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. It stars the voices of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Laura Bailey, Heaven Hart, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Luna, Ariana Greenblatt, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Michael Beach, Emily Swallow, and Claudia Doumit.

Secret Level
Logo
Genre
Created byTim Miller
Voices of
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Tim Miller
  • Dave Wilson
Production companies
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video

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

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

Cast

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Production

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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.[4]

Promotion

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A character resembling actor Keanu Reeves who appears in the Armored Core episode gained media attention when the series was revealed. His casting was officially confirmed in October 2024.[3]

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][5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

In October 2024 Reeves's casting was officially revealed alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Heaven Hart, Gabriel Luna, Ariana Greenblatt, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Michael Beach, Emily Swallow, and Claudia Doumit.[3]

Release

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The series will premiere worldwide on December 10, 2024.[11] Two episodes will be released every week.[3]

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Video game series that feature in the show are:[12][13]

Brand Owner(s)
Armored Core FromSoftware
Concord Sony Interactive Entertainment
God of War Playstation
Crossfire Smilegate
Dungeons & Dragons Wizards of the Coast
Exodus Archetype Entertainment
Honor of Kings TiMi Studio Group
Mega Man Capcom
New World: Aeternum Amazon Games
Pac-Man Bandai Namco Entertainment
PlayStation Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sifu Sloclap
Spelunky Mossmouth, LLC
The Outer Worlds Obsidian Entertainment
Unreal Tournament Epic Games
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Games Workshop
Saber Saint Petersburg
Focus Entertainment

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Gonzalez, Umberto (19 October 2024). "Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves Join Prime Video's Adult Animated Show 'Secret Level'". The Wrap. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Seitz, Loree (August 20, 2024). "Video Game-Inspired Secret Level Anthology Series Gets December Premiere Date on Prime Video". TheWrap. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
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