Someone pour me three drinks and clear the dancefloor, because I'm about to transform into "Amy Dance Pants!"
Marvel TV and Hulu have unveiled casting today for MARVEL'S M.O.D.O.K., and animated series based on the fan-favorite Marvel villain. Slated for a 2020 debut, MARVEL'S M.O.D.O.K. stars Patton Oswalt as the megalomaniacal supervillain M.O.D.O.K., whose dream it is to one day conquer the world. There's only one problem, though. After years of setbacks and failures fighting the Earth’s mightiest heroes, M.O.D.O.K. has run his evil organization A.I.M. into the ground. Ousted as A.I.M.’s leader, while also dealing with his crumbling marriage and family life, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing is set to confront his greatest challenge yet: a midlife crisis!
Why am I ready to transform into "Amy Dance Pants," you ask? Well, it's because Melissa Fumero – who stars as Amy Santiago on NBC's BROOKLYN NINE-NINE – has just been added to the cast of MARVEL'S M.O.D.O.K. If that's not enough to get your arms flailing in an absurd fashion, perhaps the news that PARKS AND RECREATION alum Ben Schwartz and LUCIFER star Aimee Garcia are also joining the fray will do the trick. Still not convinced? Alright, you drive a hard bargain, but I'll bite.
Here's a full cast and character breakdown for MARVEL'S M.O.D.O.K.:
Patton Oswalt (“A.P. Bio,” “Veep,” “Happy”) as M.O.D.O.K. – After being ousted from both his evil organization and his family, super villain M.O.D.O.K. (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) must reinvent himself if he ever wants the chance to win back the things in his life that are most important… outside of conquering the world that is. M.O.D.O.K. is about to find out that super heroes are nothing compared to his newest challenge… a midlife crisis.
Aimee Garcia (“Lucifer,” ”El Chicano,” “Dexter”) as Jodie – Jodie, M.O.D.O.K.’s wife and mother to his children, has had a late-in-life awakening — excited to pursue her mommy-blog turned lifestyle-brand empire and discover who she is as an independent woman in her forties. There are just too many things to do in this world and not enough time to waste being held back by negativity. And unfortunately for M.O.D.O.K., the thing weighing her down the most… is him.
Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Recreation,” “House of Lies”) as Lou – To be honest, M.O.D.O.K. doesn’t really “get” his twelve-year-old son Lou. Not athletic enough to be a jock. Not smart enough to be a nerd. Lou is… well, Lou — a kid who clearly marches to the beat of his own drum. Lou’s lack of friends, ambition and hygiene is a constant worry for M.O.D.O.K., who often projects his own insecurities onto his overly confident son.
Melissa Fumero (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) as Melissa – Even with her father’s “features,” seventeen-year-old Melissa has risen the ranks to become the Heathers-like queen bee of her school and a star in the world of teen figure skating. Every popular kid either wants to date her or avoid her terrifying wrath. But for all of her success, Melissa secretly yearns for her father’s approval.
Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”) as Monica Rappaccini – Monica is a brilliant mad-scientist at A.I.M. and M.O.D.O.K.’s rival at work. Clearly more competent and qualified than M.O.D.O.K., Monica believes she should be running the organization. After GRUMBL acquires A.I.M., Monica relishes in M.O.D.O.K.’s suffering until the new management begins to infringe on her ungodly experiments. With a common enemy in Austin, M.O.D.O.K. and Monica are finally able to put aside their differences and work together… when they aren’t constantly betraying each other.
Beck Bennet (“Saturday Night Live,” “Bill & Ted Face The Music”) as Austin Van Der Sleet – After M.O.D.O.K.’s evil organization A.I.M. is run into the ground, he’s forced to sell it to silicon valley tech-giant GRUMBL. GRUMBL sends slick, twenty-something Austin as a “post-merger-integration-consultant” and M.O.D.O.K.’s new boss. Though M.O.D.O.K. wishes he could just zap Austin to the Negative Zone, M.O.D.O.K. must find new solutions to confront Austin’s corporate jargon-speak and frequent mandatory HR meetings, if he’s ever going to reclaim A.I.M. from Austin’s grip.
Jon Daly (“The Kroll Show,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) as Super Adaptoid – A snarky android with ambitions to live, feel and create, but is instead forced to spend his days massaging the hoverchair sores on his creator M.O.D.O.K.’s scalp. Although the Adaptoid dreams of overwriting his programming and turning on M.O.D.O.K., there is also a begrudging friendship between these two.
Sam Richardson (“Veep,” “Ghost Draft”) as Gary – Gary is a henchman or “beekeeper” at A.I.M. who is fiercely loyal to his boss M.O.D.O.K., even if M.O.D.O.K. struggles to remember his name. As M.O.D.O.K. continues to get demoted within his own organization, Gary is there by his side, always offering his help and unshakable optimism whether M.O.D.O.K. wants it or not.
“I’m blown away by our insanely talented and hilarious voice cast, who have all brought their specific kind of magic to this weird and wonderful corner of the Marvel Universe,” said EP and showrunner Jordan Blum of the additions to the series. “Patton and Jordan have done a phenomenal job in laying the groundwork for this exceptional ensemble, we’re thrilled to include this cast in the Marvel family,” added Karim Zreik, Marvel TV Studios SVP, Original Programming & Production today in a statement.
Oh man. I don't know how familiar you all are with M.O.D.O.K., but the idea of an animated show centered around the classic Marvel villain experiencing a midlife crisis already has me howling with laughter. You see, A.I.M. is an evil organization within Marvel that never appears to be operating at full steam, thanks in part to the nefarious company's bumbling staff of bee keeper lookalikes. Oh sure, they've been at the center of a world-threatening plot or two throughout Marvel's storied career, but lately, they've been something of a joke on the comic book page, and I can't wait to see how their ineptitude causes headaches for M.O.D.O.K.'s over-sized noggin.
MARVEL'S M.O.D.O.K. will premiere sometime in 2020!