Varian and the Seven Kingdoms was a rejected graphic novel concept in the Tangled franchise. It was not ever intended to be a show, only a graphic novel, and it was not cancelled; the idea never made it past the first approval stage. It was created by the show's storyboard artists Kaitlyn Ritter and Anna Lencioni, and it would have followed Varian as he set out on his own adventure following the events of the series.
Disney rejected the concept because they did not want a series in the Tangled franchise that did not center around Rapunzel. Disney was interested in the idea if Varian was replaced with an original character, but Ritter and Lencioni refused and the comic ultimately was cancelled in 2020.[1]
Plot[]
After discovering his mother's almanac, Varian sets out on a quest to search for the seven alchemical laws by searching through the seven kingdoms. He would use the laws to find his mother Ulla who was trapped by her former partner Donella who is trying to prevent Ulla's release. Varian would have been joined by the street criminal Hugo, the inventive Yong and Nuru, a princess who is looking to save her kingdom.[2]
Storylines would have featured the various twists and turns that Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure was known for. Hugo would have been an agent for Donella and turn his back on her, while Ulla would be revealed as the main villain of the series whom Varian would try to reform. Hugo would later betray Donella in service of helping Varian reach Ulla.[2]
Cast[]
- Varian: A spirited, tenacious young alchemist from Corona who is eager to learn everything there is to learn about alchemy and magic. Seeing himself as a bit of an outcast in Corona, Varian decides to travel to new kingdoms with an almanac once belonging to his adventurous mother. On this journey, Varian is looking for missing pieces of himself, seeking his "tribe". By completing his mother's works, Varian hopes to gain a better understanding of himself.[3]
- Hugo: Hugo comes from a technologically advanced, yet economically divided kingdom. As a result, he lives like a criminal, stealing riches to fund his experiments and to live a more lavish life. He is everything Varian thinks he wants to be in terms of street smarts, intelligence, style. However, Hugo can be very mischievous and sneaky, and is often out for himself.[3]
- Yong: Yong is a sweet, accident-prone kid with the best intentions from a kingdom known for its glorious fireworks and pyrotechnics. His inventions end up exploding, catching fire, or otherwise blowing up in his face. Yong's true ambition is to invent something that does not combust. He possesses the same over-eager enthusiasm for inventing that Varian was notorious for in Corona. This leads to Varian to see him as a bit of a younger brother.[3]
- Princess Nuru: Princess Nuru comes from a kingdom plagued by a cosmic disaster. Recurring meteor showers devastate her kingdom, forcing hardship on her people as they must constantly rebuild it. With her people unable to thrive, Nuru wants to use her power as a princess [to] find a way to save her people. Nuru believe, with further research, she may be able to find a solution to her plight. She joins Varian and her friends in the hopes of accomplishing this. Within the group, she acts as a navigator and a diplomat, but remains wary of characters like Hugo.[3]
- Donella: Many years ago, Donella was a research partner to Varian's mother, and is now presumed responsible for her death. Currently, Donella is trying to find a way to access her former colleague's secrets. As a means of accomplishing this, she employs Hugo to act as a double agent for her, infiltrating Varian's travel party disguised as a friend.[3]
- Ulla: Varian's mother and Quirin's wife. Once a fearless adventurer in pursuit of knowledge, Ulla disappeared after a disagreement with her research partner, Donella. Upon disappearing from Corona, Ulla left behind her husband, Quirin, and her son, Varian. An almanac detailing her adventures and studies was left behind by Quirin and later discovered by Varian, charting a secret destination.[3]
- Ruddiger: Varian's raccoon.[3]
- Prometheus: A donkey.[3]
- Varian's cousins: The long-lost Varian's cousins who like him, have a high intellect.[3]
Trivia[]
- According to Ritter, Hugo and Varian's relationship would be seen to evolve from a sort of Pinocchio and Lampwick situation to that of an equal one. In a way, their bond repaired the partnership that frayed between Ulla and Donella.[2]
- According to Ritter, the person to come up with the idea of Ulla being the villain was Chris Sonnenburg.
Gallery
Click here to view the gallery.
References[]
- ↑ Wotso's Magical World (July 20, 2020). Kaitlyn Ritter Talks Directing Monsters At Work: Following Dreams (57:00).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ritter, Kaitlyn [@kritterart] (April 28, 2020). Tumblr post (Post). Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Ritter, Kaitlyn [@kritterart] (April 27, 2020). Tumblr post (Post). Archived from the original on 2021-01-08.