A few years ago, Warner Bros. acquired Genndy Tartakovsky’s R-rated animated comedy “Fixed”—about a dog’s wild last night before being neutered, but CEO David Zaslav shelved the completed 2023 film in a cost-cutting move. Sony later regained the project and shopped it around, and finally Netflix streamed it this summer.
It sounds like Tartakovsky is now again having issues, but with his next film.
The animator took to Instagram post footage of a long-gestating animated project called “The Black Knight” that he’s been developing for years. In his post, Tartakovsky admits that sharing this footage “might get me in trouble,” but says he’s willing to risk it in hopes of breathing new life into the film.
According to the filmmaker, development on “The Black Knight” began about six years ago. Conceived as a more adult-oriented animated film, the project excited Tartakovsky and his collaborators, but the studio behind it was never convinced there was a wide enough theatrical audience. A rough test was produced, yet executives ultimately passed.
Now, in an unusual move, Tartakovsky has decided to share that test publicly in the hope of rallying fan enthusiasm. Though he kept most story details under wraps, Tartakovsky did tease that the titular knight’s armor would stand 20 feet tall and be operated from within using an intricate system of ropes, pulleys, and levers. The film would take place in a 14th-century setting, blending historical backdrop with high-concept visual design.
Tartakovsky concluded the post by acknowledging that he had “already said too much,” but the message is clear—he wants fans to rally behind The Black Knight.
For an artist celebrated for pushing boundaries with “Samurai Jack,” “Primal,” and even his playful work on “Hotel Transylvania,” the move represents both frustration with the system and faith in audience power.
Tartakovsky’s decision to leak footage of “The Black Knight” in hopes of sparking fan demand is similar to Ryan Reynolds’ now-famous gambit with “Deadpool.” In that case, test footage “mysteriously” surfaced online in 2014, igniting such a wave of audience enthusiasm that Fox was essentially pressured into greenlighting the long-stalled project. Will it work again, this time for Tartakovsky? I have my doubts about that.
Marvel's "Ghost Rider" just hired one of the best cinematographers working today. Linus Sandgren will serve as DP on Shawn Levy's MCU flick, and, most notably, the project will be shot on film.