Across 81 episodes and four specials, The Venture Bros. cemented itself into the hearts of viewers as one of Adult Swim's most beloved original programs. Originally starting as a mature Saturday morning cartoon parody, The Venture Bros. took a darkly comedic spin on classics such as Jonny Quest and other adventure serials from the 1960s. The show evolved as it continued, tackling themes of failure and growth while making esoteric references and crass jokes between dynamic action sequences.
Naturally, when the series was canceled in 2020, the outcry from dedicated and casual viewers alike was deafening. The final season had the series' most shocking reveals and cliffhangers, ranging from a potential familial connection between the show's leading protagonist and antagonist -- Rusty Venture and The Monarch, respectively -- to one of the titular Ventures breaking away from his family in search of his own future.
Thankfully, Adult Swim officially announced in 2021 that a concluding film would be produced alongside films for Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Metalocalypse. Fans of the series have ample reason to be excited. Some of the best episodes of the series -- notably Operation P.R.O.M. and All This and Gargantua-2 -- are feature-length specials that pushed the boundaries of what television animation was capable of. With the budget and scope of a full film, the excitement for what's to come is through the roof. It may be a bittersweet announcement, knowing that the series is going out with a dedicated finale, it will be worth it to see the Venture family and friends rough it out in one last adventure.
Venture Bros: The Plot
The official plot synopsis provided by Adult Swim is as follows:
“Doc’s latest invention will either bankrupt the Ventures or launch them to new heights, as Hank searches for himself, Dean searches for Hank, The Monarch searches for answers, and a mysterious woman from their pasts threatens to bring their entire world crashing down on them.”
There's some important information we can glean from the synopsis. The "mysterious woman from their pasts" is more than likely the mother of Hank and Dean Venture. She's a character that's only ever been mentioned in passing throughout the series and has remained nameless up until the last episode. In addition to this, her absence has been a frequent subject of interest for Hank and Dean, much to the dismay of Rusty.
As for The Monarch "searching for answers," he's likely looking for answers regarding the blood connection he shares with Rusty Venture, something that had been hinted at throughout the series before ultimately being confirmed in the show's last season. Hank "searching for himself" assuredly means his growing detachment from his family. Hank has historically been an eccentric -- yet highly individualistic -- character in the Venture family, a stark contrast to his more intellectual and profound brother Dean. The differences in these personalities only ever grew between seasons, culminating in the conflict that will be present in the film.
Venture Bros: The Cast and Crew
It wouldn't be a Venture Bros. movie without the Venture family. Viewers can expect the return of Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer in the writer's room and the recording booth. Because of this, we can reasonably expect an appearance from the characters they voice: Hank Venture, The Monarch, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, Henchman 21, Sergeant Hatred, Billy Quizboy, Pete White, Shore Leave, and a handful of others.
Patrick Warburton confirmed his return to the role of Brock Samson alongside James Urbaniak, who plays the role of Rusty Venture. The only member of the main cast who is officially confirmed to be returning so far is Michael Sinterniklaas, the voice of Dean Venture. Given Sinterniklaas' continued involvement throughout the show's 14 years and the fact that Dean is a key character in the show, it'd be safe to assume that he will return as well.
As for the production crew, it can be inferred that Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer will dictate a majority of creative decisions as they have done in the original series. The show has had a variety of crew members and studios involved during the course of its history, though it has maintained the same specific style and direction from as early as the first season.
Release Date
As of now, there is currently no concrete release date planned for the Venture Bros. movie. The show was infamous for its lengthy production schedule, often taking two years to produce a single new season. For many fans, an ambiguous release date is just to be expected. However, seeing as how the initial announcement came with two other films, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that their release windows are at least partially close together. Either way, the film will be released direct to video first, with a release on HBO Max 90 days following the film's initial release.
Though The Venture Bros. may be ending, its influence can be felt in today's contemporary programming. Superhero and comic parodies are aplenty, but certain shows like HBO Max's Harley Quinn absolutely nail what originally made The Venture Bros. so special. Sure, the dirty jokes are there, as is the action-packed violence, but the themes of growth, playing a role in the world, and changing perspectives elevate both programs to their beloved status.