“Do you know what they called that place?” a guy who looks a lot like Bobby from “Supernatural,” he says in the opening shot, dramatically unfolding a map. “skull island.” Then we’re off to the races, with a shot of a giant octopus-like beast ripping a helicopter in two. This show might be animated, but it comes from Powerhouse Animation, the studio that brought us “Castlevania,” so it’s likely to pack a punch. Its horror authenticity is further enhanced by the presence of “Underwater” and “The Babysitter” writer Brian Duffield, who is set to write and executive produce. Long story short, this could get bloody .
The trailer itself isn’t too gory, and the animation style actually reminds me of the kind of Saturday morning cartoons I used to watch on UPN back when that channel existed. Still, though, “Skull Island” promises to be intense, with the short trailer also featuring a giant killer crab, a vaguely humanoid alligator, a sharp-clawed red bird, and a variety of other monsters and kaiju. It ends with a quick glimpse of Kong himself, leaning down to snarl viciously in the face of a puny human.
Initially, synopses for the show indicate that it will follow a group of people who end up shipwrecked on the island that is home to mysterious prehistoric beasts like Kong and his friends. According to family lore, it’s also a lost island, which means this crew could be stuck there for a while before someone stumbles upon them. Viewers can visit “Skull Island” when the series premieres on Netflix on June 22, 2023.
