Is There a Disney Reference Hiding in Golden Axe?

As improbable as it might seem, Golden Axe is getting a TV series adaptation later this year. This is a surprising turn of events mostly because the video game series has been more or less moribund since 2008’s Golden Axe: Beast Rider. The fact that this new animated show is a comedy is even more puzzling, but I suppose I’m happy to have Golden Axe back in any form. I reserve judgment for when the show actually starts streaming this September on Paramount+, but at the very least I was impressed to see that the show seems to be an adaptation of Golden Axe lore in general and not just the story elements from the first game. Case in point: In addition to Gilius Thunderhead (Matthew Rhys), Ax Battler (Liam McIntyre), Tyris Flare (Lisa Gilroy), the cast also includes Carl Tart as Chronos “Evil” Lait, a pantherman who appears as a playable character in Golden Axe III, a console-only sequel that actually never even got a proper release on the Sega Genesis.He’s basically “What if…