Prime Video’sThe Boysmay be the primary superhero parody show of late, but a movie of this style from 20 years ago may have been better in many ways and still deserves a sequel.The Boysparodies many Marvel/DC heroes, as well as several other popular superhero franchises as their characters. This is only expected to continue in the highly anticipatedstory ofThe Boysseason 5, with the show’s ending likely still finding the time to poke fun at its superhero competitors.
The Boysis often considered one of thebest superhero parody TV shows, primarily for its well-written humor but also for its ability to tell an engaging, compelling story in its own right. The best spoof shows tend to do this, from thebest Batman parodiesto those riffing on Marvel Comics. Interestingly, one such project came long beforeThe Boysyet receives little attention of late due to the popularity of the Prime Video TV show. 20 years after its release, this superhero parody still counts among the best and deserves a sequel now more than ever.
Sky High Was A Hilarious Take On The Superhero Genre
The movie in question wasSky High, a film released by Disney in 2005. Despite superhero parody films and shows being incredibly popular of late,Sky Highwas somewhat ahead of its time. At this point, the MCU had not begun and the trend of interconnected superhero franchises - that spawned shows likeThe Boysand other parodies - had not become commonplace. Beyond being one of the first superhero parodies,Sky Highwas simply a hilarious, endearing take on the concept of superheroes.
Sky Highproved to be a very humorous take on the world of superheroes 20 years ago…
The movie has many parodies of classic Marvel and DC characters and hilariously pokes fun at several throughout. Moreover,Sky Highhas a funny story involving superheroes being sent to school to become either heroes or sidekicks. This concept alone makes for a hilarious parody of superheroes, given that they have been ingratiated into society rather than revered like in franchises such as the MCU. Overall,Sky Highproved to be a very humorous take on the world of superheroes 20 years ago and still deserves a sequel to this day.
There Has Never Been A Better Time For A Sky High Sequel
Unfortunately, despiteSky High’s positive reception and the somewhat cult status it has acclaimed since 2005, the film never received a sequel. In the late 2010s, a sequel was reportedly in development and titledSave U, involving the characters from the first film heading to university, much likeThe Boys’own spin-offGen V. Sadly,Save Uwas canceled, but it remains the case that there has never been a better time for aSky Highsequel.
Sky High 2: Cancelled Sequel’s Plot Details & Returning Cast Revealed By Director
Sky High director Mike Mitchell reveals the overall plot details and potential returning cast members for the now-canceled Sky High sequel.
As alluded to, the first film already has a cult following that would likely see a sequel be well-received by audiences. Furthermore, the world of superhero media has never been more popular. Having a derivative, funny, humorous spoof on superhero franchises long after many have solidified themselves as Hollywood stalwarts would be hilarious, allowingSky High 2to pick from a vast pool of jokes and parodies. Not only that, but superhero parodies and self-aware stories likeThe Boys, Invincible,andMy Hero Academiaare commonplace now, meaning a sequel toSky Highwould have a place in the industry.
What Sky High 2 Would Look Like Over 20 Years Later
Would A Sequel Work So Far Removed From Its Predecessor?
With the idea ofSky High 2being prevalent in the minds of many, the natural question is what such a movie would look like. For one, the planned premise for the long-awaited sequel would provide a big, key difference from the original movie that would differentiate it from most other superhero stories out there. As alluded to, the sequel was originally planned asSave U, in which the cast of characters from the first movie would go to superhero university. This alone would allow for a different tone and visual style toSky High.
Warren Peace
Steven Strait
On a broader level,Sky High 2could look a lot different from its predecessor due to the vast pool of superhero media it could now riff on. As mentioned, 2005 was before the days of massive, tentpole superhero franchises like the MCU, DCEU, and new-look DCEU. If a sequel was made, there are so many more movies and TV shows thatSky Highcould spoof in its story. Not only that, but the university setting would allow it to still feel fresh with its own unique elements rather than being a derivative spoof of other franchises.
Aside from the aforementionedGen V, the idea of a superhero university has remained mostly unexplored in superhero media. Most stories of this ilk tend to focus on younger children rather than older, university-age adults. The combination of the many stories to pull from and this original setting would allowSky High 2to look very different from its predecessor 20 years later. Beyond that, the development of CGI techniques in superhero movies would allowSky High 2to show superheroic elements the first one could not.
Why Sky High Has Aged So Well (Even After So Many Superhero Movies)
Sky High Has Many Lovable Elements
Ahead of a potentialSky Highsequel, it is worth exploring what elements the first movie possessed that saw it age so gracefully. For one, the film is well-made, well-acted, and well-written. In a modern era of divisive superhero movies like theworst-ranked installments of the Sony Spider-Man Universeand even the somewhat controversial MCU of late, a project that is simply crafted with care goes a long way.Sky Highis one of those movies that includes a good cast, solid character arcs, a compelling story, and enough humor derived from the spoof elements it possesses.
On a broader scale,Sky Highcan be described as ahead of its time. The movie poked a lot of fun at superhero tropes, yet did so without the knowledge of the now-commonplace popularity of superhero movies as a whole. After decades of superhero movies proving to be the dominant force at the box office, one could forgiveSky Highfor being somewhat dated in how it tackles tropes of the genre. However,Sky High’s storyline and jokes still hold up today, despite the countless other movies of a similar style that have been presented since.
Sky High’s cast also includes some beloved superhero veterans as part of its cast, from Kurt Russell and Bruce Campbell to Danielle Panabaker and Lynda Carter.
Through exploring these tropes, the film’s unique tone also presents itself.Sky Highnever takes itself too seriously and is always willing to be light-hearted and entertaining, above all else. This lack of self-seriousness is what has ledSky Highto become such a cult hit as it proves itself to be a 20-year-old superhero movie that still stands the test of time, rising distinctly among its peers as a film that deserves a sequel rather than being wrongly forgotten as a failed story in the popular genre.
Sky High
Cast
Sky High is a 2005 comedy that follows the son of two famous superheroes as he attends a high school for student heroes. Michael Angarano stars alongside Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, and Kelly Preston, with appearances by Bruce Campbell and Lynda Carter.
