featuring @disneyplus
Crime-fighting mallard Drake Mallard is ready to “get dangerous” once again. Disney+ has greenlit a new Darkwing Duck animated series, with Mark Hamill, best known for his work in the Star Wars franchise, set to voice the iconic masked hero.
The upcoming series comes from Sean Tretta (Star Trek: Picard) and Borja Peña Gorostegui (Lost & Crowned), who will both serve as executive producers. Tad Stones, creator of the original Darkwing Duck, has also consulted on the development of the new series.
Plans for a return to the world of Darkwing Duck were first announced in 2020, with Disney Branded Television and Point Grey Pictures attached to the project.
Hamill will be joined by an extensive voice cast, including Seth Rogen as Launchpad McQuack, Lizzy Caplan as Gosalyn Mallard, Lilimar as Duckie, Dan Stevens as Glade McTowers, Tiffany Shepis as Rosa, Kathryn Newton as Firecracker, Teo Briones as Timb, Tyler Dean Flores as Pondsy, Katie Rich as Officer Shanks, and Nat Faxon as Officer Webb.
The new series picks up 35 years after Darkwing Duck was trapped in an alternate world where no one remembers his superhero exploits. His unusual second chance arrives in the form of Duckie, a rebellious teenager who knows all about his heroic past and pulls the self-obsessed vigilante back into action.
Together, Darkwing and Duckie will face classic villains including Negaduck and Megavolt while reconnecting with familiar allies such as Launchpad, Gosalyn, and Morgana. Their mission will ultimately expand far beyond their own city, as the unlikely heroes fight to save the entire universe.
Tad Stones expressed his enthusiasm for the revival, saying that, like other fans of the original series, he was excited to see Darkwing “getting dangerous” again. He also praised the new creative team for increasing the action and comedy while maintaining the heart associated with Disney’s original series.
According to Stones, the new show draws inspiration from legendary heroes such as Robin Hood, Zorro, and Sherlock Holmes—characters whose stories have been repeatedly reinvented across different eras and mediums. The new Darkwing Duck aims to follow a similar tradition by placing its characters in new relationships, settings, and even universes while preserving the essence of the beloved hero.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, the original Darkwing Duck ran for 91 episodes. The series premiered on Disney Channel before moving to ABC and syndication in 1991. Its ABC run ended in 1993, while the original syndication run continued through 1995, followed by another brief syndication run from 1996 to 1997.
Darkwing Duck also appeared in Disney’s Fun-Filled 1st Issue! comic book in November 1994, alongside characters from Bonkers, Goof Troop, and TaleSpin. More recently, the character returned to television in the latest iteration of DuckTales.
Now, more than three decades after his original debut, Darkwing Duck is preparing for another adventure—and this time, he has a whole new generation of fans to impress.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @neill.frazer
- @neill.outloud
