'Invader Zim' is back to conquer earth in a new TV movie revival
The empire of doom begins now!
Well, not now... but soon-ish, because Nickelodeon has officially greenlit a new Invader Zim movie from original creator Jhonen Vasquez.
No lie! The 90-minute 2D-animated TV movie, produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, will show the latest and greatest ridiculous attempt at world domination by the universe’s worst alien invader ever.
The movie will feature the original voice cast from the fan-favorite television series, including Richard Horvitz as Invader Zim; Rikke Simons as GIR, Zim’s malfunctioning robot servant; Andy Berman as Dib, Zim’s arch-enemy determined to expose his plans; and Melissa Fahn as Gaz, Dib’s menacing younger sister.
The cult series debuted on Nickelodeon in 2001 and despite being renewed for a second season, was canceled before all of its episodes made it to air. The unaired installments later debuted on Nicktoons in 2006, meaning that it's been over a decade since fans last saw the delusional extraterrestrial on their screens.
“As a network that prides itself on a 25-year history of creating groundbreaking, hilarious animation for kids, Invader Zim is one of our great loves. It’s been so exciting to see its popularity grow over the last decade through social media, consumer products, and the Zim comic books,” said Chris Viscardi, SVP of Animation Content Development and Production at Nickelodeon. “What makes this announcement extra thrilling is the adventure that Jhonen has created for Zim, and I can promise you that it is as wonderfully absurd and strangely heartfelt as any fan of the original series could hope for, and kids seeing it for the first time will love it too.”
The Invader Zim movie is the latest project from Nickelodeon to capitalize on the network's beloved vault of classic shows, following the Hey Arnold! TV movie and Rocko’s Modern Life TV special, which are both currently in production.
Debuting in 2017, Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie, will feature a storyline picking up from where the original series ended in 2004, resolving unanswered questions and plotlines, including Arnold finally getting answers about the whereabouts of his missing parents. The Rocko's Modern Life TV special will bring back all the show’s classic characters and offer some surprising new takes on life in O-Town.
