Henchmen (film)

Lore & Background

The film follows a fallen henchman named Hank, who leads a team called the 'Union of Evil' consisting of Lester and two others. They must prevent the super villain Baron Blackout from dominating the world. The crew is assigned to the Vault of Villainy, where Lester accidentally steals the ultimate weapon. The voice cast includes Thomas Middleditch as a henchman-in-training, James Marsden as his mentor, Rosario Dawson as a scientist, and Alfred Molina as the super villain.

Reader's Guide

Henchmen represents a modest entry in Canadian animated cinema, notable for its origin as a short film expanded into a feature. The project was first announced on August 13, 2014, when Adam Wood's short film Henchmen: Ill Suited was released, with Gary Sanchez Productions initially attached to executive produce for Bron Studios. However, by the time the full voice cast was revealed on May 29, 2015, Gary Sanchez Productions had left the project, replaced by Aaron L. Gilbert and Luke Carroll. Production began in May 2015 in British Columbia, specifically at Bron Studios in Burnaby and Duncan. The film's delayed release—from an original 2016 plan to a limited Canadian release in December 2018 and a US digital release in October 2020—reflects the challenges faced by independent animated features. Its legacy is primarily as a niche genre film with a recognizable voice cast, though it did not achieve widespread commercial or critical attention.

Did You Know?

• The film is based on Adam Wood's 2014 short film Henchmen: Ill Suited.
• Production began in May 2015 in British Columbia.
• Gary Sanchez Productions was initially attached but left the project before the voice cast was announced.
• The film received a limited release in Canada on December 7, 2018, and a US digital release on October 9, 2020.

From Short Film to Feature

The 2018 animated feature Henchmen traces its roots back to 2014, when writer-director Adam Wood released a short called Henchmen: Ill Suited. That short served as both a proof of concept and a launchpad, with the full-length project formally announced on August 13, 2014. Wood retained creative control, writing and directing the feature himself. Production kicked off in May 2015 at Bron Studios, with work spread across two British Columbia locations—Burnaby and Duncan. The project's early backing included Gary Sanchez Productions, the company owned by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and Chris Henchy, who were set to executive produce. However, that arrangement did not last; Gary Sanchez Productions departed the project, and Aaron L. Gilbert and Luke Carroll stepped in to take over the executive producing role. The film ultimately remained a Bron Studios production throughout its development.

The Union of Evil

At the heart of Henchmen is a crew of misfit henchmen who find themselves thrust into a world-saving role. The story follows Hank, a fallen henchman, who assembles a team that includes Lester and two other members, collectively known as the "Union of Evil." Their mission is straightforward in concept but fraught in execution: they must stop Baron Blackout, a super villain, from seizing control of the world. The plot takes a sharp turn when the group is assigned to the Vault of Villainy, a setting that naturally invites chaos. It is there that Lester, in a moment of carelessness, accidentally steals the ultimate weapon, setting the rest of the narrative in motion. The tone balances action-comedy with a self-aware take on the henchman archetype, positioning these typically supporting characters as the protagonists of their own story.

A Stacked Voice Cast

When the full voice cast was unveiled on May 29, 2015, it revealed a notably diverse ensemble. Thomas Middleditch lent his voice to the henchman-in-training, while James Marsden played his mentor. Rosario Dawson voiced a scientist character, and Alfred Molina brought gravitas as the super villain. Rounding out the principal cast were Nathan Fillion, Jane Krakowski, Rob Riggle, Craig Robinson, and Will Sasso, giving the film a wide range of comedic and dramatic talent. The casting announcement came at the same time as confirmation that production had already begun at Bron Studios in British Columbia. The blend of well-known comedic actors with established dramatic performers like Molina and Dawson suggests a film aiming to balance broad humor with more grounded character moments, all delivered through voice performance rather than on-screen acting.

A Long Road to Screens

Henchmen's journey from completion to audience was anything but smooth. Originally slated for a 2016 release, the film sat for years before finally reaching theaters. It received a limited theatrical run in Canada on December 7, 2018, distributed by Entertainment One. North American audiences outside Canada had to wait even longer; the film appeared on digital platforms in the United States on October 9, 2020, under the banner of Vertical Entertainment. This staggered, multi-year release window—spanning from the planned 2016 date to the 2020 digital debut—meant the film crossed into a different media landscape than the one it was originally targeting. The shift from a planned theatrical window to a limited Canadian release followed by a US digital-only launch reflects the changing economics of mid-budget animated features in the late 2010s and early 2020s.