The Beat’s Gregory Paul Silber has been accused of having a bit of an… obsessive personality. Each week in Silber Linings, he takes a humorous look at the weirdest, funniest, and most obscure bits of comics and pop culture that he can’t get out of his head.

Last week, while I was still possessed by my spooky alter ego Greg-Gory Pall Thrillber, professional gamer Hungrybox tweeted a list of characters to be featured in an apparently-upcoming video game called Warner Bros Multiversus. Rumored to be a multi-franchise  fighting game in the style of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros., the leaked screenshot of a character-select screen indicated that players will soon be able to duke it out as the likes of Bugs Bunny, Gandalf, Rick, Morty, and several DC superheroes. The screenshot was removed on account of a copyright claim, which seemed to confirm that the as-yet-unannounced game is indeed in the works.

Presumably, whichever Warner Brothers employee was responsible for the leak got fired, but at the risk of my own professional reputation, and potential litigation from WB, I have exciting news to share: I got to play an early prototype version of Multiversus, and let me tell you, this is going to be unlike any other video game out there. Here are a few of my favorite Warner Bros characters that you can look forward to playing upon release!

Tony Soprano

He may suffer from depression, marital strife, and a weakness for gabagool, but as a player-character in Warner Bros. Multiversus, Tony (voiced by the late James Gandolfini‘s son, The Many Saints of Newark star Michael Gandolfini) is one mob boss you don’t want to forget to kick up to. The lead character of The Sopranos and boss of the DiMeo crime family uses an array of guns to attack opponents from long range, but don’t count out the household items he can use as close-range weapons, either… and certainly don’t tell him you’ve had a relapse after he made you go to rehab.

Signature Finishing Move: “Don’t Stop Believin’… hold on to that splee-ee-een” (Tony shoots his opponent’s spleen before the stage abruptly cuts to black)

Rick Blaine

As portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in 1942’s Casablanca, Rick Blaine is one of the greatest romantic heroes in cinematic history: a tortured, complex American expatriate who risks life and limb to save a woman who’s no longer his during the height of World War II. As a fighter in Warner Bros. Multiversus, (voiced by Chris Pratt) he uses a variety of combat skills gained from his time as a freedom fighter in the Spanish Civil War to blast Tom and/or Jerry into oblivion.

Signature Finishing Move: Slay It Again, Sam (bonus damage if you can point out that the famously misquoted “play it again, Sam” is never actually spoken in Casablanca)

Susy Hendrix

Audrey Hepburn received an Academy Award nomination for her starring role as a blind woman in Wait Until Dark. In this 1967 thriller based on the stage play of the same name, Susy Hendrix must use her wits to fend off a trio of con artists hunting for a heroin-filled doll and, eventually, trying to kill the seemingly-helpless housewife. As in the film, Susy’s most powerful move is her ability to tamper with the stage’s lighting, taking advantage of her natural sightlessness to hit Scooby Doo where he least expects it.

Signature Finishing Move: “[NAME OF OPPONENT], are you looking at me?”

Larry David

If legendarily prickly comedian Larry David‘s only accomplishment was co-creating one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld, with Jerry Seinfeld himself, his legacy would have been secure. But today, he’s best known for starring as himself in the improvised cringe-comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which will soon enjoy a whole new generation of fans thanks to David’s inclusion as a fighter in Warner Bros. Multiversus. Larry’s pretty wimpy when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, but any player foolish enough to get close to him will quickly discover how easily this Emmy-winner ruins the lives of everyone he touches.

Signature Finishing Move: Pretty, Pretty, Pretty… Good. (damage stacks with each use of “pretty.”)

Sister Jeanne des Anges

While there are too many deeply evil characters in Ken Russell‘s The Devils (based on true events that took place in 17th-century France) for any single figure to be the clear antagonist, the jealous, vindictive Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) remains a memorable nightmare nun, as she falsely accuses the charismatic (and certainly sinful in his own right) Father Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) of witchcraft. As I told The Beat’s Riccardo Serrano Denis when I recommended The Devils to him in the inaugural installment of Silber Bullets, this 1971 film remains utterly terrifying, and still shocks with its frank and, frankly, blasphemous portrayal of religious hypocrisy. So it should come as no surprise that Sister Jeanne was prominently displayed in the background during several shots throughout the climax of Space Jam: A New Legacy, a movie for children about cartoon characters playing basketball with Lebron James. Her signature move, in which she claims her opponents are possessed by demons, triggers a dazzling sequence as the screen erupts into an orgy, complete with full-frontal nudity.

Signature Finishing Move: May Your Body Be Consumed by Eternal Fire!

Al-G Rhythm

Speaking of that Space Jam sequel, as much as it went to great lengths to flex the intimidatingly vast array of IPs in the Warner Brothers library, from The Matrix to King Kong to A Clockwork Orange (all of which, my sources tell me, will be represented in the final version of the game), it also tried to create a beloved new character in the form of Don Cheadle‘s Al-G Rhythm, a sentient, stylish A.I. who rules the WB’s “Serververse.” In Warner Bros. Multiversus, his abilities include dancing, and withstanding Porky Pig’s rap battle antics.

Signature Finishing Move: Total IP Optimization

Prince

The boundary-shattering pop star was famously reticent about technology, as well as the use of his music and likeness in digital media, but an obscure clause in his contract with Warner Music Group stipulated that he’d make an exception for any video game that would depict him beating Batman to a bloody pulp with his signature purple guitar.

Signature Finishing Move: Purple Rain(ing Blood)

Which of these Warner Bros. icons are you looking forward to playing as to beat up Bugs Bunny? Who else are you hoping to see in the game? Sound off in the comments!

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