’t remember or have never played Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, Golden Axe III, or the other Golden Axe games that don’t matter, here’s a compilation someone made of magic attacks from the games:

Rounding out the cast are Danny Pudi as a hapless dreamer named Hampton Squib who’s new to adventuring and Carl Tart as Chronos “Evil” Lait, the villain from Golden Axe III.

Given how long it’s been since there was a new Golden Axe game, it might feel a little like this was an idea pulled from a pile labeled “is this anything?” Then again, there’s a new game coming, so maybe we’re headed for a Golden Axe renaissance? Also, don’t forget that there is a Twisted Metal TV show and that, somehow, there are four seasons of Castlevania on Netflix, with a second season of Castlevania: Nocturne on the way. I don’t know about you, but I’m pulling for Yo! Noid next.