Metal Lords – Picture: Netflix
Netflix’s Metal Lords is an upcoming teen music drama movie produced by the Game of Thrones duo, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Here’s what we know so far including some information surrounding casting, what we can expect from the story, and who’s involved.
Just to recap, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss hot off their run on HBO’s Game of Thrones signed an expansive deal with Netflix to produce new titles. They’ve already announced a number of upcoming projects but one of the first likely to materialize is Metal Lords.
Metal Lords is produced by David Benioff but written by D. B. Weiss. Bighead Littlehead is the production company behind the feature. Greg Shapiro, known for The Hurt Locker is also attached to the project as a producer.
Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation Award winner Peter Sollett is set to direct. Sollett directed Freeheld, starring The Umbrella Academy‘s lead star Elliot Page as well as episodes for such shows as Hulu‘s The Path and HBO‘s Vinyl. He is also set to direct the upcoming live-action adaptation of the popular video game Minecraft.
What is the plot of Metal Lords?
The plot of Metal Lords revolves around two high school boys and one girl who tries to start a Heavy Metal band and are about to compete in Battle of the Bands.
The official synopsis for Metal Lords reads as follows:
“Two kids want to start a heavy metal band in a high school where exactly two kids care about heavy metal. They try to find a bass player, and fail—but they do find a girl who is very good at cello. If the three of them can’t settle their differences and work together, they’re never going to win the Battle of the Bands.”
In a first look provided to EW, D.B. Weiss told them:
“When you’re 15 years old, you feel confused and not all that powerful. You feel you can’t make your life the way you want it. Fantasy is about the power. It’s re-conceiving yourself as a larger-than-life heroic figure. It’s probably what drew a lot of kids to the music.”
They also provided EW with a selection of first look pictures:
Who is cast in Metal Lords?
The three main leads were originally thought to be given to Elisha Henig (American Vandal, The Sinner), Oakes Fegley (Pete’s Dragon, Person of Interest) and Isis Hainsworth (Wanderlust, Harlots). However, we’ve been informed since that while they were in negotiations, Elisha and Oakes at least did not end up getting the roles with it being unclear whether Isis was eventually cast.
In February 2021, Netflix officially announced the three main leads for Metal Lords: Jaeden Martell (Knives Out, Defending Jacob), newcomer Adrian Greensmith and Isis Hainsworth. It turns out that Hainsworth did indeed get the part as we initially reported.
🎸Rock on, METAL LORDS. 🎸
Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth & Adrian Greensmith will star in D. B. Weiss’s comedy about two kids who start a heavy metal band—in a school where exactly two kids care about heavy metal.
Directed by Peter Sollett, the film will play Netflix in 2021. pic.twitter.com/QSYqLgIFHR
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) February 25, 2021
Thanks to film and TV industry insider Daniel Richtman, we have the character descriptions of the three movie leads.
“Hunter is uncomfortable around other people and suffers from dysfunctional family life, but he hides his emotions behind his one true passion: Heavy Metal music. Metal is the only thing in his life to make the darkness go away and make it all okay. He is smart, driven, passionate, and extremely verbal. Hunter and Kevin intend on starting a band and show everyone what they’re worth.”
“Kevin is the shy kid, who has a big heart, but doesn’t know how to express any of his emotions. Thankfully he has Hunter, the leader of the band. Hunter encourages him to evolve into a metal drummer from a marching band drummer. When Kevin meets Emily, he discovers he is able to reach out and connect with another human being.”
“Emily plays the cello and is the only real musician of the trio. Like Kevin, she is also very shy and absent from the social scene. She’s smart sensitive and extremely talented. She and Kevin, being so alike, draw each other out of their shells, but their relationship causes conflict with Hunter and Emily doesn’t react well to conflict.”
What’s the production status on Metal Lords?
Current production status: Filming (Last updated: 11/16/2020)
Initially, Metal Lords was supposed to enter production in July, but the COVID-19 pandemic made that impossible. Later, filming was planned to begin in late October 2020 in Portland, Oregon, US. Thanks to Tara Dublin on Twitter, we have learned that filming has begun on November 16, 2020.
When will Metal Lords be released on Netflix?
The movie was listed among the 2022 movie slate and in March 2022 it was revealed that Metal Lords will arrive on Netflix around the world on April 8th, 2022.
Will you be checking out Metal Lords when it hits Netflix in 2022? Let us know in the comments down below.
