TIM MILLER: Take it away, Robert.
ROBERT KIRKMAN: Oh my gosh, I was going to say, Tim, talk first.
I mean, I don’t know.
Image via Columbia Pictures
Everybody talks about how difficult it is.
The hoops, the arbitrary things that happen that kill movies every single day is absolutely insane.
I don’t really have any update for that.
Image via Columbia Pictures
Let’s see what happens.
It’s a crazy process behind the scenes.
I wish I could go into any specificity.
Custom Image by Jefferson Chacon
DAVE WILSON: It definitely does take a long, long time.
And as far asinside-inside, that is not Tim Millers real hair.
KIRKMAN: I had a project very recently, and I got a call.
We’re going into production.
Then, a couple of weeks went by, and I was like, I wonder what happened.
I haven’t heard anything.
So I called, and I was like, What’s going on with that project?
And they said, They said no.
That was at Steve’s panel that I heard that.
Even if you’re Jim Cameron, they don’t automatically do your film.
So, don’t give up on your dream.
Like, if I can do it, anybody can do it.
Will AI Bring on the Apocalypse or Great VFX?
Theres only one way to find out!
A lot of people are talking about AI in Hollywood.
Image via 20th Century Studios
Do you view it as a threat?
Do you view it as something that the industry is going to sort of learn to work with?
What do you think it’s going to be in five or 10 years, not just today?
WILSON: Look, I’m excited by it.
I think there are going to be great things.
I also feel a certain amount of, you might’t put the toothpaste back into the tube.
Custom Image by Jefferson Chacon
I don’t think it’s going to do that…thistime.
KIRKMAN: You’re just trying to get on the good side.
Even if it means putting Dave in a concentration camp.
WILSON: Thank you.
KIRKMAN: Look, I think it’s scary.
Youwantit to happen, don’t you?
I definitely don’t.
I watched a version ofCommando 2starring a young Arnold Schwarzeneggerandme.
WILSON: Havent we all watchedyourpersonally curated content already?
Invincible is an adult animated superhero series that revolves around 17-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age — except his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man. But as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.
MILLER: You know what?
So, why are we going to make bad movies?
It’s why people tell stories.
It’s why some people are better authors, storytellers, or directors than others.
We’re going to see what happens, but it is going to cost people jobs.
It is already costing people jobs.
MILLER: I actually think the future is going to be a better place.
It’s the time between now and the future that is going to be tricky.
KIRKMAN: That is true.
Original stories set within the worlds of iconic video games are featured in this animated anthology series.
And is that time between 30 years, 10 years, or 100 years?
MILLER: I kind of think these people don’t give a fuck about this conversation.
Let’s move on, Steve.
Robert, I’ll start with you.
Can you take us through what it was like when you were trying to getThe Walking Deadon TV orInvincible?
If you could pull back the curtain, like, how many meetings is it?
What is it really like?
What are the complex parts of the negotiation?
KIRKMAN: Look, the honest truth is that Frank Darabont gotThe Walking Deadmade.
So, I wasn’t in a lot of those meetings.
Now give it to us, and fuck off.
We’re in this world you’ve created.
No, we’ll give Robert this.
No, we’ll give Robert this.
No, we’ll give Robert this.
I was a full EP.
I was with everybody making casting decisions, but I was fortunate that those two places wanted it.
KIRKMAN: Guy from Kentucky, guy who directedShawshank Redemption…
KIRKMAN: No, I get it.
I was pretty valuable in that room.
So, I understand from their perspective how crazy the creators and the authors and people seem.
I can see their perspective.
If we do this in the show, this is how people will react.
That stuff was very valuable.
Now, that said, I knew when to go.
Costume’s not my expertise.
I am not going to demand that they wear this hat.
MILLER: So the takeaway is, Robert Kirkman savedThe Walking Dead.
Otherwise, it would be a terrible television show.
You should all thank him.
He deserves your love.
KIRKMAN: You’ve seen [The Walking Dead]World Beyond.
HBO swung and missed with this odd explanation.
So, you have this great success withThe Walking Deadand then withInvincible.
How is it different when you’re making an animated series?
Can you talk behind the scenes on that?
KIRKMAN: I guess that goes to it’s who you know.
It’s the access you have.
GettingInvinciblemade took a long time, but once certain things aligned, it was a pretty easy process.
Sharon Tal eventually found herself at Amazon and had green light power, and so she was a buddy.
They were trying to expand their animation and do more animation, and it was just conversations with her.
We did not put together anInvinciblepackage; we did not pitchInvincibleto a ton of outlets.
Thank you, Sharon.
KIRKMAN: And because of that relationship,Invincibleis produced in-house at Skybound.
Tim, I loveLove, Death & Robots, and you also haveSecret Levelat Prime Video.
Was it easier based on the success ofLove, Death & Robots?
I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside him and being his friend for over two decades.
Then, we were going to go and turn it into a feature of anthologies.
And that was where I was like, I don’t get it.
Because I would watch that in the theater in a heartbeat.
MILLER: We had 100 meetings, and it’s not just me because this was beforeDeadpool.
R-rated animated anthology were three words that didn’t go together in the world of Hollywood.
Then I madeDeadpool, and then David said, Fuck the movies.
Let’s just go to Netflix because they’ll take a chance on this.
And that’s what we did.
Then that show becameLove, Death & Robots.
But it really was meeting after meeting after meeting.
It was a much easier lift because they could see exactly what we were going to do.
Tim, I’m sure you guys have all battled people behind the scenes.
There’s always something you have to overcome.
MILLER: I thought you were going to tell us about Vin Diesel, Dave, andBloodshot.
WILSON: Your panel is not long enough.
KIRKMAN: But maybe just a little.
[Laughs]
WILSON: No.
Breaking down the backstory of this super-soldier with nanites in his blood.
MILLER: What the fuck is that?
KIRKMAN: I’m just saying.
I’m just saying.
These tequila companies don’t start themselves.
That’s all I have to say.
KIRKMAN: Who’s gonna make the tequila?!
You have to be willing to lose sometimes.
And they said, Well, you have to do it.
You don’t have a choice.
That’s the way it was written.
you’re free to’t change it.
And I said, But I don’t understand it.
There’s no choice.
This is what you have to do.
And then I said, Well, then Iunquit.
You think this shit’s not real until somebody goes, Your family?
Theyre going to be on the street.
WILSON: Now, shoot the scene.
MILLER: Shoot the scene, director boy.
It does happen like that.
But I can tell you, onDeadpool, it’s a non-linear narrative, right?
It takes place in flashbacks and what have you.
It’ll never work, and it won’t be good.
But I still had to do it.
Everybody sees it now.
KIRKMAN: Name names!
MILLER: Come on, man.
KIRKMAN: Did you seeMegalopolis?
MILLER: At least he paid for it.
KIRKMAN: I liked it.
MILLER: I didn’t see it.
Coppola discusses why he returned to this film 40 years in the making and its meaning.
I’m going to demonstrate something about Tim, though.
He doesn’t like anything.
Name the last three movies you really loved.
I liked that one best.
I thought Rebecca Ferguson’s portrayal of Paul’s mother made the whole movie for me.
Then we’re going to go back toGladiator.
[Laughs]
This is what I mean.
I’m telling you.
He’s very tough to c’mon.
MILLER: And then I’m going to go back toAliens.
Were talking 20-year jumps.
Robert, do you want to share any battles behind the scenes?
KIRKMAN: No, I don’t really, I don’t really have any.
I was going to say there’s not much I can talk about.
Listen, I’m trying to be a good boy, but I will say Tim is not wrong.
If any of you ever get me in private, I’ll tell you some stories.
This Violent Scene was Cut from Deadpool
The sound of it is like celery crunching.
So you guys are all making stuff at Prime Video and all your stuff has blood and guts.
Is there any pushback from them on anything?
KIRKMAN: I watchThe Boys.
Every time I watch an episode, I go, Okay, give me one fucking note.
I dare you to give me one content note.
The shit that they show onThe Boysis far beyond anything I would ever take a stab at put inInvincible.
[Laughs] So, now, we have never gotten the content note, to Prime’s credit.
If we did, it would be war, and I would be taking about that.
MILLER: Prime has never given us a note on that.
They’ve given us some story suggestions, but there’s never been a note on that.
I will say, I likeThe Boysand I love the comic book, and I like that edgy stuff.
I didn’t get any notes onDeadpooleither, believe it or not, on that topic.
It’s a really ugly fight movement, and the sound of it is like celery crunching.
I mean, it’s just like the scores dropped because it was such an unpleasant thing to watch.
There were no notes there, and I was like, This will never happen again.
MILLER: But nothing like the freedom we get on Prime.
WILSON: That’s what I was going to say.
How Many Seasons of Invincible Will There Be?
Im greedy.
WILSON: You lose a lot of that.
MILLER: Money, Steve.
That’s all there is to.
Writers rooms cost money.
Hopefully, we can tell bigger stories on an annual basis.
KIRKMAN: What?!
MILLER: Yeah, they did.
They told me backstage.
They told me to keep it as a surprise.
KIRKMAN: I’m quitting after Season 12.
MILLER:The Walking Deadis also going to get 92 seasons.
KIRKMAN: That might be true.
So, I really have nothing to say about this topic.
MILLER: He’s had such an easy time, ladies and gentlemen.
With two more confirmed seasons, Mark Grayson must really be… [TITLE CARD]
He is lying.
KIRKMAN: I am completely lying.
Like Dave was saying, the animation takes, like, three years all in to produce a season.
Myself and Simon Racioppa are writing multiple…
I mean, I’m sitting here promoting Season 3.
We’ve already written a bunch of Season 4.
It’s so tangled in my head that it’s very hard to talk about.
We’re in to where we can keep them staggered.
In an ideal world, how many seasons wouldInvinciblego for?
It could be seven, could be 10.
Would you say 87?
We might be able to stretch it to 66.
MILLER: And then I’ll direct theInvinciblemovie when you’re done with the series.
KIRKMAN: I’ll hold you to that.
Youre gonna be real upset.
Im gonna be like, I’m gonna take your fucking house, Tim.
I got a verbal agreement from you, Tim.
Ill put your family on the fucking street.
KIRKMAN: I’ll direct it.
So, withInvincible, seven or eight seasons is the ideal goal.
KIRKMAN: Or nine.
I can be greedy.
It was a real battle to get this thing made.
MILLER: You know what?
I feel nothing but pride.
Not that I’m not grateful.
I’m fucking grateful.
But that’s the way it is because youre a first- time director.
KIRKMAN: I make more than that on an episode ofThe Walking Dead.
MILLER: I know you do, motherfucker.
And Dave had the same deal.
KIRKMAN: Dave, how much did you get forBloodshot?
Come on, man, throw them digits out, baby!
WILSON: No, it’s that.
That’s what everybody gets.
MILLER: It’s not a lot when you think about directing a major Hollywood movie.
WILSON: I mean, from start to end, it’s two or three years.
MILLER: Not always.
But again, I don’t want to sound like I wasn’t grateful.
There are 1,000 people standing behind you, waiting to have all the problems you have.
Tim, what is the status ofThe Goonmovie andBest Served Cold?
MILLER: I will never give up onThe Goonmovie.
It is difficult to make.
We thought we were moving forward.
I think it was at your panel that we announced it was going to be a movie on Netflix.
But what can you do about it except for keep trying?
I will make it.
Look,Deadpooltook six years.
AndFirst Law, which is my passion project I love the books of Joe Abercrombie.
If you haven’t read them, they’re amazing dark fantasy.
Write Prime Video because they could make this movie.
KIRKMAN: I think Prime should make this movie.
MILLER: Were makingThe Goonmovie andBest Served Cold.
I mean, look how successful they’ve been withWheel of Time.
‘Best Served Cold’ is based on Joe Abercrombie’s novel by the same name.
KIRKMAN: They make so many movies.
MILLER: Jeff Bezos has got a lot of money.
Then we sawThe Lord of the Rings[The Rings of Power] did very well for them.
Can you have too much fantasy?
I don’t think so.
KIRKMAN: Shave 10% off the budget of Lord of the Rings and make aGoonmovie, Prime.
MILLER: That’s the fantasy world of how this works, Steve.
Will There Be More Secret Level?
Hint: Yes, Prime Video has since renewed for Season 2.
Im living in a fantasy world.
Its crossovers, like something to give fans, something that they can’t get in the games.
What is the status of moreSecret Level, or is Prime Video waiting for the show to come out?
Have you guys been working behind the scenes in case you get to make more?
MILLER: Steve, you know I can’t answer that question.
KIRKMAN: Whos the wimp now, Tim?
MILLER: I can’t.
KIRKMAN: Who’s the wimp now?
MILLER: Who’s the smart businessman now?
KIRKMAN: Both of us.
MILLER: We hope that the show does well and we’ll do more.
But you don’t know.
Maybe we will, maybe we won’t.
I mean, it’s kind of exciting.
Doing animation, there are always things that are more expensive to do in shots.
Because if we do it this way, it’ll be way cheaper?
They are already standing in the room.
They’re having a conversation, standing against a wall.
So, it’s little things like that that you don’t really think about.
It’s the opposite, Robert.
So, dialogue scenes are the ones that cost us a lot.
When I went to Comic-Cons when I was young, it would be in a motel conference room.
It really means a lot.
WILSON: No, no, hes crying.
I was close enough to see.
you’re free to watch bothInvincibleSeasons 1 and 2 andSecret LevelSeason 1 on Prime Video.
Original stories set within the worlds of iconic video games are featured in this animated anthology series.
