Scott Pilgrim takes off boasts much of the returning cast from the live-action film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. But the best new addition to the franchise born from Brian Lee O’Malley’s beloved graphic novels comes courtesy of Coyote vs. Acme – the film that Warner Bros. planned to delay for tax breaks, only to be met with such backlash that the studio announced it for an outside acquisition.
Among a numerous cameos – including Weird Al Yankovic — national treasure Will Forte shows up to play a character who is complex, deeply chaotic, and a major spoiler. So, consider this your warning.
How Will Forte came to join Scott Pilgrim takes off?
Will Forte as MacGruber in “MacGruber”.
Credit: Michaels-Goldwyn/Kobal/Shutterstock
The Saturday Night Live alumni have done tons of voice work on animated films like Clone High, The Great North, Rick and Morty, and many, many others, so it’s not too surprising that he appeared in this Netflix animated series. But in an interview with Mashable, Scott Pilgrim takes off co-creators Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski revealed that a more personal connection brought Forte into the world of Pilgrim.
Grabinski explained that he was working on a project last year where he and Forte had a chance to talk.
“There’s a really great movie called Coyote vs. Acme this should be out soon. It’s like a Who Arranged Roger Rabbit?a movie in a style that is really great. Batgirl in 2022)
“[Forte] is the leader. I didn’t write the movie. [Samy Burch,] the brilliant screenwriter of Todd Haynes’ new film [May/December,] I wrote it, but I have some jokes in it, – explained Grabinski, – and I was on the set. And [Forte and I] they talked about how much i love McGruber, which I’m sure he liked that I did. But we lived and understood each other.”
When it came time for Grabinski and O’Malley to fill a particularly difficult role Scott Pilgrim takes off, Forte remembered. “Maybe he wants to do that?” Grabinski ventured. “And he immediately said yes.”
Who does Will Forte play in? Scott Pilgrim takes off?
Credit: Netflix
At the end of the season, Ramona discovers that Scott did not die in his fight with Matthew Patel. He was kidnapped, but not by an evil ex. Instead, using a time travel device, Scott was kidnapped by an older, embittered version of himself who was trying to prevent a romance with Ramona to save himself future heartbreak. “Old Scott” is a grizzled Scott with a beard and a big personality, and he’s animated by Forte’s signature mix of enthusiasm and anxiety.
“You know, I’m sure there’s a world where Michael Cera could play himself,” O’Malley mused, “but we just thought it would be fun to have another guy play Old Scott.”
Grabinski noted that when it came to casting Old Scott, many “big stars” were thrown around as ideas. But for him and O’Malley Forte was their number one choice. “He’s the only person for me that works because I thought he could be pathetic and funny and scary and all these different things,” Grabinski said. “But at the end of the day, [he could] still be kind of cute because he’s a jerk. Even when he’s psychotic. I just think he has a lot of qualities that a lot of other actors don’t.”
“We love Forte,” O’Malley agreed. “When we started writing the character, we were like, ‘Oh, it’s got to be him.'” It was like we were just hearing his voice in our head. And then BenDavid happened to be working with him on this project last year.”
It was not fate that brought Forte to this Scott Pilgrim takes off; it was Coyote vs. Acme.
Scott Pilgrim takes off it’s now on Netflix.
