‘High on Life,’ the wildly popular video game from ‘Rick & Morty’ creator Justin Roiland’s Squanch Games, is set to make its animated debut with Emmy-winning actor J.B. Smoove as a producer. Known for his role in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ Smoove, who voiced the character Gus in the original game, is stepping behind the scenes to bring the game’s unique humor and bizarre universe to the small screen.
In a statement, Smoove shared his excitement about the project: “When Squanch Games originally reached out to JB Smoove (I like to talk about myself in the third person) about voicing a character in their incredible video game ‘High on Life,’ my first question was what does my character look like? They told me that I would be a fish that shoots…which makes perfect sense to me! As a Vegan, I feel a fish should have the right to defend itself! I mean right?! And now that I’m partnered with Squanch Games and Striker Entertainment to bring the hilarious ‘High on Life’ to series, it feels like it was inevitable!”
‘High on Life,’ which first launched in late 2022 for PC and Xbox before arriving on PlayStation in 2023, quickly became a hit with its unique blend of action-adventure elements and offbeat humor. The game, which features talking guns and an alien cartel that discovers humans are the most potent drug in the cosmos, boasts a cast that also includes Susan Sarandon, Andy Daly, Tim Robinson, Tom Kenny, Thomas Middleditch, Jack Black, and Jennifer Hale.
Smoove continued, “They invited me to join them in the gaming universe, and now I’m helping them move into the TV world! It’s a case of a game recognizing game! ‘High on Life’ is wild, weird, and wonderful, and the series is going to be that and more! Get ready to laugh your way through space with some unforgettable characters like myself! We are locked and loaded and ready to go!”
The show’s development involves Alternate Side Productions, Smoove’s production company, and Striker Entertainment. Squanch Games, alongside the original game’s narrative director, Alec Robbins, will also play a role in bringing the series to life. Although Smoove’s involvement as a voice actor in the series isn’t confirmed yet, there’s a strong possibility that he will reprise his role.
Russell Binder of Striker Entertainment highlighted the unique appeal of ‘High on Life,’ stating, “It’s a video game unicorn that is both laugh-out-loud funny and carries the perfect balance of action and story to keep players engaged and demanding more. Celebrating the fact that JB Smoove is a voice in, and a fan of, the game, we felt like we didn’t have to look any further than partnering up with Alternate Side Productions to adapt this title. With DLC, merch, and a publishing program, ‘High on Life’ is tailor-made for multimedia storytelling and fan engagement.”