Harmony Unleashed: Between Light & Darkness Part 2 - Harmonical Ascension is an upcoming ensemble live-action/animated science fantasy film based on characters from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Equestria Girls and Pony Life, as well as Harmony Unleashed by Hasbro, produced by Hollowfox Filmworks, eOne Studios, Hyperobject Industries, SakamotoPro, Taralicious Enterprises, and distributed by Montalvo Releasing and 20th Century Studios.
It is part two of the two-parter final films in the Guardians of Equestria arc and the 21st film in the Harmony Unleashed Saga film series, making it a direct sequel to part one of the film of the same name, subtitled Celestial Requiem. It is directed by Aaron Montalvo and written by Montalvo, Adam McKay, Ian Brennan, Dave Polsky, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit from a story by Montalvo, McKay, Damian Shannon & Mark Swift. This film marks the conclusion to the Guardians of Equestria arc. The film will be dedicated to Gabriel Montalvo Garcia and Brian Goldner, who both died in 2021.
It is set to be released in the fourth quarter of 2021 with a theatrical release set for November 24, 2021 and streaming on MontalVue VIP-OD on December 10, 2021 for an additional price. A combined version of both films are set to be released on MontalVue in Spring 2022.
The two-parter will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Harmony Unleashed franchise with a double feature screening set to take place in New Jersey on November 11, 2021, as part of a "Harmony Unleashed: 120 Moons in 10 Years" Event.
Premise[]
After the victory of the villains, Earth and Equestria has been in grief with the loss of Princess Celestia and the elements stolen from both the SBO and the Mane Six. However, as Aaron is not losing hope despite being hopeless, he has a plan to fight against Tirek, Storm King and Grogar for one last showdown alongside the Mane Six and the Guardians of Equestria, as the gang goes into space as they have a lair to bring darkness to both worlds.
Production[]
A concept for a final film was in development for years during the run of the Harmony Unleashed Saga. It was set to be written by Montalvo, Damian Shannon and Mark Swift with Montalvo directing the film. Sakamoto was going to co-direct alongside Montalvo but he ceded half of his position as director, giving Montalvo full direction of the films.
The film will be a 2-parter as similar to films like The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn, The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Hunger Games' Mockingjay, which those two-parters are conclusive event films. This film will be dedicated in loving memory to Montalvo's grandfather and former Radio Cristal collaborator, Gabriel A. Montalvo, who died in January of 2021 as a cause of COVID-19, and additionally, Hasbro former CEO Brian Goldner, who died in October 12, 2021 two days after medical leave as a cause of cancer.
Other Media[]
Combined Film[]
- Main article: [[Harmony Unleashed: Between Light and Darkness - The Holy Completion]]
Montalvo has talked about combining the 2-parter into a 4-hour/271-minute film after the exposure of Zack Snyder's Justice League. He was planning to release the film on MontalVue in 2022, calling the combined film, an answer to the Snyder Cut of Justice League. Later in October 2021 on the Montalvo Summit presentation at New York Comic Con, Montalvo announced that Parts 1 and 2 of the film will have a combined film with scenes not shown in theatres set for a Spring 2022 release as a Montalvo Original Film streaming on MontalVue. A teaser was shown after the final red band trailer of part 2.
Companion Documentary Series[]
- Main article: [[Harmony Unleashed: Between Light and Darkness - Journey to the End]]
MontalVue announced a companion Documentary limited series about the making of the franchise's two final films in the Guardians of Equestria Arc, separated in two cours of four episodes set between 2021 and 2022.
Liz Garbus will direct the documentary series, which will be produced alongside Koichi Sakamoto Hollowfox's Aaron Montalvo, Hasbro's Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis, Taralicious' Tara Strong and Danny Zuker, Toei's Takeyuki Suzuki, and eOne's Tara Long.
Release[]
The film will be released on November 24, 2021 in 2D theatres, 3D theatres, drive-in theatres, Dolby Cinema and IMAX. Since being a two-parter, the film will be released back-to-back this year, after the first part got released on May 28, 2021
The film will also be released on MontalVue VIP-OD particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic's negative impact on movie theaters across the United States (alongside the concerns with the new strain), with many of them remaining closed.
Initially, the film was supposed to be released on December 24, 2021 in theatres and MontalVue VIP-OD on the exact same day, but after COVID-19 pandemic is fading, and Montalvo wanting the audience to come back to theatres, the theatrical release has moved up to November 24. 2021 with the MontalVue VIP-OD aiming for a December 10 date,
In Latin America, the film will be released for free on MontalVue on January of 2022, two months after the film's theatrical release as similar with Disney+ releasing Raya and the Last Dragon weeks after its theatrical and Disney+ Premier Access release.