''Henchmen'' is a 2018 Canadian computer-animated

action comedy film Action comedy is a genre that combines aspects of action and comedy. The genre is most prevalent in film with action comedy films, though several TV series fit this genre. Film The action comedy film is a film genre that combines aspects of acti ...

directed by Adam Wood and co-written by Wood, Jay D. Waxman, David Ray, and Bobby Henwood, based on Wood's own 2014 short film ''Henchmen: Ill Suited''. The film stars

Thomas Middleditch Thomas Steven Middleditch (born March 10, 1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian and screenwriter. He is known for his role as Richard Hendricks in the HBO series '' Silicon Valley'' (2014–2019), earning a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award ...

as a henchman-in-training,

James Marsden James Paul Marsden (born September 18, 1973) is an American actor, singer, and former model. Marsden began his acting career guest starring in the television shows '' Saved by the Bell: The New Class'' (1993), '' Touched by an Angel'' (1995), ' ...

as his mentor, Rosario Dawson as a scientist, and

Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British-American actor known for his work on the stage and screen. He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Pla ...

as the super villain. Production began in May 2015 in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

. Produced by

Bron Studios Bron Studios (stylized as BRON) is a Canadian motion picture company based in British Columbia owned by Bron Media Corporation. Bron's notable productions include '' Joker, Bombshell, Queen & Slim, Greyhound, Judas and the Black Messiah,'' '' ...

, the film was originally planned to be released in 2016, but ultimately received a limited release in Canada on December 7, 2018, by Entertainment One. In the United States, it was released on digital platforms on October 9, 2020, by

Vertical Entertainment Vertical Entertainment is an American film distribution and production company founded by producers Richard B. "Rich" Goldberg and Mitch Budin in 2012. History In 2012, Rich Goldberg & Mitch Budin founded Vertical Entertainment, a film distribut ...

Premise

A fallen henchman named Hank leads a team of Lester and two others, called the "Union of Evil", who must prevent Baron Blackout from dominating the world. The crew are assigned to the Vault of Villainy, where Lester accidentally steals the ultimate weapon.

Cast

as Lester *

as Hank * Rosario Dawson as Jolene *

as Baron Blackout *

Will Sasso Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and wil ...

as The Gluttonator and Union Boss *

Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion (; born March 27, 1971) is a Canadian-American actor. He played the leading roles of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on '' Firefly'' and its film continuation '' Serenity'', and Richard Castle on '' Castle''. , he was starring as J ...

as Captain Superior * Rob Riggle as Biff *

Jane Krakowski Jane Krakowski (; ; born October 11, 1968) is an American actress, comedienne, and singer. She is best known for her starring role as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series ''30 Rock'' (2006–2013, 2020), for which she received four ...

as Jane * Craig Robinson as Stew *

Bobcat Goldthwait Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait (born May 26, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, known for his black comedy stand-up act, delivered through an energetic stage persona with an unusual raspy and high-pitched voice. ...

as Jackalope

Production

The project was first announced on August 13, 2014, when Adam Wood's short film ''Henchmen: Ill Suited'' was released, with Gary Sanchez Productions (owned by Adam McKay,

Will Ferrell John William Ferrell (; born July 16, 1967) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show '' Saturday Night Live'', where he performed from 1995 to 2 ...

and

Chris Henchy Christopher Thomas Henchy is an American screenwriter and producer. He is best known for being a creative collaborator with Will Ferrell, including co-creating the website Funny or Die and writing several Ferrell films, including '' Land of the L ...

) attached to executive produce the film for

. Wood would direct the film, which he and Dennis McNicholas would co-write. On May 29, 2015, the full voice cast was revealed, including

, Rosario Dawson,

, Rob Riggle, Craig Robinson and

. At that time, it was also confirmed that production on the film had begun at Bron Studios in

Burnaby Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the centre of the Burrard Peninsula, it neighbours the City of Vancouver to the west, the District of North Vancouver across the confluence of the Burrard I ...

and Duncan,

, and that Gary Sanchez Productions had left the project, replaced by Aaron L. Gilbert and Luke Carroll.

Critical reception

References

External links

* * * {{bcdb title, 167564 2018 action comedy films 2010s animated superhero films Animated action films Animated superhero comedy films Bron Studios films Canadian action comedy films Canadian animated feature films Canadian superhero films Features based on short films Films scored by Toby Chu Films shot in British Columbia 2010s English-language films 2010s Canadian films Supervillain films