Paramount+ has dropped the first trailer for Golden Axe, the upcoming animated comedy series based on SEGA’s classic 1989 beat ’em up video game, offering a different take on the franchise when it debuts on the streamer on 16 September 2026.
Much like the original game, Golden Axe centres on the barbarian Ax Battler, the Amazon Tyris Flare, and the dwarf Gilius Thunderhead as they work to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder. Unlike the games, though, which feature a more serious tone, the series adaptation is set to turn the adventure into a comedy, with the trailer offering no shortage of self-aware jokes and one-liners.
The story is also set to introduce original elements, including a new character named Hampton Squib, “an inexperienced and wildly underprepared adventurer whose dream of heroism far exceeds his abilities”, with the show’s comedic elements likely stemming from the interactions between Hampton and the main trio.
Golden Axe stars Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) as Ax Battler, Lisa Gilroy (Twisted Metal) as Tyris Flare, Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me) as Gilius Thunderhead, and Danny Pudi (Community) as Hampton Squib. The series was created by showrunner Joe Chandler and Mike McMahan, with the pair also serving as executive producers and writers of its first episode. Other executive producers include Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi and Toru Nakahara for Sega, and Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Toby Ascher for Original Film, with the show’s animation handled by Titmouse.
Released in 1989, Golden Axe was a side-scrolling 2D beat ’em up arcade game where players take control of one of three warriors, each with their own weapons, animations, and unique spells. The game would later be ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System, with the franchise going on to receive two numbered sequels in 1991 and 1993. In total, the franchise has seen eight games and spin-offs, with the latest being 2008’s Golden Axe: Beast Rider, which marked the first title to transition to the 3D format.
The Golden Axe animated adaptation arrives on Paramount+ on 16 September 2026.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
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