The first trailer for Netflix’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 reveals just how the series reboot will handle all those tedious bits in between actually watching the bad movie that’s the real focus of the episode. The new MST3K looks to have captured the anti-funny of the original’s frame stories, complete with hammy acting and drawn-out sketch comedy. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
The first MST3K trailer also names one of the target films, 1961’s Reptilicus, partially confirming a leaked list of episodes briefly posted to IMDb. Reverse image searches confirm two other movies that will appear in new MST3K episodes: Starcrash (the spaceship fighting the giant metal woman) and Time Travelers (the brawl with the green tights). Both movies also appeared on the leaked list.
The other movies rumored for the rebooted MST3K ’s 12-episode run include:
- The Beast of the Hollow Mountain
- The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t
- Yongary
- The Land That Time Forgot
- At The Earth’s Core
- Carnival Magic
- Hercules
- Cry Wilderness
- Wizards of the Lost Kingdom
While the new MST3K looks an awful lot like the original, it has a brand new cast, beginning with Jonah Ray (Jonah Heston) stepping into the Gizmonic Institute jumpsuit previously worn by Joel (Joel Robinson) and Mike (Michael Nelson). Joining Jonah in the riffing seats will be new robot voices, with Hampton Yount as Crow and Baron Vaughn as Servo. Their tormentors this time will be professional nerds Patton Oswalt and Felicia Day, both playing the children of previous Mystery Science Theater 3000 villains.
But more exciting than the cast is the array of talent creator Joel Hodgson has assembled to write for the new MST3K episodes, headed by former The Daily Show writer Elliott Kalan. Other writers expected to pitch in include Joel McHale, Kingkiller Chronicle author Pat Rothfuss, Dana Gould, Rob Schrab and Rick and Morty creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland.
The new MST3K premieres April 14 on Netflix.
