The Terminator is back!
Arnold Schwarzenegger will voice kindergarten teacher Arnold Armstrong in Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten. The animated children’s series was the final project developed by Lee before his passing in November 2018 at the age of 95. Kindergarten Cop, the 1990 comedy directed by Ivan Reitman and starring The Terminator, inspired the series.
Schwarzenegger’s Armstrong is a former superhero known as Captain Courage, a protector of Earth. Armstrong acquires his powers from an ionic dust field left behind by a mysterious comet passes Earth. Captain Courage is later forced into retirement when a battle with arch nemesis Dr. Superior depletes his powers. When super energy particles explode and imbue children with superpowers, Armstrong must return to active duty, this time as an “undercover” kindergarten teacher to train the new generation of superheroes.
Superhero Kindergarten is a collaboration between Genius Brands International, Lee’s own POW! Entertainment, and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Production. Schwarzenegger, Genius Brands’ chairman and CEO Andy Heyward, and POW! Entertainment president Gil Champion will executive produce the show. Fabian Nicieza, co-creator of the Marvel comics character Deadpool, will provide scripting duties. And like the Marvel films, Stan Lee’s image will make a cameo in every episode of the series.
“It is an honor and privilege to work with Genius Brands and POW! Entertainment on this new series and help carry on Stan’s creative legacy by introducing this new group of superheroes to preschool children around the world,” said Schwarzenegger in a statement to Deadline.
“Not only does Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten feature comedy and action, but there are many valuable lessons to be learned along the way. Of particular pride to me is the fact that I am not only teaching kids to use their superpowers, but I am also imparting valuable lessons to kids worldwide about the importance of health, exercise, and nutrition.”
Lee was the co-creator of some of Marvel franchise’s most iconic characters. He and Schwarzenegger were in talks to collaborate on an animated project called The Governator in 2011, but the idea was scrapped.