Pedro Pascal starred in The Mandalorian and Wonder Woman 1984, two of the biggest streaming hits in December, but in case you missed it, he was also in another success, although it was more of a sleeper. (Mainly because it was for kids.) Pascal portrayed sword-slinging superhero Marcus Moreno in Robert Rodriguez‘s Netflix original We Can Be Heroes and it did well enough that Netflix is already developing a sequel. (Sidenote: Rodriguez directed an episode of The Mandalorian S2.)
We Can Be Heroes is an expansion of Rodriguez’s shared universe which includes the Spy Kids series and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D. Taylor Dooley, who played Lavagirl in the original, reprised the role in We Can Be Heroes. Christopher McDonald also returned as the President of the United States, a role he previously played in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.
Though it isn’t required to disclose its streaming numbers, Netflix announced that We can Be Heroes was streamed by 44 million households in its first couple of weeks.
The film also co-starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Ms. Granada, the organizer of the superheroes of the world; Boyd Holbrook as Miracle Guy, a Superman-like figure; and Christian Slater as Tech-No, a metahuman inventor. (No one seems to know why, but Taylor Lautner did not return as Sharkboy. JJ Dashnaw stood in for him, with a mask over his face, and no dialogue.)
But the adults aren’t the focus. YaYa Gosselin portrayed Marcus Moreno’s daughter, Missy. Neither Marcus nor Missy appear to have superpowers, but Marcus’ was, at one time, leader of that world’s “Heroics,” and likewise, Missy winds up being the leader of their kids.
Hala Finley co-starred as Ojo, Ms. Granada’s stepdaughter, who has precognitive drawing powers, and the other kids include: Wheels (Andy Walken), Miracle Guy’s son, who is so super strong that his legs cannot support him and he is bound to a wheelchair; Noodles (Lyon Daniels), who is super stretchy; Wild Card (Nathan Blair), Tech-No’s son, who has any power he needs at any given time; Rewind (Isaiah Russell-Bailey) and Fast Forward (Akira Akbar), twins that can manipulate time; Face Maker (Andrew Diaz), who can stretch and change his appearance; Guppy (Vivien Blair), the daughter of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, who has shark-like physical abilities and can manipulate water; Slo-Mo (Dylan Henry Lau), who is trapped in a time warp, making him move in slow motion; and A Capella (Lotus Blossom), who has various vocal powers.
After the adult Heroics are captured during an alien invasion, the kids must learn to use their powers to save them and the world.
Even though Netflix touts that 44 million households streamed We Can Be Heroes following its Christmas Day release, those numbers are based on just a two-minute stream, and the reviews have only been mediocre (68% on Rotten Tomatoes).
Did you check out We Can Be Heroes? If so, what did you think?
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
