How Deadpool’s Test Footage Influenced Secret Level Anthology

Nivedita Dubey
December 5, 2024

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Key Points:

Secret Level is an adult animated anthology featuring 15 original stories based on beloved video games.
Tim Miller (Deadpool, Love, Death & Robots) and Dave Wilson (Bloodshot) lead the creative team.
The Deadpool test footage inspired the series’ approach to tone, storytelling, and visuals.
Secret Level premieres on Prime Video on December 10, with games like Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Warhammer 400K featured.

The Deadpool test footage that revolutionized superhero movies is now shaping the world of animation. The creators of Secret Level, an upcoming anthology on Prime Video, credit their experience with that footage as foundational in developing the tone, storytelling, and aesthetic for this groundbreaking series.

Deadpool Test Footage’s Legacy and Connection to Secret Level

The Deadpool test footage leaked online in 2014, demonstrated the power of short-form storytelling. It not only secured a green light for the Ryan Reynolds blockbuster but also honed the skills of its creators, Tim Miller and Dave Wilson. Speaking about the experience, the creators emphasized how it influenced Secret Level:

Tim Miller said, “I actually feel like the studio’s work doing Game Sit Matters and trailers was a spiritual precursor of Deadpool. It gave us, Dave and I both, a lot of experience in packing a lot of story in a short amount of time, which is a unique kind of creative exercise.”

Dave Wilson noted that, “But mostly I think that test in particular, it’s not just the story. It’s can you encapsulate the tone in five minutes? Can you spiritually get the audience to understand what these characters are and that world feels like? I think that’s what that test did. That test was created all by Blur, the same artists that make all the game trailers and cinematics that Blur made over the last 30 years are the same artists who made that trailer. Yes. We spent way more money than we were actually given.”

Blur Studios, which Miller co-founded, played a pivotal role in both projects. Known for its high-quality trailers for games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Prey 2, and Warhammer 40K, the studio applied its decades of experience to create the visually stunning world of Secret Level.

**What Sets Secret Level Apart?**

Blur Studios’ reputation, combined with Miller and Wilson’s expertise, positions Secret Level as a standout project in the animated anthology genre. Here’s what to expect:

Diverse Stories from Beloved Games: The series features 15 original stories across worlds inspired by Armored Core, Dungeons & Dragons, Mega Man, Sifu, and more.
High-Quality Visuals: Fans were thrilled by the hyperrealistic, emotionally charged trailer, especially a gritty reboot of Mega Man.
Innovative Storytelling: The team aims to merge cinematic aesthetics with concise, impactful storytelling—a hallmark of Blur’s work on Deadpool and other projects.