Big Hero 6 (cancelled Universal film)

This article is about the cancelled Universal movie. For the 2014 Disney animated movie, see Big Hero 6.

Big Hero 6 was an unreleased 3D computer animated superhero comedy film that was to be produced by Universal Animation Studios. Based on Marvel Comics superhero team of Same Name it is unrelated to 2014 Walt Disney Animation Studios film of Same Name, although it has a similar storyline.

Universal started developing an animated film based on Big Hero 6 comics in 2000, when they acquired film rights and character licenses from Marvel Entertainment. Film was originally planned for 2006 release by Universal Pictures, but was delayed to 2007. In 2006, Universal move film to 2008, and announced Audel Laroque as director of Computer Opolis 2, which he was directing concurrently with Big Hero 6. However, in 2007, project was abandoned by Universal due to script problems, and Laroque announced that he was no longer work on project, and would instead work on an idea that would later become 2013 Quest.

Project was later move to Walt Disney Animation Studios, and was released on November 7, 2014, 7 years after cancellation of original Universal animated film. Had this film been released, it would have been 1 animated film based on a Marvel comic, and 1 and presumably only Universal animated film to feature Marvel characters.

Premise[]

It would have retained some of core themes and character concepts from comics, but would have made substantial changes and builds a new story around them. It would revolve around Hiro (Wood), a 13 year old boy genius who creates Baymax (Laroque) after death of his parents, he forms a superhero team call Big Hero 6 to fight Shikra (Curry), a villain who killed Hiro parents. That storyline is completely different from comic series and Disney film, though Disney film has some similar elements from unproduced Universal film.

Cast[]

Production[]

Development[]

In 2000, Universal Pictures announced that they had bought rights for Big Hero 6 comic book series from Marvel Comics to make an animated film, via Universal Animation Studios to make this. Geo G was attached to direct film from script by Toy Story writers Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. Geo also said that film was expected to see a PG rating, like most live action Marvel films.

In 2001, James Gunn, writer of Scooby Doo (2002), was hired to do re writes for script. In November 2001, Terry Ward took over directing position as Geo left to direct Teenv Movie for a 2003 release instead, although Geo originally designed characters for film. By May 2002, 1 draft was completed. Around 2003, Chris Jenkins then replaced Ward to direct film. In 2004, it was reported that Audel Laroque took over as 4 scheduled director, and had been set to direct feature.

In 2004, Universal set release date for December 1, 2006, which was, in 2005, pushed back to 2007. In 2006, Universal then move film to 2008, and announcing Laroque as director of Computer Opolis 2, which he was directing concurrently with Big Hero 6.

Casting[]

In 2004, film cast was announced. Elijah Wood as Hiro, director Laroque as Baymax, Avril Lavigne as Honey Lemon, Linda Cardellini as Go Go Tomago, Steve Zahn as Wasabi No Ginger, Seann William Scott as Fred, with Tim Curry as Shikra, and George Takei who would later go on to voice Warui Kobayashi in another Universal Animation film Woo La La as Neki.

Cancellation and legacy[]

In 2007, Universal announced that production of Big Hero 6 was ultimately shut down, due to having problems with script. Laroque, who was unhappy about this, said about film cancellation, Story was work that right. We out of ideas now, so we kill Big Hero 6. Not only because Big Hero 6 was suffering script issues, but it is also because Laroque would instead work on an idea that would later become Quest.

During production of Quest for 2013 release, Laroque expressed interest of reviving Big Hero 6, which did not last very long, however. In 2012, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced they were in development with Marvel to make an unrelated film of Big Hero 6, which was released on November 7, 2014. Knowing Universal version could not be completed before Disney version, Audel drop project.

Scripts[]

Each script has a different storyline.

BIG HERO 6 by JOEL COHEN & ALEC SOKOLOW (First Draft, 12-15-2000)[]

Main article: Big Hero 6 (2000 screenplay)

BIG HERO 6 by JAMES GUNN (First Draft, 2002-05-19)[]

Main article: Big Hero 6 (2002 screenplay)

BIG HERO 6 by AUDEL LAROQUE (First Draft, 2005-11-5)[]

Main article: Big Hero 6 (2005 screenplay)

Differences from the Disney film[]

Like in original comics, Hiro brother Tadashi does not appear in unproduced Universal film.
In comics, Baymax is a bodyguard while in Disney film, he is a friendly robot originally designed to provide medical care. In unproduced Universal film however Baymax is still a bodyguard but friendly.
Strangely, Hiro surname was never mentioned in unproduced Universal film. He was given 2 names in comics and Disney film Hiro Takachiho in comics and Hiro Hamada in Disney film. It is most likely possible that Hiro was a completely different character from his comic and Disney counterparts because of his different appearance in unproduced Universal film. Judging by Hiro different appearance in unproduced Universal film, fans refer him as Universal Hiro.

Video game[]

There was a video game planned for release alongside film. Going by Same Name as film, it was planned to be an action adventure game. It was planned to be released around 2008, and hopes were pretty high for game. However, Universal pull plug for film, so did video game. No screenshots or video of gameplay were ever released.

Trivia[]

Audel Laroque revealed in an interview that film was originally going to have a much dark tone and like a PG rating, compared to comic and Disney film as well as other Universal Animation. However, Universal did not felt like this film needs to be Edgy because they would only accept it as family friend, so script was rewritten. Some of scenes in altered script are still dark, though.
- In fact, Hiro was originally kill near end of the film, as seen in 1 of early scripts of film as it was going to be dark. This was considered to be a bad idea because it would cause a negative reaction such as test audience bursting into tears and main character does not need to die at end, so it was redone and creators decided to keep Hiro alive.
- This could have been darkest timeline in Universal Animation history.
At 1 point, Universal confirmed that there will be a trilogy of Big Hero 6 films coming to theaters, but those plans were abandoned when they cancelled production of Big Hero 6. Also, before film cancellation, director Laroque expected it to be a hit and launch a franchise, much akin to Computeropolis.
There is a robot figure resembling Baymax in BJ Wilson room. This is possibly a reference to Universal cancelled Big Hero 6 film.
In Computer Opolis 2 in which Laroque directed although he was originally directing Big Hero 6 at 1, while Vinna Binz practices her Japanese accent, she mentions Hiro Takachiho, a possible reference to Big Hero 6. Also, Hiro Marvel comics surname Takachiho is mentioned in Computeropolis 2, although there is no sign of Hiro surname in unproduced Universal version of Big Hero 6. It is like possible that this is a reference to original Marvel Big Hero 6 comic series, not unproduced Universal film.
There is also a reference in Woo La La, where Kireina Miyazaki picks up a manga with Universal counterparts of Hiro and Baymax on it.
In Gabriel Garza (2011), there is a student in Gabriel class that resembles Hiro, a possible reference to Universal Big Hero 6. Hiro like student also makes cameo appearances in Plucky Chicken and Gabriel Garza 2.

Gallery[]

Coming Soon!