Arnold Schwarzenegger to star in new animated series for Stan Lee called Superhero Kindergarten

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in the classroom as he stars in new animated series Superhero Kindergarten from the mind of Stan Lee: ‘I am so pumped’

Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to return back to the Kindergarten classroom — this time on an animated scale.  

The 73-year-old Kindergarten Cop star announced his new project — which is one of the last concepts to come from the mind of the late comic book legend Stan Lee — a kids cartoon series called Superhero Kindergarten. 

Set to lead the show as a superhero-turned-teacher tasked with training the next generation of superheroes, an excited Arnold announced ahead of its April 23 premiere: ‘I am so pumped.’  

New gig: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 73, is set to star in an animated kids cartoon for comic book legend Stan Lee called Superhero Kindergarten 

Cartoon countdown: The series is set to premiere on the Kartoon Channel app and website on April 23rd

Cartoon countdown: The series is set to premiere on the Kartoon Channel app and website on April 23rd

‘In four days all of you can finally see what I’ve been working on! I am so pumped to show @therealstanlee’s Superhero Kindergarten to the world. This Friday on kartoonchannel.com,’ he wrote in his Twitter announcement. 

Arnold’s character, Arnold Armstrong, trades his ‘Captain Courage’ cape for a scholarly blazer, as he is tasked with mentoring the next generation of budding heroes who happen to be kindergarten students. 

His likeness is immortalized by way of the character’s towering physique, and the series will follow his journey as he guides six budding superheroes who are learning to use and harness their powers. 

Perhaps roughly inspired by the 1990 film Kindergarten Cop, in which he plays John Kimble — a cop posing as a kindergarten teacher — the former bodybuilder is set to return to school. 

Mentor: Arnold plays a superhero turned teacher tasked with training the next generation of budding heroes who happen to be kindergarten students

Mentor: Arnold plays a superhero turned teacher tasked with training the next generation of budding heroes who happen to be kindergarten students 

Power: The reformed superhero serves as mentor to a brood of elementary school kids who must learn to harness their powers

Power: The reformed superhero serves as mentor to a brood of elementary school kids who must learn to harness their powers

Next generation: Six budding superheroes learn to use and harness their powers underneath Arnold's guidance

Next generation: Six budding superheroes learn to use and harness their powers underneath Arnold’s guidance

And Arnold confirmed that he and the late Lee did indeed have a conversation about teaming up for a kindergarten-related project after the Marvel Comics’ vet told him he enjoyed that film. 

In a  2019 phone interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Arnold recalled: ‘He [Stan] kind of looked at me and says, “I really enjoyed that movie. That was fantastic. I loved the way you played with those kids and your communication with the kids, the fun you had.”‘

The Terminator star then recalled that Stan’s eyes were ‘wandering off’ and he could see the gears in his head ‘spinning.’  

One of the co-producers of the project — Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward — said that Lee had always envisioned Arnold would play this role. 

‘Stan loved and admired Arnold as not just an actor, but a true hero in so many ways and always envisioned Arnold for this role,’ he said in a statement. 

Inspiration: The pair had spoken about wanting to create some sort of sequel for Kindergarten Cop to which Arnold recalled that in their conversation Stan's eyes were 'wandering off' and he could see the gears in his head 'spinning' about a possible project

Inspiration: The pair had spoken about wanting to create some sort of sequel for Kindergarten Cop to which Arnold recalled that in their conversation Stan’s eyes were ‘wandering off’ and he could see the gears in his head ‘spinning’ about a possible project

One of the last: The animated series was one of the last projects the Marvel Comics vet penned before he passed

Final projects: Arnold shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he and Lee did have an exchange about teaming up for a kindergarten-related comic inspired by Kindergarten Cop

Final projects: Arnold shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he and Lee did have an exchange about teaming up for a kindergarten-related comic inspired by Kindergarten Cop 

The project also tapped SpongeBob SquarePants head writer, Steven Banks, to pen the project, and Arnold also serves as co-executive producer under his Oak Productions along with Lee’s POW! Entertainment. 

Speaking about the project, Schwarzenegger said it is ‘deeply personal.’ 

‘This is a deeply personal project for me and I am so pumped to introduce it to the world. Not only has it allowed me to bring to life the work of the fantastic Stan Lee, but the series also touches on subjects I’ve spent my life working on, from health and fitness tips and anti-bullying messages to inclusivity and diversity. 

‘It brings me great joy to share that messaging with kids in a way that is vibrant, dynamic and most important – fun! It’s an honor to have worked with Stan Lee and I know he would be proud of the message we’re delivering,’ he said. 

Muse: 'Stan loved and admired Arnold as not just an actor, but a true hero in so many ways and always envisioned Arnold for this role,' Genius CEO Heyward said in a statement

Muse: ‘Stan loved and admired Arnold as not just an actor, but a true hero in so many ways and always envisioned Arnold for this role,’ Genius CEO Heyward said in a statement