Secret Level

Last updated
Secret Level
Secret-Level-Anthology-series-logo.png
Logo
Created by Tim Miller
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Tim Miller
  • Dave Wilson
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video

Secret Level is an upcoming American adult animated anthology series created by Tim Miller for Amazon Prime Video. It is produced by his Blur Studio with Amazon MGM Studios. Dave Wilson executive produces and serves as supervising director. It will consist of 15 stories set in the worlds of different video games.

Contents

The series was ordered by Amazon in August 2024 and was first revealed at Gamescom that month. It is scheduled to release worldwide on December 10, 2024.

Premise

Fifteen standalone short stories based on popular video games and franchises are told in the series. [1] [2]

Production

Secret Level was created by Tim Miller, who executive produces at his company Blur Studio. Blur Studio serves as a production company along with Amazon MGM Studios. Dave Wilson serves as executive producer and supervising director. The series was ordered by Amazon Prime Video on August 14, 2024. [3]

Promotion

A character resembling actor Keanu Reeves who appears in the Armored Core episode gained media attention when the series was revealed. Armored Core pilot face.jpg
A character resembling actor Keanu Reeves who appears in the Armored Core episode gained media attention when the series was revealed.

The series was announced during Gamescom on August 20, 2024. A trailer was released at the event, which featured segments from each of the episodes. [1] [4] The pilot who features in the Armored Core episode was the subject of media attention and speculation due to his resemblance to actor Keanu Reeves. [5] [6] Though Prime Video declined to disclose casting information at the time of the announcement, ComicBook.com reported an influx of "nearly nothing but replies about Reeves and his potential appearance in [the series]" under a post by Armored Core's social media account. [7] IGN 's Wesley Yin-Poole said that were it not really Reeves, the actor could claim a royalty payment due to the certainty of the character's likeness to his. [8] GamesRadar+ 's Ali Jones remarked that while the shot could have been "simply be an ethnically ambiguous man with similar facial hair", they noted the likeness, and doubted that Armored Core would place the image so prominently on their social media account if it were "just some random actor" and not Reeves. [9]

Release

The series will premiere worldwide on December 10, 2024. [10]

Video game series that feature in the show are: [11] [12]

BrandOwner(s)
Armored Core FromSoftware
Concord Sony Interactive Entertainment (Sony)
Crossfire Smilegate
Dungeons & Dragons Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro)
Exodus Archetype Entertainment (Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast)
Honor of Kings TiMi Studio Group (Tencent)
Mega Man Capcom
New World: Aeternum Amazon Games (Amazon)
Pac-Man Bandai Namco Holdings
PlayStation PlayStation Studios (Sony)
Sifu Kepler Interactive
Sloclap
Spelunky Mossmouth, LLC
The Outer Worlds Private Division
Unreal Tournament Digital Extremes
Epic Games
Warhammer 40,000 Citadel Miniatures
Games Workshop

Related Research Articles

<i>Metroid Prime</i> 2002 video game

Metroid Prime is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. Metroid Prime is the fifth main Metroid game and the first to use 3D computer graphics and a first-person perspective. It was released in North America in November 2002, and in Japan and Europe the following year. Along with the Game Boy Advance game Metroid Fusion, Prime marked the return of the Metroid series after an eight-year hiatus following Super Metroid (1994).

<i>Metroid Prime 2: Echoes</i> 2004 video game

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is a 2004 adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. The sequel to Metroid Prime (2002) and the first Metroid game with a multiplayer feature, Echoes was released in North America, Europe and Australia in 2004 and in Japan under the name Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes in May 2005.

Armored Core is a third-person shooter mecha video game series developed by FromSoftware. The series centers on a silent protagonist who takes on work as a mercenary pilot in the far future, operating large robot combat units known as Armored Cores at the behest of corporate and private clients. As the player completes missions for these clients, they gain credits to improve their Armored Core and unlock further opportunities to make money. Some games include an "Arena" mode in which the player fights other Armored Core pilots in head-to-head battles, which can reward the player with further income or prestige.

<i>Armored Core</i> (video game) 1997 video game

Armored Core is a 1997 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game is the first entry in the Armored Core series. A digital port was released in 2007 in Japan and 2015 in North America on the PlayStation Network as a part of the PSone Classics line of games.

<i>Armored Core: Master of Arena</i> 1999 video game

Armored Core: Master of Arena is a 1999 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation. Master of Arena is the third entry in the Armored Core series and a direct sequel to Armored Core: Project Phantasma. It is the final game in the original Armored Core trilogy. The game was not released in Europe. An indirect sequel, Armored Core 2, was released on August 3, 2000, for the PlayStation 2.

<i>Silent Line: Armored Core</i> 2003 video game

Silent Line: Armored Core, known in Japan as Armored Core 3: Silent Line, is a 2003 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2. It is the seventh entry in the Armored Core series and a direct sequel to 2002's Armored Core 3. In 2009, Silent Line: Armored Core was ported to the PlayStation Portable.

<i>Armored Core: Nexus</i> 2004 video game

Armored Core: Nexus is a 2004 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2. It is the eighth entry in the Armored Core series and a sequel to 2003's Silent Line: Armored Core. Unlike Silent Line, Nexus is not an expansion but rather a full-fledged sequel.

<i>Armored Core: Last Raven</i> 2005 video game

Armored Core: Last Raven is a 2005 mecha-based vehicular combat game developed by FromSoftware. It is part of the Armored Core series and is a direct sequel to Armored Core: Nexus (2004). The game was originally released for the PlayStation 2 and was ported to the PlayStation Portable in 2010. Gameplay remains largely unchanged from the game's predecessors and is centered around piloting a large mech in combat missions for various clients. The game is also notable for being the debut project of future FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki.

Kratos (<i>God of War</i>) Character and protagonist of the God of War video game series

Kratos is a character and the protagonist of Santa Monica Studio's God of War series, based on Greek mythology and, later, Norse mythology. He first appeared in the 2005 video game God of War, which led to the development of eight additional titles featuring the character as the protagonist. Kratos also appears as the protagonist of the 2010 and 2018 comic series, as well as three novels retelling the events of three of the games. The character was voiced by Terrence C. Carson from 2005 to 2013, with Christopher Judge taking over the role in 2018's continuation, also titled God of War. Antony Del Rio voiced a young Kratos in Ghost of Sparta.

God of War is an action-adventure game franchise created by David Jaffe and developed by Sony's Santa Monica Studio. It began in 2005 on the PlayStation 2 (PS2) video game console and has become a flagship series for PlayStation, consisting of nine installments across multiple platforms. Based on ancient mythologies, the series' plot follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who becomes the God of War and comes into conflict with various mythological pantheons. The earlier games in the series are based on Greek mythology and see Kratos follow a path of vengeance against the Olympian gods; the later games are based on Norse mythology and see Kratos go on a path of redemption while also introducing his son Atreus as a secondary protagonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titmouse, Inc.</span> American animation studio

Titmouse, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Los Angeles, California founded in 1999 that develops and produces animated television programming, feature films, music videos, title sequences, commercials, and short films. The name is derived of the titmouse, which serves as the company's mascot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gamescom</span> Trade fair for video games

Gamescom is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Gamescom is the world's largest gaming event, with 370,000 visitors and 1037 exhibitors from 56 countries attending the event in 2018. The event is used by many video game developers to exhibit upcoming games and game-related hardware. The “gamescom - Opening Night Live” (ONL) show takes place every year on the evening before the opening. The show presents the latest trailers and announcements from the international games industry and is hosted by Geoff Keighley.

<i>Scalebound</i> Cancelled video game

Scalebound was an action role-playing game developed by PlatinumGames from 2013 until its cancellation in 2017. It was scheduled to be released in 2017 for Windows and Xbox One, but Microsoft Studios announced its cancellation in January 2017. In the game, players would assume control of Drew, who is accompanied by a dragon called Thuban. Players could use a variety of weapons to defeat enemies, and could issue commands to the dragon, which assisted players during battles. Unlike other games developed by PlatinumGames, the game was to put more focus on graphical qualities and the role-playing aspect instead of action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Miller (director)</span> American film director

Timothy Miller is an American filmmaker. He made his feature-film directing debut with Deadpool (2016). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as co-story writer and executive producer of the short animated film Gopher Broke (2004). Miller directed Terminator: Dark Fate (2019), and also designed the title sequences of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Thor: The Dark World. He is the creator, showrunner and producer of the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots, for which he has received several Primetime Emmy nominations and awards.

<i>Arcane</i> (TV series) 2021 animated fantasy series

Arcane is an adult animated steampunk action-adventure television series created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee. It was produced by the French animation studio Fortiche under the supervision of Riot Games, and distributed by Netflix. Set in Riot's League of Legends universe, it primarily focuses on sisters Vi and Jinx. The series was announced at the League of Legends 10th anniversary celebration in 2019, and first released in November 2021. Following the conclusion of the first season, Riot Games and Netflix announced that a second and final season was in production, to be released in November 2024.

<i>BRZRKR</i> American comic book series

BRZRKR is a comic book series created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt and drawn by Ron Garney. The comic follows an immortal warrior, known as Berzerker, as he fights his way through the ages. The first issue of the 12-issue limited series was published on March 3, 2021, by Boom! Studios. It raised more than $1.4 million USD in its funding campaign on Kickstarter.

<i>The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes</i> 2021 interactive drama game

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a 2021 interactive drama and survival horror video game developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is the third game of the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. The game features a multilinear plot in which decisions can significantly alter the trajectory of the story and change the relationships between the five playable protagonists; some lead to their permanent deaths. House of Ashes is set during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and follows five characters—four Americans working for the US Armed Forces and one Iraqi Republican Guard—who must escape from an underground Akkadian temple and survive the vampiric creatures that infest the area. Ashley Tisdale, who plays CIA operative Rachel King, was marketed as the game's leading actress. Jason Graves, a long-time collaborator with Supermassive for the series, composed the soundtrack during COVID-19 lockdowns in the United Kingdom.

<i>The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020</i> Upcoming interactive drama game

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020 is an upcoming interactive drama and survival horror video game developed and published by Supermassive Games. It is the first game of the second season, and the fifth game overall in The Dark Pictures Anthology. Continuing the series' premise, the game features a cast of five playable protagonists and a multilinear narrative influenced by player choices. Its decision-making scenes can significantly alter the trajectory of the plot and change the relationships between the main characters; some can lead to the permanent death of the protagonists. In Directive 8020, a colony ship called Cassiopeia crash lands on Tau Ceti f, a planet that is 12 light-years from Earth. Lashana Lynch, who plays astronaut and pilot of the Cassiopeia, Brianna Young, is being marketed as the game's leading actress.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Cole (August 20, 2024). "Love, Death & Robots creator reveals new gaming-themed anthology series for Prime Video during Gamescom Opening Night Live". Windows Central . Future plc. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  2. Higham, Michael (August 20, 2024). "Amazon Series Secret Level Reveals Animated Stories For God Of War, Sifu, Warhammer And More". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (August 14, 2024). "Prime Video Orders Animated Video Game Anthology Series Secret Level From Love, Death & Robots Creator". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  4. Schedeen, Jesse (August 21, 2024). "Secret Level: Every Video Game In The New Gamescom Trailer". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  5. Gach, Ethan (August 20, 2024). "It Sure Looks Like Keanu Reeves Is Starring In An Armored Core Short Film For Amazon". Kotaku . G/O Media. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  6. Barder, Ollie (August 21, 2024). "New Anthology Series Secret Level Will Feature Armored Core". Forbes . Integrated Whale Media Investments. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  7. Moore, Logan (August 20, 2024). "Is Keanu Reeves in Secret Level's Armored Core Episode?". ComicBook.com . Savage Ventures. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  8. Yin-Poole, Wesley (August 21, 2024). "It Looks Like Keanu Reeves Is in Amazon's Armored Core Animation". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  9. Jones, Ali (August 20, 2024). "I think Keanu Reeves is in the new Armored Core adaptation, and I can't believe no one's saying anything about it". GamesRadar+ . Future plc . Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. Seitz, Loree (August 20, 2024). "Video Game-Inspired Secret Level Anthology Series Gets December Premiere Date on Prime Video". TheWrap . Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (August 20, 2024). "Prime Video's Animated Anthology Series Secret Level Reveals Full List Of Featured Games, Including Pac-Man & D&D, Gets Premiere Date & Teaser". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  12. Tassi, Paul (August 21, 2024). "A List Of Every Game Featured In Amazon's Promising Secret Level Show". Forbes . Integrated Whale Media Investments. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.