Prime Video have revealed a cast list for its upcoming animated anthology Secret Level that’s so stacked, it could probably win a celebrity Royal Rumble. We’re talking Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves – the holy trinity of vaguely-defined action heroes.
But the talent pool doesn’t end there. Temuera Morrison, fresh off his Boba Fett misadventures, joins the fray, alongside Ariana Greenblatt, Emily Swallow, Gabriel Luna, and Ricky Whittle. And if that’s not enough star power for you, how about Patrick Schwarzenegger, Merle Dandridge, Claudia Doumit, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Clive Standen, Laura Bailey, and Michael Beach? It’s a lineup that could make a casting director spontaneously combust from sheer excitement. Color me intrigued, but also cautiously pessimistic.
Anthologies are notoriously uneven, and the video game adaptation track record is, shall we say, less than stellar. The potential for creative gold is there, but so is the risk of crashing and burning in a fiery explosion of cliché and fan service. Will Secret Level manage to tell compelling stories that resonate even with viewers unfamiliar with the source material? Or will it devolve into a series of inside jokes and Easter eggs that only the hardcore will appreciate?
With 15 episodes dropping in pairs starting December 10th on Prime Video, we’ll find out soon enough. The talent involved is undeniable, but talent alone doesn’t guarantee quality. Here’s hoping Secret Level can level up the video game adaptation game and deliver something truly special.
