Gargoyles 2024: The Movie

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"Gargoyles 2024: The Movie" was a Radio Play produced for CONvergence 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was performed on July 6th, 2024 as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of Gargoyles. Unlike the previous recent Radio Plays, this story is NOT a (direct) crossover between various properties but instead a non-canonical version of events taking place during the Quest arc of the recent Dynamite comics.

Summary

Previously on Gargoyles

Act One - July 21st, 1997

After some heckling concerning the nature of the premise, we proceed to Vinnie Grigori meeting with the entire Manhattan Clan to discuss the making of a fictional movie about them. The creators intend for it to be set in 2024, the thirtieth anniversary of the Clan's awakening, a time frame in which those in charge hope things in the Big Apple will be much less partisan and divided (Brooklyn offers no comment). As the synergy era is over, the plan is not to focus on Elisa and Goliath's Beauty and the Beast dynamic, but a fictional love triangle (NOT between Angela, Brooklyn, and Broadway at Greg Weisman's insistence) between Angela, Lexington, and a human. Angela repeats her distaste for being fought over and Lex admits Angela really isn't his type. However, Vinnie reveals they're fighting over the human character. The Clan as a whole voices an overall lack of appeal over such a thing, Lexington even stating he could never fall for a human, telling Goliath no offense. Goliath himself says it required some adjustment for him, but when Elisa tries to claim the same, she's forced to admit she was hot for Goliath the moment she heard his voice. Lexington still insists it's not believable but is quickly convinced when Vinnie says they're getting Ryan Gosling for the role. As Act One concludes, Shari opens a commercial break which advertises the week's upcoming episode of Celebrity Hockey.

Act Two - some nights later

Fu-Dog and Bronx have a discussion about the weakness of the movie's script, saying how no one can write Gargoyles like Greg Weisman...except Michael Reaves, Brynne Chandler Reaves, Gary Sperling, Cary Bates, Lydia C. Marano, and many more. The two discuss in particular how they're basically being depicted poorly and far too much like typical canines, to which an audience heckler yells "Squirrel!" and distracts them both. Egwardo chimes in expressing distaste for getting absolutely no lines and Greg tells all three characters they're welcome for getting to talk (and the heckler yells "Squirrel!" once again). We then cut to the top floor of Nightstone Unlimited where Thailog, Dr. Sevarius, and Brentwood are informed of the film by Shari. While Anton is almost giddy at possibly being involved (Shari strings him along for a bit but quickly deflates him), Thailog tells Shari to get him a copy of the script as he wants full approval. At the same time, Lex, Broadway, Angela, and Gnash arrive at a Slaughter Films sound stage in Brooklyn (the borough, not the gargoyle, who proceeds to mess with Greg Weisman a bit, leading to him expressing exasperation at both him and the heckler). Izaak Slaughter reveals his "completely legitimate" film company is the American co-producer of the film alongside Bushido Pictures in Japan. Their actual human co-star is also revealed - Ryan St. John, former lead actor on a Pendragon film and currently on two series both competing on Celebrity Hockey simultaneously. The Spectacular Spider-Men comic book is plugged by the characters as Lexington wonders who writes it, looking at Weisman with disgust. However, Izaak Slaughter says no one in the business cares about the writer. Greg protests, saying he's right there, and Vinnie gives him a latte order to get. Ryan expresses his honor to be on the film while Angela and Lexington make it clear neither find him particularly attractive. However, Vinnie says the script has been changed to make him more sympathetic - Ryan's now also the adoptive father of Gnash. As they all go off to discuss the new pages of the script, Izaak Slaughter briefly calls Antoinette Dracon to report everything is in place. Antoinette forwards this news on via her garishly large cell phone to the real puppet master . . . Demona. Act Two breaks this time with Shari leading into a commercial trailer for the upcoming film.

Act Three - some time later

Elisa and the rest of the Clan realize that while the gargoyles did awaken in 1994, they only went public in 1996, meaning the filmmakers should have set 2026 for the anniversary. Obviously someone with inside information is involved, so Goliath decides Angela, Lex, and Gnash shouldn't go to the studio. Unfortunately, they've all already left. Goliath and Elisa go ahead (avoiding using a particularly accident-prone chauffeur) while the rest of the Clan is gathered to follow. Coldstone realizes this may be a problem and soon Antoinette is calling Izaak to get to the abduction scene. Slaughter speaks with Salli Frakes, the director, and soon enough, she's telling the actors they're running that scene in five. Ryan reassures the gargoyles that shooting out of order is common as Salli orders everyone into the "Death Trap." As she calls action, a mysterious yet familiar voice rings out and gas flows into the chamber, knocking everyone out. Salli yells to cut as the opaque gas has ruined the shot as Goliath and Elisa arrive. Unfortunately, as the gas clears...only Ryan remains, lamenting that it should have been his stunt double.

The gargoyles regain consciousness in chains to find Demona, the voice Angela recognized, has captured them. She admits to investing in the film and using it to trap the three of them. As her daughter, Demona feels Angela's place is by her side. In Gnash's case, she believes he may be too young to have been indoctrinated by Goliath, as well as being aware of some of Gnash's frustrations with how the Clan treats him (to which Gnash wonders how she knows that). And in Lexington's case, she senses a certain moral ambiguity...which turns out more right than she expected, as he rubs off olive makeup to reveal Brentwood underneath, claiming he was sent to infiltrate by Thailog. Demona admits to their truce and releases him...and Brentwood immediately swipes the remote and releases the others. Angela immediately attacks Demona and the Stunt Grunter returns (though Demona claims she has no need for one - that's Marina's problem, not hers). After some heckling, Demona begrudgingly allows it to continue as Brentwood and Gnash join the fight. With three-against-one, Demona is soon on the ropes and forced to escape. She states soon all will see the error of their ways...and Greg Weisman says in Gargoyles: Quest #3 coming soon from Dynamite Comics! The heckler immediately asks if this makes the Radio Play canon, to which Greg defers to Shari:

"The story is told..." "...though who can say if it be true."

The three gargoyles manage to find their way out of Demona's dungeon, Angela thanking Brentwood. However, it was actually Lexington the whole time! Apparently Brentwood tried to get the jump on him earlier, but Lex came out on top and, figuring something was up, had makeup put on a layer of purple under another layer of green. This explanation of course receives a comedic amount of "WHAT?!"s from Gnash. Just before dawn, the reunited Clan confer with Salli Frakes, Ryan St. John, and Vinnie Grigori, the three begging to continue with the film. While some of the Clan think it might be a good idea, Goliath is uncertain, thinking they should be putting a stop to Demona's Quest...leading to the characters shilling the comic and Elisa asking Greg why he always makes them feel so dirty. Goliath decides to continue with the picture, but closer to the truth and with full script approval. Vinnie agrees and says they'll find a better writer. As Greg protests, Vinnie says he's definitely in the running and then stage whispers they'll get someone a bit less into self-promotion. As Greg seethes, Goliath approves, and the play comes to an end as the heckler sets off Bronx and Fu-Dog anew and Shari reminds us all...

"Never the End..."

Tidbits

  • The teams mentioned as part of Celebrity Hockey are the Young Justice Furies (Furies likely being the intended name for Season 5), The Spectacular Spider-Men, and the cast of Black Manta's Celebrity Hot Tub, the only form of crossover for this Radio Play.
  • Not only did Ryan Gosling pass on the film in favor of a Darkwing Duck movie, they also failed to get Ryan Reynolds who insisted on a Goliath/Deadpool team-up.
  • Ryan St. John is a reference to King Arthur's voice actor in the series, John St. Ryan. He's also listed as having lead roles on the in-universe versions of Young Justice: Furies and The Spectacular Spider-Men.
  • The latte order Vinnie gives to Greg Weisman is Peter Parker's usual from The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 & #2.
  • The movie's director Salli Frakes is of course a reference to Salli Richardson and Jonathan Frakes, voice actors for the series and now accomplished directors in their own right.
  • Shari yanks Sevarius's chain claiming there's a mad scientist role for him in the film which is a BLATANT Rocky Horror Picture Show reference in honor of Tim Curry's performance in that film. This is reiterated later when Sevarius sings "Let's do the Time Warp again!" towards the end.

Cast

See Also

<< Previous Radio Play: "Musicology 101: Songs of the Theme"
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