Our exclusive sneak peek at one of three upcoming Ben 10 specials shows the Omnitrix malfunctioning during a crossover episode with Generator Rex, another character from the same universe. Man of Action, the writer's group and production studio behind Big Hero 6, released the animated sci-fi/action series' first incarnation in 2005. The show ended in 2008 but birthed a prolific franchise that has continued in the form of specials, TV movies, a live-action adaptation, and eventually a 2016 reboot of the original series.
Both the original and rebooted versions of the show follow 10-year-old Ben Tennyson, who obtains superpowers by way of a watch that contains alien DNA. Wearing the Omnitrix allows Ben to transform into any of ten different aliens, each with unique, superhuman capabilities. At first, Ben can't choose which creature to transform into when he uses the watch; he later learns how to control it, as well as how to add DNA from additional alien species. All four seasons in the main series take place over the course of one summer (excepting time travel), during which Ben travels the country in an RV with his wise Grandpa Max and magically gifted cousin Gwen. The trio bounce across space and time as they battle various foes both alien and human. Spinoffs made in the years following 2008 feature an older Ben, but the 2016 reboot returns to the same summer in a parallel timeline.
WarnerMedia has offered Screen Rant a chance to debut an exclusive sneak peek of three upcoming specials that take place within the realm of the reboot. The clip is from "Ben Gen 10," the second special of the three to air. The episode features a crossover with Generator Rex, the titular main character in another Man of Action show. Per Cartoon Network, the episode "follows Ben as he meets a young Generator Rex on the run from a hostile Providence working through a series of misunderstandings in order to save the world from being infected with alien DNA." Ben comes up against the mage Hex, one of his recurring enemies, while the Omnitrix is on the fritz. Check out the clip below:
The 44-minute specials will premiere in April, beginning with "Ben 10,010" on Friday, April 9, followed by "Ben Gen 10" on Saturday and "Alien X-Tinction" on Sunday. All episodes will air at 10 a.m. ET on Cartoon Network and be viewable on the CN app and VOD after airing. In the first special, a retired Ben 10000 (Fred Tatasciore) must reunite with his past kid self to prevent an alien horde from taking over a future world where Gwen has become the President. In "Alien X-Tinction," another Max hailing from a parallel universe recruits an army of Bens and Gwens to defeat a multiverse-dwelling Omni-alien.
Tara Strong, who's captured the spirit of a hot-to-trot 10-year-old boy in hundreds of Ben 10 episodes and properties, continues as the voice of Ben Tennyson for the specials, along with Montse Hernandez as Gwen and David Kaye as Grandpa Max. Strong is the well-known actor behind an incredible range of cartoon and video game characters including Rugrats' Dill Pickles and Fairly OddParents' Timmy Turner. After voicing young Ben for over 15 years, Strong says the character has (mostly) remained true to his first concept:
In every iteration, Ben has the essence of the original. Mentally, I put myself in the same headspace. One of the biggest differences is Ben is way nicer to Gwen. I don't think I called her "Dweeb" once.
Asked whether she has plans to reprise her role in another installment, Strong replied, "we'll have to see!" The only adventures the Tennysons have planned for now are those in the upcoming specials, and it's still TBA whether Ben 10 will continue in some form or another. Duncan Rouleau, one of the members of Man of Action, answered a fan's Twitter inquiry about future seasons cryptically, saying, "after [the specials]...who knows." If the show's writers ever run out of ideas for alien adventures, their very own Ben Tennyson might be able to help. When asked if she can reveal any details about the upcoming specials, Strong jokes that "the Omnitrix has 10 baby omnitrixes. Just kidding...but maybe I should pitch that."
Source: WarnerMedia