Matthew Rhys is having a banner year. After making Emmy history with his comedy win for Widow's Bay, he's now lending his voice to the new Paramount+ animated series Golden Axe, based on the classic SEGA arcade game. All 10 episodes dropped at once, and the show is already generating buzz for its unique blend of epic fantasy and irreverent comedy.
At a recent advanced screening, Collider's Steve Weintraub moderated a Q&A with creators Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty) and Joe Chandler (American Dad!), along with voice cast members Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Lisa Gilroy (Jury Duty), and Danny Pudi (Community). The panel revealed the surprising inspirations behind the show's look and tone.
From Sonic to Golden Axe
McMahan's path to Golden Axe started with a certain speedy hedgehog. While working with Original Film on the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, producer Pavun Shetty asked if there was any SEGA property he'd love to adapt. McMahan immediately thought of Golden Axe, a game he played endlessly at summer camp. "It went from Sonic and Rick and Morty and Lower Decks all the way to Golden Axe," he said.
The creators knew they wanted a season-long quest that honored the game's quirks—kicking imps, eating chicken legs, and riding beasts—while filtering it through their comedic sensibilities. Chandler explained that they saw the trio of heroes as a classic rock band: Gilius the dwarf, Tyris the warrior, and Ax Battler the barbarian. "He was like George Harrison to John and Paul," Chandler said of Gilius, "the third-best songwriter alive, but in a band with number one and number two." That dynamic—Gilius feeling like he has something to prove—became the emotional core.
Dragon's Lair and Don Bluth Visuals
Visually, the team at Titmouse, Inc. (known for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) aimed for something more cinematic than a typical TV comedy. "We wanted it to look sort of like Dragon's Lair, the old arcade game, or like a Don Bluth movie," McMahan said. Supervising director Giancarlo Volpe, who worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender, helped craft action sequences that feel epic despite a TV budget. The show cleverly reuses certain shots—like campfire scenes—to save money for big fights and piles of skulls.
The cast shared their own preparations, from finding the right voice for their characters to working with SEGA to ensure authenticity. McIntyre, Gilroy, and Pudi all brought their own comedic timing to the roles, and the chemistry is palpable in the finished product.
For fans of fantasy, Golden Axe is a must-watch. It's a fresh take on a beloved classic that manages to be both hilarious and visually stunning. If you're looking for more fantasy adventures, check out our list of top fantasy novels since 2020 or dive into dark fantasy cinema's greatest films. And for more on Matthew Rhys's Emmy win, see his historic victory.
All 10 episodes of Golden Axe are now streaming on Paramount+. With its blend of action, comedy, and heart, it's a welcome addition to the fantasy genre.
