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Bill & Ted Face the Music is the sequel and third film to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. The movie is directed by Dean Parisot, from a screenplay by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, and produced by Scott Kroopf, Alex Lebovici, and Steve Ponce.

Bill & Ted Face the Music was released on demand and in theaters on August 28, 2020 and is available on Digital and Blu-ray since November 10, 2020.

Official synopsis[]

The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Theodore "Ted" Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they will be helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends—to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe.

Cast[]

Main Characters[]

Minor Characters[]

Plot Summary[]

Since the events of their previous journey, Theodore "Ted" Logan and William "Bill" Preston, Esq., of the rock band Wyld Stallyns, has reached an all-time low in their musical career; in the quest to fulfill the prophecy to write a song that would unite the world and all society, which did not happen at the 1991 concert as originally implied, and the band has slowly faded into oblivion since. After a horrendous performance at his brother's wedding, and possible marriage troubles with their respective spouses; Ted confides with Bill, conceding that they won't ever write the song - leaving their future in doubt. Moments after, a futuristic vehicle appears and exits Kelly, the daughter of Rufus, which Thea Preston and Billie Logan - Bill and Ted's daughters - witness. Kelly takes Bill and Ted to meet with her mother, The Great Leader, who implores the two that there would need to be a song that unites humanity all across time "at 7:17pm at MP 46", or time periods will continue to glitch into one another, thereby having time and space collapse on itself.

Using Rufus' phone booth, Bill and Ted attempt to steal the song from the future versions of themselves, but with each jump ahead into the future, they come across themselves in progressively worse situations. At the same time, the future versions of their wives - princesses Joanna and Elizabeth - visit their present counterparts, going on a quest to find a time they are happier in. In their absence, The Great Leader suggest an alternative plan in creating a time-traveling robot to kill Bill and Ted, in the hopes of restoring balance in the universe. Kelly travels back to the present day to warn the two, who are still on their quest, but meets Billie and Thea - who wants to help their fathers create the song. Using Kelly's time machine, they enlist the help of historical figures all throughout music history, such as Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ling Lun, and a cavewoman named Grom, to form a band that would play alongside their fathers. Bill and Ted travel to 2025 in a seemingly bright future, only conned by their future counterparts, who were pretending to live in a mansion owned by Dave Grohl. Police were called to the scene, among them are Ted's brother and father, Officer Deacon and Captain Jonathan. The robot appears and attempts to kill the two with a laser, but misses and kills Jonathan - sending him to Hell with Death welcoming him. Traveling five years further, Bill and Ted find their future counterparts imprisoned for the incident, where the robot attempts to terminate the two, but is then beaten up by future Bill, Ted, and other prisoners, making time for the two to escape. Billie, Thea, and the rest of the group return to present day San Dimas, meeting up with Kelly and Kid Cudi, witnessing all of time scrambling into each other. But as Billie and Thea open their fathers' studio up to their guests, they find the robot waiting for them, using the laser to kill all nine people.

Bill and Ted travel to 2067, visiting their future counterparts in their late 90s. The elder two hand Bill and Ted a USB flash drive containing the song, Face the Music, that holds the key to the balance of the future. Finding out the phone booth had been stolen by the older counterparts of their wives, the robot appears and prepares to kill the two. With the song in hand, the robot feels useless and apologizes for killing their daughters, enraging Bill and Ted. Wanting to save their daughters and friends, Bill breaks the flash drive in two pieces and begs the robot to kill them. The robot tries to turn the laser on himself and succeeds, but Bill and Ted are caught in the crossfire as their wives arrive and watch in horror; returning them to Hell. The robot displays his remorse, reveals his name to be Dennis, and wants to help make things right with the two by helping them on their quest. While meeting up with their daughters, Jonathan apologizes to Ted for not believing in him and getting his full support. Bill and Ted try to enlist the help of their old band member, Death, but past arguments are reawakened. Their daughters try to convince Death to join in on bass, leading their fathers and Death to finally set aside their differences and forgive each other. Death uses his powers to get the group out of Hell.

The group arrive on the Interstate 210 and State Route 210 (California), in the middle of traffic and time is scrambling at a catastrophic rate. As they find themselves at the MP 46 marker, Dennis hands Bill and Ted the broken flash drive. With minutes left, the two confess they were not able to have written the song, to everyones disappointment, but come to realize they may not be the ones the prophecy foretold. Holding each side flash drive up, the two come to the conclusion that the duo Preston/Logan is actually Thea and Billie who would unite the world in song, and Bill and Ted will join in to back their daughters up. The girls take action and attempt to connect every part of the song as coherently as possible. As Ted wonders how the song can span space and time, Joanna and Elizabeth have returned to the present, knowing they're happiest when they are with Bill and Ted. Using the "infinity" button on the phone's keypad, they take infinite simultaneous trips in which they hand out instruments to people all across the world and across infinite realities and eras. Kelly and Dennis bid their farewells as the time-travellers return to the present and find the girls leading the band and the rest of the world in harmony, giving their fathers room to perform a guitar solo together. With this, Thea and Billie's song is powerful enough to restore the balance of time and space, finally uniting the world and all across time.

In a post-credits scene, elder Bill and Ted in 2067 check up on each other's well-being before performing a guitar solo.

Production[]

In 2010, Reeves indicated that Matheson and Solomon were working on a script for a third film.[1][2] Winter has stated that the role of Rufus (previously played by the late George Carlin) would not be recast.[3]

In April 2011, Reeves stated that a third film was close to happening.[4] On April 24, 2011, Winter tweeted that the script for the third installment had been finished.[5] The plot was suspected to be about Bill and Ted writing a song that could save the world, although in a pre-San Diego Comic-Con International interview, Alex Winter stated the storyline may also involve time travel to the prehistoric era, and the film would likely see a cameo by Eddie Van Halen as well as the return of Socrates and Billy the Kid, who appeared in the first movie.[6]

The current script does not feature William Sadler reprising his role as the Grim Reaper, but the screenwriters are looking for a way to include him, and Sadler has expressed interest in returning to the role.[7] In August 2012, director Dean Parisot of Galaxy Quest and Red 2 was attached to direct.[8] In March 2013, at the SXSW Film Festival, Winter confirmed progress on the film was still moving forward.[9][10]

In August 2013, when asked about a third film, Reeves replied, "There have been a couple of drafts [of a Bill & Ted 3 script] and right now, we're waiting on the writers to come up with another draft. But we're all very excited."[11] In an October 20, 2013 Reddit AMA, Reeves revealed that he has seen the script for Bill & Ted 3, stating, "We are working on trying to get Bill & Ted 3. There's a script and we are trying to put it together."[12]

In a September 2014 interview with Yahoo! Movies, Winter revealed more details on the plot, stating that "[Bill and Ted] will be 40-something and it's all about Bill and Ted grown up, or not grown up". Winter also stated that the film would not be a reboot of the franchise, stating that "it's a Bill & Ted movie, that's what it is. It's for the fans of Bill & Ted. It fits very neatly in the [series]. It's not going to feel like a reboot."[13] On the March 2015 episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, Reeves confirmed that Bill & Ted 3 is still being planned, stating, "Yes, they want to do that. The writers wrote a script, which is a really cool idea and Alex Winter and I – Alex played Bill, I played Ted – so we're trying to get it made".[14]

In April 2016, Alex Winter told Forbes that they have a script, a director and a studio and that there had been a plan to film by early 2017.[15]

Reeves gave an update on the film in February 2017 during an interview on The Graham Norton Show saying the story was written and discussed the plot of the film. “Basically, they’re supposed to write a song to save the world and they haven’t done that. The pressure of having to save the world, their marriages are falling apart, their kids are kind of mad at them, and then someone comes from the future and tells them if they don’t write the song it’s just not the world, it’s the universe. So they have to save the universe because time is breaking apart” Reeves said.[16] During the New York City Comic Convention, Reeves revealed that the title will be Bill & Ted: Face the Music.[17]

Solomon, speaking to Digital Spy in January 2018, said of the film's long pre-production period:

"We have a script that we really are proud of, that we worked very hard on, that we've done many iterations of – and we did it on spec, meaning we spent years working on it because we wanted to get it right, creatively. This is not, 'Hey let's all cash-in on the Bill & Ted thing for money' – this is the opposite. This is, 'We love these characters, they've been with us for our whole lives' – Chris and me, and Alex and Keanu – and we wanted to visit them again as middle-aged men. We thought it would be really fun, and funny, and sweet."
— Ed Solomon

Solomon further stated that they have had issues getting financing for the film as those they have approached want to see a reboot of Bill & Ted, rather than a sequel, and had also expressed concerns that since the first film was not distributed internationally, there would not be a large audience for this film.[18] Solomon said that elements of the script would see the middle-aged Bill & Ted revisiting events of the first film, such as watching their interactions outside of the Circle K. Solomon confirmed that they have Steven Soderbergh aboard for production of the film,[18] along with Scott Kroopf, who produced the original films. They also have planned for William Sadler to return as the Grim Reaper.[19]

On May 8, 2018, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Bill & Ted Face the Music was now officially in pre-production with Dean Parisot directing the film. "Bill & Ted Face the Music will see the duo long past their days as time-traveling teenagers and now weighed down by middle age and the responsibilities of family. They’ve written thousands of tunes, but they have yet to write a good one, much less the greatest song ever written."[20] However, production was pushed back until at early June 2019, primarily in New Orleans, and to be completed by August 2019.[21]

The United States distribution will be handled by MGM under their Orion Pictures label. The international distribution rights were negotiated during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, with Warner Bros. handling distribution in the United Kingdom and MGM for most other international regions..[22][23][24] The film is scheduled for a release on August 21, 2020.[25] William Sadler was confirmed in March 2019 to reprise his role as the Grim Reaper in the new film.[26] Brigette Lundy-Paine and Samara Weaving will appear as Ted's daughter Billie Logan and Bill's daughter Thea Preston, respectively.[27]

Soundtrack[]

The soundtrack for the movie was released alongside the film on August 28, 2020. In addition to appearing on the soundtrack, the bands Big Black Delta, Mastodon and Lamb of God appeared in the film. Weezer released their official music video for "Beginning of the End" on August 14, 2020.

During a performance in August 2019, Kid Cudi announced that the soundtrack for the film will feature a remix of his 2010 song "Erase Me" done by Steve Aoki.

Songs[]

  1. "Lost in Time" by Big Black Delta
  2. "Big Red Balloon" by Alec Wigdahl
  3. "Beginning of the End (Wyld Stallyns Edit)" by Weezer
  4. "Story of Our Lives" by Cold War Kids
  5. "Rufus Lives" by Mastodon
  6. "Circuits of Time" by Big Black Delta
  7. "Darkest Night" by Poorstacy
  8. "The Death of Us" by Lamb of God
  9. "Breaker" by Fidlar
  10. "Leave Me Alone" by Culture Wars
  11. "Right Where You Belong" by Blame My Youth
  12. "Face The Music" by Wyld Stallyns (feat. Animals As Leaders, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah)
  13. "That Which Binds Us Through Time: The Chemical, Physical and Biological Nature of Love; an Exploration of The Meaning of Meaning, Part 1" by Wyld Stallyns

Trivia[]

  • No one gets shot in this movie.
  • They let Bill and Ted grow up in the movie, but not too much.
  • Incidental evidence and rumors suggest Kid Cudi, who portrays himself in the film, may be the next incarnation of Station from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.
  • In Excellent Adventure, Rufus gets Bill and Ted to sign a Wyld Stallyns album that he says is for his kids. However, Face the Music shows only one child present, raising the question of where Rufus' other kids are, as his daughter Kelly is presently taking his place, as well as her mother, the new Supreme Leader, but no other relatives of his.

Reception[]

Bill & Ted Face the Music grossed $400,000 from 1,007 theaters in its first day. It went on to debut to $1.1 million, finishing third at the box office.

Media[]

Posters[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Movie Images[]

Videos[]

References[]

  1. Reeve talks new 'Bill and Ted' adventure
  2. 'Bill and Ted 3' Movie Sequel Confirmed | Gathe
  3. Rufus 'won't be recast for Bill & Ted 3'
  4. 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure 3'
  5. Bill & Ted 3' Movie Script Finished: Alex Winter Tweets Update
  6. 'Bill And Ted 3' Script Completed, Confirms Alex Winter
  7. The Grim Reaper Could Return For Bill And Ted 3, Says William Sadler
  8. Bill & Ted May Ride Again for a Third Film
  9. 'Bill & Ted 3' Won't Be A 'Weird Reboot,' Alex Winter Promises - Music, Celebrity, Artist News
  10. Shira Lazar: Bill and Ted 3 Sneaks Its Way Into SXSW 2013 (WATCH)
  11. Keanu Reeves Reveals A New 'Bill & Ted 3' Script Is In The Works
  12. Keanu Reeves. Ask me, if you want, almost anything. (self.IAmA)
  13. Alex Winter Gives an Excellent Update on 'Bill & Ted 3'
  14. Keanu Reeves confirms plans for third Bill and Ted movie to Jonathan Ross
  15. Bill and Ted 3 Update
  16. Keanu Reeves confirms new Bill & Ted movie, and it’s got a bonkers plot
  17. Bill & Ted 3 Gets a Title
  18. 18.0 18.1 Bill & Ted writer reveals how the planned third film will pay tribute to George Carlin's Rufus
  19. Bill & Ted 3: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and the writers talk proposed sequel (which might actually happen!)
  20. 'Bill & Ted Face the Music' is actually happening, some 29 years after the duo's first excellent adventure.
  21. Cannes: Warner Bros., MGM Take 'Bill & Ted 3' for International Markets (Exclusive)
  22. 'Bill & Ted Face the Music' is actually happening, some 29 years after the duo's first excellent adventure.
  23. Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter Confirmed For Threequel ‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’; Bloom On Sales, MGM Has U.S. — Cannes
  24. Cannes: Warner Bros., MGM Take 'Bill & Ted 3' for International Markets
  25. Bill And Ted 3 Will Finally Face The Music As Sequel Gets Release Date
  26. William Sadler to Return as Grim Reaper in ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’
  27. 'Bill & Ted 3' Finds Daughters for 'Face the Music'
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