Michael Dorn as Panthro… What can I say except that it would be a fantastic choice! I’m trying to imagine Dorn’s voice saying one of Panthro’s lines, which is kind of hard, but still… GOOD CHOICE!!
And while we’re on the subject about voices, who here besides me thinks that Billy West would be an awesome Vultureman if he ever got cast in the new series??
There is no point in simply remaking and retelling the Thundercats or going on with a totally new begining alienating from the Original as if it never happened and keeping the same only the protagonists. The 80’s show carries such a strong heritage that it shouldn’t be eliminated out of the blue. Undoubtedly, the crucial events of the first series can’t be circumvented.
Micheal Dorn’s baritone voice suits perfectly for Panthro. I believe he is the ideal choice.
Woah! He would make a great Vultureman! Nice job!
I know, wouldn’t he?!? Come to think of it, Billy West could probaby pull off Mumm-Ra, too, or at least his screamy parts.
What do you guys think of Gary Chalk (voiced Man-At-Arms in the 200X series) or Cam Clarke (voiced He-Man in the 200X series) as Lion-O? It seems he’s been in a lot of cartoons lately.
And please don’t say Larry Kenney. He’s the voice of Claudus now; we have to understand that’s official and we need to move on 
Found an article about Larry Kenney on behindthevoiceactors.com, it stated “because the series will focus on the backstory of the Thundercats, Larry Kenney has been hired to voice Claudus.” Also mentioned the pilot is nearly complete. Id paste a link but I’m using a cell phone.
Chris here…
I think Gary Chalk’s voice would be too “old sounding” for Lion-O, but Cam Clarke could do a decent job IMO!
Take care…
As a long-time fan of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, I wholeheartedly support the idea of Michael Dorn doing Panthro. And if you want spice added to the show, have Earle Hyman do Panthro’s father. Now wouldn’t that be a kick in the old Thunderpants! 
And there would be an added bonus as well: “Star Trek” alumni guesting or doing recurrent character voices. Anybody for Patrick Stewart and/or Jonathan Frakes as ThunderCat nobles? Or Marina Sirtis as Lion-O’s mother? The possibilities are endless! And if Michael Dorn isn’t chosen, why not get Avery Brooks, who played Captain Bejamin Sisko in “Star Trek: Deep Space 9”? He’d shine as Panthro, and I should know having watched “DS9” during its 7-year run!
Merged Post:
Okay, it’s official. But that doesn’t mean Larry can’t do both Lion-O and Claudus, and I haven’t heard that he’s been rejected for the role of Lion-O.
“The backstory of the Thundercats”!! So that might take us even way back the destruction of Old Thundera but then Lion-o was truly a cub!!!
Then, i guess catspat’s suggestion of Earl Hyman reprising the voice-role as Panthro’s father stands to reason 100%!!! LOL
Wouldn’t that be great to make the THUNDERFATHERSCATS team!! Sounds cool HAHA
ThunderCat Forefathers
Seeing the ThunderCat nobles’ lineage would be both interesting and fascinating – perhaps Cheetara’s mother or father as a previous ThunderCat. Lord knows, I’d like to see a Cougarious or Cougaro as a new ThunderCat.
I also recall a post regarding the Ro-Bear Berbils. Personally, I liked the Ro-Bear Berbils and would like to learn more about their small planet, Ro-Bear, or perhaps something a little out of context, like the Ro-Bear Berbils having an alliance with the ThunderCat Nobles and Thundera. After all, they helped provide Ro-Bear Berbil Fruit and with construction of the Cat’s Lair.
No offense to Larry, he’s an absolutely amazing person and is great to us fans, but we need a new voice for Lion-O. I think WB did a great homage for fans in having Larry be a part of the new series; fans need to accept the fact that this is a brand new series, a remake of the original, and that it WILL be different no matter how we spin it.
The MOTU 200X series was very close to the Filmation version, but at the end of the day, the 200X series had a lot of differences from the classic 1980s series and it was still great. It too was a remake, and while it didn’t last very long, I thought it was far superior to the original series in almost every aspect.
I watched the original MOTU and the last remake and totally enjoyed both of them. (I think there was one in-between that really sucked.) I agree the last one was far better in the animation. The stories were great and having Prince Adam as an adolescent transforming into an adult-sized He-man was a great way to disguise Adam as He-man. 
Looking at the Tcats poster I would say at least the claw-shield will resemble its old self. We can only hope the characters will be treated with respect to the old series. To have this as back story is a great idea…a prequel. While I will miss the new Thundercats, maybe we will see them as they were when they were first introduced to us… part of the common day Thunderians and get bit of back story on them would be nice, but not a necessity.:pumyrahappy:
As for Wildstorm’s comic book series…to me the comics are not part of canon. Ben-gali was killed only in the Wildstorm universe and as far as I am concerned, it will stay in that universe along with Cheetara being the Thundercat’s 'Ho. 
Personally, i wouldn’t mind at all if it is different as long as there is a certain consistency with the original epic series and apparently i don’t mean just the names refererence. I am against to a “remake” version, what is the point of waiting 25 years only to produce a Thundercats cartoon showing better artwork and animation? Besides, if someone wants to be introduced to the Thundercats world for the first time, he/she can pick up the 80’s show, the animation is still very unique and contemporary as well. It doesn’t give you the impression of a tedious old-fashioned cartoon. If the subject was a New movie then i couldn’t agree more with you because then the narration goes to another level, the continuity is much tighter and a somewhat greater depth of characterization. But it won’t add nothing to the Thundercats mythos a remake version. If i am not mistaken the MOTU 200X series was produced in order to accompany the toyline, generally Mattel’s main idea was to make and sell toys rather than a great show. Thundercats don’t deserve that treatment, the original show as it has proven can stand with or without the support of the merchandise-related items. At least, i hope this isn’t the reason behind the creation of the 2011 series…
I have to agree with this. Larry’s a great voice-actor but even Larry admits that he doesn’t sound the same as he used to (I did an interview with him the other day for my podcast and we discussed that). You need a younger voice-actor to pull that ‘young Lion-O’ and, unfortunately, it’s not Larry. Earle, for example, couldn’t do Panthro. I don’t think we should start getting into the habit of choosing the original voice-actors for fathers - that would set quite a strange trend and, realistically, it wouldn’t happen.
It may be Larry Kenney and possibly Peter Newman being involved (just because Peter Newman sounds so much like Tygra and his characters - unbelivable) but Lynne Lipton and Earle Hyman have aged to the point that it does affect their voices. I’d love to see them all incorperated.. but I just don’t see it.
Anything’s possible, I guess. I’m just glad Larry’s been incorperated into it - Larry deserves it after being so good with the ThunderCats series, it makes a nice link with the old series.
here’s the link to that little blurb on Behindthevoiceactors.com
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/news/Larry-Kenney-cast-for-new-Thundercats-Series/
"Larry Kenney has confirmed on his Facebook page that he will in deed be one of the voices on the New Thundercats series that was announced here at BTVA just days ago. Since the series will focus on the backstories of the Thundercats Kenney has been cast to voice Lion-O’s father, Claudus!
In fact the pilot episode is almost entirely shot already. Hopefully more details on the rest of the cast will follow soon!
Also, a page has been added for the show on our site including the new show logo! "
While we are on the subject of change, I can’t stress enough how much I think it would help the series if we DON’T see:
The New Thundarians: Pumyra, Bengali, Lynx-O
The Lunatacks: Chilla, Aluro, Amok, Luna, Red Eye, Tug Mug
as regular characters. Introducing those new characters only accomplished diluting character development overall. I know I’ve spoke about the Mutants in this thread, but the original Thundercats also suffered from lack of air time to try to make room for some of the new ones. It just resulted in no character (except Lion-O) getting enough time in the 2nd season and chunks of episodes between seeing the likes of Panthro and Tygra as well as the Mutants.
Bengali and Pumyra are just watered down versions of Tygra and Cheetarah. Think about it. Neither of those characters had a “special uniqueness” about them like Tygra (using the whip to disappear) and Cheetarah (light speed and 6th sense). Lynx-O at least brought the dynamic of being blind, and I’d be ok with him coming on and staying on as a mentor figure to Lion-O after Jaga dies (although still with the awesome appearances by him).
Again, I’m not against them appearing in the series at all, but trying to make room for that many characters to continually develop in a half hour block just dilutes them all. Have them appear in a story arc or two, but I really would love for this show to focus almost exclusively on the original Cats, Mutants (if they are there), Mumm-Ra when he appears, and possibly (if there is part or an entire season’s worth of back story on Thundera before Exodus) Jaga.
I would also LOVE expansion of Grune. He had such an intriguing aspect of once being a Thundercat but then turning to the dark side so to speak…I really hope that is explored more and fleshed out.
Honestly though I think this series would do well to keep the spotlight on Lion-O, Cheetarah, Panthro, Tygra, Jaga and Snarf and only deviate it for a few episodes or a story arc or two to the other Thundarians.
Also to those that think this will pick up after episode 130 of the original series, here is the exact quote from the press release to suggest otherwise
http://www.mania.com/first-look-thundercats-return-2011_article_122951.html
“The new “ThunderCats” will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise. A sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes, the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost – takes on epic dimensions in this sharp new telling. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode.”
If that is accurate I believe this would have to guarantee that it will not be taking place after the original series, but instead before and possibly (hopefully) bringing back key moments (like the trials…oh please the trials) of the original show.
And, hey, there just might even be a Leppardra or Leopardra! Anything’s possible at this point.
I am a bit confused so riddle me this, how are you going to focus on the Thundercats backstory which works fine with Claudus being present and having a protagonist’s role but on the same time follow Lion-o’s ascesion to the throne?
It goes as simple as that. If the New series takes us back in Old Thundera Lion-o was very young then and provided that we are not talking about one or two episodes in Old Thundera but the main story starting and unfurling from that point on, then either Lion-o wouldn’t be included as the main protagonist for many episodes or they are going to alter completely the story as we know it so far.
I completely agree Lordore, if they are going to stay true to the original story, they are going to have a tough time keeping the story on Old Thundera (pre-Exodus) and having it center on Lion-O.
But just for the fun of it, let’s say that is exactly what they are going to do. Lion-O is going to be a young boy, and the Sword of Omens is not going to be known to anyone except Jaga and Claudus. There can be other ThunderCats, but remember Ben-Gali, Pumyra, and Lynx-O were commoners until Lion-O made them ThunderCats on Third Earth. But Lynx-O can/should have some contact with Claudus since he could hear his voice in Lion-O’s, so either Claudus made appearaces on ThunderTV or Lynx-O met him at least once.
But the poster shows Lion-O as a young adult with a sword that resembles the Sword of Omens. The only way this would work while staying true to the original is if that poster is more sentimental than having to do with the new series, or that is to show where the show will eventually go.
A thought just crossed my mind. What if the series does take place on Old Thundera, and takes place just about the time Claudus is blinded? We could see an episode or two of Claudus in his prime, then he loses his site and names Jaga as the acting or interim Lord of the ThunderCats until a permanent Lord can be selected. Lion-O will have to compete against other young ThunderCats and/or Thunderians to prove he is worthy of taking his father’s place as Lord of the ThunderCats. Collecting the stones will be like the junior version of the Anointment Trials, and whomever gets the most will be trained to be the next Lord of the ThunderCats. Lion-O would have to beat the other kids and overcome outside obsticals like those who are trying to fix the competition to make sure Lion-O is not the next Lord of the ThunderCats.
Yeah man, we might also have the THUNDERTODDLERSCATS team instead of just the THUNDERFATHERSCATS team!!
We can only make suggestions from what point the story will set off, i tried to give some reasonable scenarios on my previous posts taking into account the original show and the latest informations we have read, now if they choose to neglect the 80’s show they can come up with whatever story they like, i won’t agree at all with this strategy but you never know… The producers might be preparing us for a revealation in the anime and cartoon genre.
No matter what, we should be positive and open-minded,for the Thundercats sake.