Psych (film series)

Psych
Official film series logo
Based onPsych
by Steve Franks
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
2017–present
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Psych is a series of comedy-drama mystery films, based on and serving as a continuation of the USA Network television series of the same name. Beginning with the 2017 film Psych: The Movie, the series has seen favorable critical reception [1][2][3] with the Peacock streaming service ordering all films succeeding the first.

The first sequel, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, was released in 2020, with the third film, Psych 3: This Is Gus, following in 2021. Three further films are in development.

Origin

Once production on the dramedy television series Psych wrapped, series creator Steve Franks immediately had the idea to bring the Psych universe back in film form later on. On May 8, 2017, USA Network confirmed that a film continuation would be produced for the network,[4] directed by Franks and co-written with series star James Roday, with all the series' main cast returning.[5] All subsequent films would be ordered by and released to the streaming service Peacock.[6]

Films

Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Status
Psych: The Movie December 7, 2017 (2017-12-07) Steve Franks Steve Franks & James Roday Rodriguez Steve Franks James Roday Rodriguez, Dulé Hill, Steve Franks, Chris Henze, Kelly Kulchak, and Chris Cheramie Released
Psych 2: Lassie Come Home July 15, 2020 (2020-07-15) Steve Franks, James Roday Rodriguez, and Andy Berman
Psych 3: This Is Gus November 18, 2021 (2021-11-18) Steve Franks & James Roday Rodriguez
Psych 4 TBA In development

Psych: The Movie (2017)

On May 8, 2017, USA Network announced Psych: The Movie, a two-hour film continuation of Psych to air December 7, 2017.[4] All the original main cast would return for the film, which was directed by series creator Steve Franks and written by Franks and series star, James Roday Rodriguez. Zachary Levi was later announced for the film as the main villain, "Thin White Duke",[7] while Jazmyn Simon – Dulé Hill's real-life fiancée – played Selene, a romantic interest for Gus.[8] On July 5, 2017, Charlotte Flair announced that she would be in Psych: The Movie as Heather Rockrear.[9]

On June 28, 2017, former guest star Ralph Macchio joined the cast reprising his role as Nick Conforth,[10] the police academy officer who trained Shawn and Gus in season 5. Principal photography took place from May 25 to June 18[11][12] in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was later announced that Timothy Omundson would have a reduced role due to a stroke, but would still appear.[13] In addition, Kurt Fuller, John Cena and Jimmi Simpson were confirmed to be reprising their respective roles of Woody Strode, Ewan O'Hara and Mary Lightly.

Psych 2: Lassie Come Home (2020)

On February 14, 2019, it was announced Psych: The Movie 2 was greenlit and all the main cast would return, set to premiere in 2019.[14] On April 18, 2019, it was announced Joel McHale would be joining the film, as well as Jimmi Simpson, reprising his recurring role as Mary Lightly.[15] On September 17, 2019, it was announced that the sequel had been renamed Psych 2: Lassie Come Home and would instead be airing on NBCUniversal's new streaming service, Peacock. Consequently, the film will only debut after the streaming service is launched.[16][17] In a November 2019 interview with Larry King, Timothy Omundson revealed that the film would revolve around the characters rallying together in support of Lassie's recovery following a stroke, mirroring Omundson's real-life stroke which led to his reduced presence in Psych: The Movie.[18]

Psych 3: This Is Gus (2021)

On May 13, 2021, Peacock announced a third film, Psych 3: This Is Gus, with production set to begin in the summer.[19] On October 9, 2021 at New York Comic Con, it was announced the film will premiere on November 18, 2021.[20] Along with the returning main cast, Kurt Fuller would reprise his role as Woody Strode and Curt Smith would return as himself.

Future

Three further Psych films are in development, with John Cena intended to reprise his role.[21]

Principal cast and characters

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the series.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  C indicates a cameo role.
  •  E indicates an appearance not included in the theatrical cut.
  •  P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
Character Films
Psych:
The Movie
Psych 2:
Lassie Come Home
Psych 3:
This Is Gus
Psych 4[21]
Shawn Spencer James Roday Rodriguez
Burton "Gus" Guster Dulé Hill
Selene Guster Jazmyn Simon
Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter Timothy OmundsonC Timothy Omundson TBA
Henry Spencer Corbin Bernsen
Juliet "Jules" O'Hara Maggie Lawson
Chief Karen Vick Kirsten Nelson
Buzz McNab Sage Brocklebank
Woodrow "Woody" Strode Kurt Fuller
Mary Lightly Jimmi Simpson  
Ewan O'Hara John Cena   John Cena[21]
Thin White Duke Zachary Levi  
Nick Conforth Ralph Macchio  
Dr. Butterfly McMillan Julianna Guill  
El Proveedor Robert LaSardo  
Heather Rockrear Charlotte Flair  
Sam Sloane Sam Huntington  
Allison Cowley Mena Suvari  
Black Gentleman Ninja Nathan Mitchell  
Lassiter's father   Joel McHale  
Nurse Dolores   Sarah Chalke  
Maisie   Allison Miller  
Wilkerson   Kadeem Hardison  
Ova   Christopher Heyerdahl  
Dr. Emile Herschel   Richard Schiff  
Marlowe Lassiter   Kristy Swanson  
Alan Decker   Allen Maldonado  
Curt Smith   Himself  
Father Westley   Ray Wise  
Lily Lassiter   Sophia Reid-Gantzert  

Additional crew and production details

Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor Production
companies
Distributing
company
Running time
Psych: The Movie Adam Cohen & John Robert Wood Scott Williams David Crabtree
USA Network 1 hr 28 mins
Psych 2: Lassie Come Home David Crabtree & David Grecu Peacock 1 hr 30 mins
Psych 3: This Is Gus David Crabtree 1 hr 36 mins

Reception

Critical and public response of Psych films
Title Critical
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Psych: The Movie 100% (14 reviews)[22] 66% (6 reviews)[23]
Psych 2: Lassie Come Home 85% (13 reviews)[24] 77% (5 reviews)[25]
Psych 3: This Is Gus 80% (1 reviews)[26]

Podcast

Launched in November 2021, Maggie Lawson and Timothy Omundson have hosted a weekly rewatch podcast of the Psych television and film series, entitled The Psychologists Are In: A Psych Rewatch.[27] Episodes include plot recaps and behind-the-scenes memories from the two hosts. The series also features interviews with cast members, guest stars, and crew members, including writers, directors, and franchise creator Steve Franks.

References

  1. ^ Psych 3: This Is Gus. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Psych: The Movie. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Psych 2: Lassie Come Home. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Not a Drill: 'Psych: The Movie' Is Coming to USA Network This December". Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  5. ^ Ausiello, Michael (2017-06-14). "Psych Movie: Chucks Zachary Levi Joins Revival Cast as the Big Bad". tvline.com. TVLine Media. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  6. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (May 14, 2020). "Psych 2 to Premiere in July, Among First Wave of Peacock Streaming Originals". TVLine. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  7. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 14, 2017). "Psych Movie: Chucks Zachary Levi Joins Revival Cast as the Big Bad". tvline.com. TVLine Media. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  8. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 22, 2017). "Psych Revival Enlists New Love Interest for Gus – and There's a (Fun!) Twist". TVLine. TVLine Media. Retrieved 2017-06-22.
  9. ^ Gennis, Sadie (July 5, 2017). "Exclusive: Psych: The Movie Adds a WWE Superstar as Zachary Levi's Evil Sidekick". TV Guide. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  10. ^ Agard, Chancellor (June 28, 2017). "Psych: The Movie: Ralph Macchio will reprise role in holiday special". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  11. ^ Nelson, Kirsten [@nelsonKirsten] (May 25, 2017). "Congrats to all my lovelies on Day 1! See you soooooooon!! 🍍❤️👮🍍" (Tweet). Retrieved 2017-06-18 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Hill, Dulé [@DuleHill] (June 18, 2017). "...and that's a wrap. 🤜🏾🍍🤛🏼 #PsychTheMovie #December2017 instagram.com/p/BVf4h1Oh6nJ/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2017-06-18 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Gennis, Sadie (July 21, 2017). "Psych: The Movie: Timothy Omundson Will Appear in 'One of the Best Scenes'". TV Guide. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  14. ^ USA Network (February 14, 2019). "Psych: The Movie 2 Is Coming to USA Network Later This Year!". USA Network.
  15. ^ USA Network (April 18, 2019). "Psych: The Movie 2 Announces Jimmi Simpson's Return and Adds Joel McHale". USA Network.
  16. ^ w Network (February 14, 2019). "Psych: The Movie 2 Is Coming to USA Network Later This Year!". USA Network.
  17. ^ Swift, Andy (September 17, 2019). "Psych Movie Sequel Gets a Doggone Cute New Title, Later Premiere Date Now on Peacock Streaming Service". TVLine.
  18. ^ "Timothy Omundson on stroke recovery, 'Psych' film, & 'This is Us' role". YouTube. Larry King. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Psych 3: This Is Gus a Go at Peacock; Threequel to Feature Wedding, Birth of 'Baby Guster,' Random Pineapple(s)". TVLine. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (October 9, 2021). "Psych 3 Movie Threequel Gets Premiere Date, Trailer That Questions Existence of a 'Peacock' Streaming Service". TVLine. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  21. ^ a b c MacDonald, Lindsay (December 7, 2017). "Yes, the Psych Movie Sequel Will Be All About John Cena". TV Guide. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  22. ^ Psych: The Movie. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Psych: The Movie. Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  24. ^ Psych 2: Lassie Come Home. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  25. ^ Psych 2: Lassie Come Home. Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  26. ^ Psych 3: This Is Gus. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  27. ^ Racioppi, Frank (March 17, 2022). "The Psychologists Are I Podcast: The Psych-Os Are In Charge, And That's A Good Thing!". medium.com. Medium. Retrieved 2023-01-17.