Thread by @azalben

I'm here seated for the #ScottPilgrim panel at #NYCC, which is gonna tease and reveal some stuff about Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The show mixes together the books with the cast of the movie into a brand-new anime series on Netflix. Should be an interesting panel 👀

Bryan Lee O'Malley and BenDavid Grabinski are here to talk #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"To be honest, Netflix called me, and I didn't know what to do," O'Malley says. He wasn't sure how to tackle it until he had dinner with Grabinski, who had some ideas of "how to make it feel new again." #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Grabinski actually waited in line to get a signed page of #ScottPilgrim from O'Malley before they were friends, and saw the movie "in the high teens" #NYCC

They've been working on SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF for the past three years. You'll see more about the evil exes, more about the supporting cast #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

O'Malley says that they wouldn't try to repeat the movie because "it's as close to perfection" as you can get. He knows there are "pieces" from the books missing from the movie, but they didn't want to do those either #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"New fights, new loves... Most of the show is almost impossible to predict." - Grabinski #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"You have the movie, which is awesome. You have the video game, which is awesome," says Grabinski teasing that the anime is almost completely different #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Edgar Wright has a video message for the panel.

"This new version of the story... Is really something special, and I think it will be very surprising to you."

He's introducing the brand new, full-length trailer for the series.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Two things I'll tease from the trailer:

1) Yes, Julie Powers is in the show

2) There's a version of the "Mortal Kombat" theme except instead of "Mortal Kombat" it says "Scott Pilgrim"

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Anamanaguchi does the Mortal Kombat theme cover, except with Scott Pilgrim characters.

THE GUY WHO DOES THE ORIGINAL "MORTAL KOMBAT" SCREAM IS THE SAME GUY WHO SCREAMS "SCOTT PILGRIM"

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

There are new Sex Bob-Omb songs in the show written by O'Malley and Grabinski. The musical sequences are animated to O'Malley singing the songs, with the actors dubbing over O'Malley's singing (he just gave us a little bit of Kim Pine) #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"I think they're great." - O'Malley on whether Sex Bob-Omb sucks

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Now showing off the opening credits to the show, which are essentially exactly like the credits to an anime show. Because it is an anime show!

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Science Saru did the credits "all on their own" says Grabinski #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"I think we sent them some of our favorite anime openings. And they ignored that." - O'Malley

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"For me, yes, but I can't say that character because it's a spoiler." - Grabinski on a character he was particularly happy with on the show

O'Malley calls out Chris Evans as "so great" as Lucas Lee.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Grabinski says on getting the cast together. "I highly recommend you have a director who put together one of the best ensemble casts of all time. I highly recommend you have that cast be nostalgic for getting back together... That really worked out for us." #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Grabinski says that you would have expected the cast to have more notes because of the big changes, but they loved the changes - especially "the new shit." #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

On getting very busy actors together Grabinski says it was like a "game of Tetris."

O'Malley says that other things took precedence, like Kieran Culkin doing an 8-hour junket for Succession, and his voice being shot, so they brought him back the next day #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Asked whether it took a while to get back into character, Grabinski jokes, "it took Bryan a while." #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

We just watched a scene showing off how different the series will be: from the first episode, Gideon, surrounded by screens, telling Matthew Patel all about Scott Pilgrim dating Ramona, and how they need to take him down. Classic evil lair scene, totally new for the show

O'Malley says that in the years since the comic, he "wished I had done more" with the exes. "I always wanted to do more with them, and here we are."

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"There are some very, very big surprises," Grabinski teases.

"Just go along for the ride. Don't be scared," O'Malley says. "It's very pro-Scott Pilgrim. Not anti-Scott Pilgrim. The series, not the character."

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Grabinski urges people if you do not watch the show immediately "throw your phone in a dumpster."

O'Malley suggests you "get sleep, hydrate," but also watch the show as quickly as you can, or you'll be spoiled.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Grabinski says that with every scene they wanted to create something surprising for fans, and create the scene if you've never read the books or seen the movie. #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

O'Malley says that you don't have to read the books or watch the movie before seeing the anime. You can watch them in any order.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"If you're 15, you can read about a 23 year old dirtbag and learn a thing or two." - O'Malley

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"Some of these episodes are by far my favorite thing I've ever worked on," O'Malley says of the show

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

One big change from the movie? The Twins have lines now. Julian Cihi does the voice of both twins.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"The Twins have some very significant... Plot... Stuff." Grabinski teases.

Oh, and the robots from the book are back in the anime series.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Moving over the sweet looking SP20 box set, which comes out around July, 2024. They're hardcover versions of both B&W and color versions.

"Over the course of the next year, I'll be doing some fun stuff." - O'Malley says of the anniversary

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"My favorite character is always going to be Ramona Flowers," O'Malley says. "She has blue hair, what do you want?"

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Blake Lively is aiming to direct the SECONDS movie based on O'Malley's book. Lively shared a visual pitch deck with him. "She seems really smart and on it, and I really hope she can do it," O'Malley says, though the strike is holding things up.

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"You never know these days, people are crazy about making sequels years and years later. No plans now, but obviously people here would be very excited if that happened," says O'Malley on a movie sequel

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"We are going to be extremely vague about what is and isn't in the show," Grabinski says when asked if Nelson Franklin, who plays Michael Comeau in the movie, will be back. Though both he and O'Malley say "it would be really interesting if he did."

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

O'Malley explains that the anime takes place in this "magical Scott Pilgrim world" so they can include Toronto landmarks that have closed since the book was first published, where it makes sense. #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

Fan from the crowd: "I love you guys!"

O'Malley: "Get back to us in a month!"

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

"I think Young Neil would just be so successful in whatever he does," Grabinski says on where the characters would be years later #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

O'Malley says he thinks "the overall cultural narrative has changed around Scott... Scott is not a bad person... He's a lovable idiot. I don't think he did anything wrong. Free Scott Pilgrim."

#ScottPilgrim #NYCC

O'Malley restates his story that the initial idea was that he dated a girl who had dated three Matthews, and he wondered what would happen if they all came after him. #ScottPilgrim #NYCC

That’s it for the panel! Thanks for following along.