Featured Image Credit: HBO Max
Topics: HBO, MTV, Film and TV
Ben Thompson
Clone High is officially getting a comeback - but the absence of one character and new voice actors is giving fans cause for concern.
The adult animated sitcom originally aired on MTV between 2002 and 2003, and focused on a high school inhabited by clones of historical figures.
More or less what it says on the tin, right?
The cast was headed up by Abe Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Gandhi, Cleopatra and John F. Kennedy.
Keeping with the show's comedic nature, the clones all had personalities that were quite different from their historical counterparts - Gandhi, for example, was portrayed as a 'party animal'.
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Despite getting mixed reviews at the time, the show developed a cult following.
But now, HBO Max are now bringing the show back after twenty years off the air - but some changes to the show have fans feeling skeptical.
Gandhi's character is noticeably missing from the show's first trailer, which dropped earlier today (5 April), leading some fans to vow they won't be watching without his inclusion.
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This is likely due to the fact that Gandhi's portrayal in the original series led to a wave of backlash in India.
In January 2003, 150 protesters gathered in New Delhi to fast in response to Clone High's portrayal of the late civil right leader.
MTV apologised at the time, saying: "Clone High was created and intended for an American audience.
"We recognize and respect that various cultures may view this programming differently, and we regret any offense taken by the content in the show."
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It is likely that HBO Max have wanted to steer clear of a similar controversy, hence the absence of his character.
It appears that his place has been taken by a clone of Harriet Tubman.
Fans weren't happy about Gandhi being dumped as a character, and also expressed concern about the new voice actors brought on to voice the other characters.
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One fan tweeted: "They had better be hiding Gandhi from all this promotion and he’s actually in the show after all I swear to god maybe my hopes are too high but god JUST PUT HIM IN."
While another prospective viewer wrote: "Ngl [Not gonna lie] I associate the other voice actors with the characters this might be sorta uncanny valley."
And a fellow critic wrote: "I'm very skeptical of this" as another fumed: "Not a fan of the new character designs."
The show is due to be released in spring, with an official release date yet to be announced.