The Thundermans Return is a 2024 American superhero comedy television film directed by Trevor Kirschner and written by Jed Spingarn from a story conceived by Spingarn and the writing team of Sean W. Cunningham and Marc Dworkin. It is a follow-up film to the Nickelodeon comedy series The Thundermans (2013–18), created by Spingarn. The film stars Kira Kosarin, Jack Griffo, Addison Riecke, Diego Velazquez, Maya Le Clark, Chris Tallman, and Rosa Blasi, reprising their roles as the Thunderman family. Dana Snyder also reprises his voice role as Dr. Colosso, alongside a returning ensemble cast that includes Daniele Gaither, Harvey Guillén, Helen Hong, Tanner Stine, Kenny Ridwan, Audrey Whitby, Jake Borelli, Jeff Meacham, Michael Foster, Jamieson Price, and Paul F. Tompkins.
| The Thundermans Return | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Based on | The Thundermans by Jed Spingarn |
| Screenplay by | Jed Spingarn |
| Story by |
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| Directed by | Trevor Kirschner |
| Starring |
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| Music by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Cinematography | John Simmons |
| Editor | Michael Karlich |
| Running time | 70 minutes |
| Production companies | Nickelodeon Productions Awesomeness Films Cross Hoge Productions Dworkingham Productions Uptown Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon Paramount+ |
| Release | March 7, 2024 |
In March 2023, 5 years after The Thundermans finished its run on Nickelodeon, a follow-up film was greenlit by the company. Frequent series director Kirschner was announced to be returning for the follow-up, while Spingarn and series supervising producers Cunningham and Dworkin were confirmed to be writing the screenplay. Nickelodeon live-action production heads Zack Olin and Shauna Phelan were confirmed to be producing, while Dan Cross and David Hoge, two other writers and executive producers for the series, were announced to be serving as executive producers alongside stars Kosarin and Griffo, who were confirmed to return alongside Riecke, Velazquez, Le Clark, Tallman, and Blasi. The rest of the returning cast was confirmed and filled out soon after.
The Thundermans Return premiered on Nickelodeon on March 7, 2024, and was simultaneously available for streaming on Paramount+.
Following the success of the film, a spin-off series titled The Thundermans: Undercover has been greenlit and premieres on January 22, 2025.[1]
Plot
editThree years after the events of the series finale, when meteors strike Metroburg, the Thundermans step in to save the citizens. After the save, the family want to have a fun night, but it is interrupted when another crime breaks out. When another team called the "V-Team" also arrive, Max ends up accidentally dropping a giant doughnut onto one of their members. Due to this, the Thundermans are fired from the T-Force and are sent back to Hiddenville. While Hank and Barb enjoy their return, and Billy and Nora look forward to a normal high school life, Max and Phoebe are determined to regain their superhero status.
Meanwhile, Dark Mayhem, King Crab and Strongdor are in the Metroburg prison. The V-Team approaches them, revealing themselves to be their children. The children decide to devise their own plan, leaving their parents imprisoned. As the Thunder Twins are desperate to retrieve their jobs, they come up with the "Tree Force". However, the rest of the family prefers to live a normal life.
Meanwhile, at Hiddenville High, Nora utilizes her laser eyes to obtain friends. When Billy couldn't make a friend alone, he uses the same idea. Angered by this, Nora tries to zap Billy, whilst the latter tries to avoid the attacks: this results in Nora zapping off Principal Bradford's ponytail.
Back at home, Barb and Hank, still worried for Chloe's safety, call Cousin Blobbin requesting to borrow his helicopter to monitor Chloe without her noticing. Phoebe's BFF Cherry launches two Splat Shakes that Hank had ordered from Splat Burger up to the helicopter. With Hank failing to catch them, they end up spilling and interfering with the helicopter's circuits. They are forced to make an emergency landing, crashing in front of Chloe and her friends.
After that, Max and Phoebe figure out the V-Team are villains, they go by themselves to their lab to try to capture them, but the evil children see them and tie them, after that, the Thunder Twins are sent to a mysterious place called "The Mayhem Cafe", in which they get tortured by Dark Mayhem's pre-recorded voice guide. After escaping from the box, they get locked in with an upcoming self-destruct.
Meanwhile, the children of the villains are trying to locate the Power Plant, which they find in the Thundermans' house. At first, Hank, who is the only one to know where the Power Plant is, refuses to give it to them, but then Dark Mayhem, Jr. shows him on his phone that Max and Phoebe are getting tortured, so Hank agrees to give the evil children the Power Plant if the Thunder Twins get released after. The children agree to this, and Hank gives them the Power Plant believing the twins would be released, but they lied. The evil children escape with the Power Plant and Max and Phoebe are still trapped in the mysterious place. And when all hopes are down in the Thundermans' house, Billy finds a blue part of the Power Plant that fell off the plant and can make superheroes. They end up feeding pieces of the blue part to citizens, such as Principal Bradford and Mrs. Wong, turning them into superheroes. After being turned into superheroes, they all work together to break the forcefield, and they succeed. Upon succeeding, Chloe teleports them to the location of Phoebe and Max. With Chloe's teleportation needing a recharge, right before the self-destruct, Hank punches the system, causing it to break and allowing them out.
Afterwards, the Thundermans confront the villain's children, who are on the top of Mount Metroburg planning to release the red pieces of the power plant inside of a drone, having their parents view said plan. Whilst the family defeat the Villains, Dark Mayhem's son, Dark Mayhem Jr., releases the red pieces over Metroburg in a drone. Chloe volunteers to teleport someone onto to the drone to prevent them from affecting citizens. She teleports Max and Phoebe onto the drone and they remove the red pieces. With Phoebe being blinded by the wind, she gets blown onto the edge of the drone, about to fall. She tells the two to teleport back without her, but they refuse. Chloe reaches for her hand and they return to the rest of the family safely.
Later, Super President Kickbutt comes back and reinstates the T-Force. The Thundermans agree, but on the condition that their Hiddenville home be their new headquarters. Super President Kickbutt agrees and welcomes the T-Force back to the Hero League.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Dr. Colosso receives a mysterious message from an unknown being, promising a special assignment for him. Then the screen goes black as it says to be continued.
Cast
edit- Kira Kosarin as Phoebe Thunderman[2]
- Jack Griffo as Max Thunderman[2]
- Addison Riecke as Nora Thunderman[2]
- Diego Velazquez as Billy Thunderman[2]
- Maya Le Clark as Chloe Thunderman[2]
- Chris Tallman as Hank Thunderman[2]
- Rosa Blasi as Barb Thunderman[2]
- Harvey Guillén as Cousin Blobbin
- Dana Snyder as the voice of Dr. Colosso
- Helen Hong as Mrs. Wong
- Tanner Stine as Oyster
- Kenny Ridwan as Gideon
- Audrey Whitby as Cherry
- Jake Borelli as Wolfgang
- Daniele Gaither as Super President Kickbutt
- Jeff Meacham as Principal Bradford
- Paul F. Tompkins as King Crab
- Michael Foster as Strongdor
- Jamieson Price as Dark Mayhem
- Jason Nash as Metroburg Police Officer
Production
editOn March 2, 2023, it was announced that a follow-up film to the Nickelodeon television series The Thundermans, titled The Thundermans Return was in development at Nickelodeon Productions, to serve as a potential backdoor pilot to a revival/sequel series. The entire cast are set to return for the feature film. Trevor Kirschner had been hired to direct, with series creator and showrunner Jed Spingarn writing the screenplay, and Zack Olin and Shauna Phelan producing.[3]
Filming
editPrincipal photography began on April 3, 2023, in Los Angeles.[4][5]
Release
editOn December 2, 2023, it was announced that The Thundermans Return would premiere on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on March 7, 2024.[6][2] The first teaser trailer was released the same month.[7] The second trailer was released on February 11, 2024 during Super Bowl LVIII. An extended sneak peek was shown on February 21, 2024. The Thundermans Return was released on DVD on April 2, 2024.[8]
Soundtrack
editAn official soundtrack was released on March 15, 2024 with score by Caleb Chan and Brian Chan. It was performed by F.A.M.E.'S project orchestra in Macedonia. The score was nominated for a Canadian Screen Music Awards in 2024.
References
edit- ^ Petski, Denise (December 19, 2024). "'The Thundermans: Undercover' Spinoff Series Gets Premiere Date, Trailer & First Photos". Deadline. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Team, The Deadline (February 12, 2024). "'The Thundermans Return' Trailer: The Superhero Family Is Back In Nickelodeon's Follow-Up Movie". Deadline. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 2, 2023). "Nickelodeon Greenlights 'The Thundermans Return' Follow-Up Movie With Original Series Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Roots, Kimberly (March 2, 2023). "The Thundermans Cast Will Reunite for Nickelodeon Studios' Revival Movie". TVLine. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Kira Kosarin [@kirakosarin] (April 3, 2023). "first day of school ⚡️". Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ Roots, Kimberly (February 12, 2024). "The Thundermans Report for Super Duty in Revival Movie Trailer — WATCH". TVLine. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Wu, Valerie (December 2, 2023). "Nickelodeon's 'The Thundermans Return' Film Drops First Teaser Trailer". Variety. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Kosarin, Kira (February 21, 2024). The Thundermans Return [sneak peek]. YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2024.