Digimon: The Dark Network is a Japanese-American science fiction fantasy action-adventure film directed by Robert Stromberg and written and produced by Drew Gars. It is a sequel to the 20** film Digimon and the second installment in the live-action Digimon film series taking place two years after its predecessor. It stars Ansel Elgort, Josh Hutcherson, Bella Thorne, Liana Liberato, Asa Butterfield, Robert Sheehan, and Ty Sympkins reprising their roles as the DigiDestined, with the Digimon voice actors returning as the Digimon companions and Ty Burrell, Leslie Mann, Joey King, Radha Mitchell, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Carla Gugino, Ashley Judd, Will Ferrell, Kathryn Hahn and Patrick Stewart reprising their roles as the family of the DigiDestined and Gennai.
Plot
Two years after the events of their adventure in the Digital World, The Digidestined are now gone on with their own lives to live, but somehow, they get transported back to the Digital World by Gennai when an evil Digimon plans to rule a continent in the Digital World called the Server Continent.
Cast
Humans
- Ansel Elgort as Tyler "Tai" Kamden, the leader of the DigiDestined.
- Josh Hutcherson as Matt Jordans, a member of the DigiDestined, the second in command to Tai and T.K.'s big brother.
- Bella Thorne as Sora Taylor, Tai's best friend and a member of the DigiDestined.
- Asa Butterfield as Korbin "Izzy" Isaacs, a member of the DigiDestined.
- Liana Liberato as Mimi Thatch, a member of the DigiDestined.
- Ty Simpkins as T.K. Jordans, a member of the DigiDestined and Matt's little brother.
- Robert Sheehan as Joe Kingston, the eldest member of the DigiDestined.
- Patrick Stewart as Gennai, a data-based human in the form of an old man who serves as the DigiDestined's guide when they arrive in the Digital World.
- Joey King as Kari Kamden, Tai's little sister.
- Leslie Mann as Susan Kamden, Yule's wife and Tai and Kari's mother.
- Ty Burrell as Yule Kamden, Susan's wife and Tai and Kari's father.
- Carla Gugino as Tonya Taylor, Sora's mother.
- Ashley Judd as Katherine Isaacs, Mason's wife and Izzy's adopted mother.
- Jason Bateman as Mason Isaacs, Katherine's wife and Izzy's adopted father.
- Radha Mitchell as Nancy Tanner, Matt and T.K.'s mother and Hilton's ex-wife.
- Will Arnett as Hilton Jordans, a reporter for KNTV and Matt and T.K.'s father.
- Will Ferrell as Kevin Thatch, Stacy's husband and Mimi's father.
- Kathryn Hahn as Sasha Thatch, Mimi's mother and Kevin's wife.
Digimon
- Tom Fahn voices Aguman
- Brianne Siddall voices Koromon
- Michael Lindsey voices Greymon
- Joesph Pilato voices MetalGreymon
- Kirk Thornton voices Gabumon,
- Kirk Thornton also voices Tsunomon,
- Kirk Thornton also voices Garurumon,
- Kirk Thornton also voices WereGaurumon.
- Tifanie Christunn voices Biyomon, Sora's Digimon partner.
- Jeff Nimoy voices Tentomon,
- Jeff Nimoy also voices Motimon,
- Jeff Nimoy also voices Kabuterimon,
- Jeff Nimoy also voices MegaKabuterimon, Tentomon's Ultimate form.
- Anna Garduno voices Palmon, Mimi's Digimon partner.
- R. Martin Klein voices Gomamon, Joe's Digimon partner.
- Laura Summer voices Patamon, T.K.'s Digimon partner.
- Manu Benett as Andromon, an android-like Digimon.
- John Goodman voices Whamon, a sea animal Digimon.
- Neil Patrick Harris voices Piximon, a Digimon trainer.
- Bruce Campbell as Etemon (motion capture performance), an Ultimate level puppet Digimon and the master of the Dark Network. He serves as the main antagonist of the film.
- Christopher Lloyd as voices Datamon, A Machine Digimon that wasn't a friend of Etemon. He serves as the secondary antagonist of the film.
- Rob Paulson voices Gazimon, One of the Etemon's henchmen. They are the tertiary antagonists in the film.
- Frank Welker voices Monochromon, One of of Etemon's henchmen.
Production
During an interview with the producers, Jeff Nimoy and Drew Gars (who is also the screenwriter), stated that there will be a sequel but director James Cameron will not return to direct due to scheduling conflicts. It was later announced that Greg McLean will direct the film. Elgort, Hutcherson, Thorne, Sage, Butterfield, Simpkins, Sheehan, Stewart, King, Mann, Burrell, Gugino, Bateman, Judd, Arnett, Mitchell, Ferrell and Hahn revealed in interviews that he has signed on for three Digimon films.
Actor Bruce Campbell is casted to portray the film's main antagonist, Etemon. The voice actors will reprise their roles as the Digimon companions. Manu Benett was reported to have been spotted on set, where one of the crew members reveal that he was cast to play Andromon. It was later reported that John Goodman and Christopher Lloyd are to be part of the voice cast.
Industrial Light & Magic was chosen to create the visual effects for the first film and the second film. Hongo and Gars hired Oscar winners John Knoll and Hal T. Hickel, both known for their work on the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Legacy Effects was hired to do the special and practical effects on the film. Shane Mahan, known for creating the armored suits for Iron Man, was hired on as effects supervisor. John Rosengrant was also brought in for his work on Real Steel. Oscar winner Clay Pinney, known for his work on Independence Day and Star Trek, was also brought on board. Hybride Technologies, a division of Ubisoft, and Rodeo FX also contributed to the visual effects. Some of the practical creature effect were provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
Trivia
- The running time is 150 minutes.
- The film is rated PG-13 for action violence and language.
- The film is distributed by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures, while being produced by Saban Films and Toei Company.