Explaining the Recasting of Will Ferrell in Megamind 2 by Director and Writers

Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate director Eric Fogel, alongside writers Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, have shared why Will Ferrell's role as the titular character was changed for the sequel. The new movie follows Megamind protecting Metro City from his former partners-in-crime who aim to destroy it. The streaming original features a different voice cast from the 2010 original, with Keith Ferguson taking over for Ferrell.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Fogel, Schoolcraft, and Simons discussed why the cast for Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate was different from the first film. They mentioned that they were not privy to all internal discussions but noted that Ferguson was available for both the movie and its follow-up TV show Megamind Rules! Read on to find out more about the creators' perspective on the casting change.

Brent Simons: There are a lot of internal discussions that we are not part of, but it usually boils down to scheduling. With Megamind and the ensemble cast, it's a challenge to organize everyone's time. Early on, the decision was made to bring in fresh talent. We were fortunate to have Keith Ferguson, who voiced Megamind in video games and some commercials. Despite casting a wide net, Keith stood out for his experience and talent in capturing Will's voice and building on it. It's a collaborative effort between them, even though they may not have met in person. It's fascinating to witness.

Eric Fogel: DreamWorks prefers to use the term "feelalikes" instead of "soundalikes" when searching for voice actors to replace characters from movies. This concept resonated with us when working with Keith. He was able to enhance the character and add depth to it, which is crucial as we expand the world and relationships.

Alan Schoolcraft mentioned that Will Ferrell has only provided the voice for 85 minutes, while Keith has done it for 10 hours.

Eric Fogel added that it amounts to hundreds of minutes. He chuckled and highlighted the contributions of the rest of the cast. Laura Post as Roxanne, Josh Brener as Chum, and Maya Aoki Tuttle as Keiko all bring a sense of real emotion to their characters, truly bringing them to life. It's enjoyable to see and hear them all interacting on screen.

Megamind 2 Is Getting Lots Of Negative Reviews

Megamind looking confident with the Doom Syndicate in Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate - Megamind 2 Is Getting Lots Of Negative Reviews

The characters of Roxanne Ritchi and Minion, now played by Laura Post and Josh Brener, have been recast in the sequel alongside Ferrell. The response to the movie has been overwhelmingly negative, with a 0% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.1 out of 10 on IMDb based on 1,300 ratings.

Despite the expanded villain backstory for Megamind, reviews point out that the movie suffers from poor animation and lackluster humor. This does not bode well for the franchise, especially with the upcoming TV series Megamind Rules! set to build on the sequel's premise. Although the new voice cast brings a different feel to the familiar characters, it seems that the recasting is not the movie's main issue.

The team behind Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate had a lot of passion for their project, but unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save it from criticism. The public response to the movie and its subsequent show indicates that these new entries won't be fondly remembered. The major negative feedback on the movie shows that if the franchise were to continue, it would need to reach the level of quality set by the original.

Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate and all eight episodes of Megamind Rules! are now available for streaming on Peacock.

Editor's P/S:

The casting change for the sequel to "Megamind" sparked interest, with Keith Ferguson taking over the titular role from Will Ferrell. The creators explained that the decision was based on scheduling conflicts and the desire to bring in fresh talent. Ferguson's experience in voicing Megamind in video games and commercials made him an ideal choice, and his ability to capture Ferrell's voice while adding depth to the character was highly praised.

Despite the casting change and the addition of a new voice cast, "Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate" has received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics have pointed out poor animation and lackluster humor as major flaws, overshadowing the efforts of the voice actors. The negative reception raises concerns about the future of the franchise, including the upcoming TV series "Megamind Rules!" If the franchise is to continue, it will need to significantly improve its quality to reach the level set by the original film.