A Most Excellent List, Dude
A lot has happened since Bill and Ted appeared on the big screen. The massive wave of hip-hop music in 90s was cradled by the bonkers atmosphere of the growing Hollywood scene; the 2000s was a complicated mix of genres growing out of one another, and the 2010s was split between absolute absurdity and complete masterpieces.
But not all is right in the world, even after all the funky jams that us folks of Earth have danced and sung to. That’s why Bill and Ted must create the ultimate song to save the universe and all life within it.
Before Face the Music premieres this August, we’re going to look at 10 essential moments, characters, and messages from Bill and Ted’s previous time traveling experiences that may provide an impact into the series’ third installment.
10.) Influence on History
Our titular heroes – Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted “Theodore” Logan – have traveled through the past, present, and future, and they’ve met some familiar historical faces along the way. The influence of major side characters such as Billy the Kid, Joan of Arc, and Abraham Lincoln are amongst the many important figures through time that help Bill and Ted with their school project in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
As they pulled these figures out of their time and into the present and back again, we can only wonder what impact their small actions have caused for these famous individuals after coming back from 1980s San Dimas. But whether or not some event occurs within the third film where history repeats itself in a bizarre way, there’s no doubt that the courageous pair have interfered with history and its most imperative times. We can only imagine what Bill and Ted will do when they venture into the future to create the greatest song ever.
9.) Jonathan and Missy
Two of Bill and Ted’s closest present family members are probably the two most recognizable side characters that aren’t associated with time travel – Bill’s former step-mother Missy and Ted’s father Jonathan, who ends up with Missy in the sequel. Missy was always a middle-ground soul for Bill and Ted since they knew her from school and she eventually sleeps with both of their fathers. Despite the awkward circumstance, she always seemed more chilled with the boys than anyone who opposes them.
And Ted’s strict and arrogant father – hellbent on a better life for his son – might not have accepted Ted’s rock-n-roll’s atmosphere to begin with, but things can always change. After the boys’ worldwide performances, we’re looking to seeing if Missy is still a gold-digging chick and if Mr. Logan still wants Ted to be in the military instead of being a rock-n-roll legend. Both Amy Stoch and Hal Landon, Jr. will reprise their roles as Missy and Jonathan Logan, respectively.
8.) Be Excellent To Each Other…
Writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are reuniting to develop the third, and possibly final, entry to the Bill and Bill film franchise. After finding a perfect script that brought along both Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves to once again play the titular rockstars, production was eventually underway. As 2019 continued down the line of numerous media news, the aforementioned actors announced the official making of the movie, with more returning characters coming into the feed of Face the Music’s production.
If the writers and cast from the original films are returning, we’re bound to see a more mature message of “Be Excellent To Each Other…”, with Bill and Ted in the recent trailer proudly repeating the famous line to no positive avail from the future beings who question their legacy.
The legendary quote is finished with a “Party on, dudes!” proclamation that is impossible to forget, and Bogus Journey‘s messages dealt with being in the present – “The best time to be, is now”, Bill says before their band’s performance at the Battle of the Bands. Both are imperative to the lore and love of Bill and Ted’s world, and we’re looking forward to seeing what Face the Music will teach us all.
7.) God Gave Rock-n-Roll To You
Bill, Ted, Joanna, Elizabeth, Station, and Death all take enter stage at the Battle of the Bands, the third act’s conclusion to Bogus Journey. With the technological leftover help of the defeated Nomolos, Evil Bill, and Evil Ted, their music is being broadcasted across the globe, creating harmony and joy. The music of Wyld Stallyns infuses the soul of rock music with the love and freedom with the titular best friends represent.
It’s revealed, however, that they have failed to unite the world and save all of humanity, bringing them to their next excellent adventure into the future where they aim to steal their own music for their present. After their encounters with God, Death, aliens, and evil robots, what more could Bill and Ted face and conquer? The spirit and power of rock-n-roll is basically embedded into the matrix of Bill and Ted’s existence as Wyld Stallyns, but the opposing conflict that might stop them from uniting the world has yet to be revealed. Still, they do have plenty of backup to depend on.
6.) Station!
The aforesaid aliens first appeared as two miniature out-worldly trolls who can come together as one to form the scientific being known as Station. With assistance from the Lord himself in heaven, Bill, Ted, and Death are introduced to Station, who tags along to construct good robot counterparts of Bill and Ted to face-off against Evil Bill, Evil Ted, and Nomolos.
During the Battle of the Bands, Station joins in on the music as background musicians while Bill and Ted rock out for musical glory and greatness. Bogus Journey‘s ending title sequence provides further story details for some of the other characters – with one in particular where Nomolos is going to wed Missy – but none of the newspaper pieces contain any context for what Station is up to after the Battle of the Bands. It’s possible we might get to see a more enhanced and sage Station for Face the Music, and it wouldn’t be a shocker since they were seen on live TV with Wyld Stallyns and they seem pretty tight with God and Death.
5.) Rufus
Rufus was a crucial aspect to the Bill and Ted lore, for he provided the time-traveling phone booth for the heroes to complete their history report in the original film and during the crisis of Nomolos for the sequel. The sunglasses-wearing smooth man of history was well-respected both on-screen and off. Not only did the great George Carlin portrayed him wonderfully, but it was always amusing to see him interact with the pair throughout the two films as they continued to get themselves into trouble.
Unfortunately, George Carlin passed away in 2008 due to heart failure, leaving behind a long list of cultural staples in the comedy and film business during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, including the infamous “Seven Dirty Words” bit. The film will utilize archival footage of the late comedian that might be similar to how Rogue One used technology and old footage of deceased actors to put them into the film. As more trailers approach with Face the Music‘s release in August of this year, we’ll eventually get to know how the filmmakers intend on using footage of Carlin.
4.) Death, The Doc of Shock
Spoiler alert to those who haven’t seen Bogus Journey, Bill and Ted are killed by their evil doppelgangers, where they remain in a purgatory state as the Grim Reaper himself stalks and approaches them. After escaping literal Death through melvins and party games, the pair gain the upper hand of defeating Death and command him to aid them on their quest back to the real world.
It’s here where Death transforms from a typical deathly figure to a more colorful character as he eventually joins Bill and Ted in their worldwide televised performance armed with the bass, along with the signature air guitar riff as Bill announces him as “the Duke of Spook, the Doc of Shock, The Man with No Tan…The Grim Reaper!” From thereon, Death, through the sequel’s ending credits, tries to go solo as a music artist, but his failed attempts bring him back to the ranks of Wyld Stallyns, who welcome him with grace and new adventure, as you’ll see in a bit.
William Sadler will reprise his role as the rock-influenced Death, who was seen in the trailer riffing an air guitar with Bill and Ted.
3.) The Future
In both films for Bill and Ted, we get special glimpses into the future where their music has greatly influenced the world to the point where they are worshiped. In Excellent Adventure, they accidentally travel to an open room where they see holograms of themselves air guitaring in repeat, with Rufus further confirming their suspicion of a future where they are more than essential human beings. And in Bogus Journey, their influence is only hindered by the likes of Nomolos, who faced musical justice at the end of the sequel but is still featured in the news of the sequel’s concluding credits.
In the new trailer for Face the Music, Bill and Ted’s celebrated quote of being excellent to each other is not appreciated by a futuristic council that questions the pair’s recent musical acts. The future is now at stake with chaos erupting on the planet without the one song they need to unite the world and bring peace forever.
Now, as part of their cosmic journey through time, Bill and Ted will once again travel to the future in order to make the one song they’re destined to create. On another note, we’re definitely excited to see normal Bill and Ted interact with Prison Bill and Prison Ted.
2.) The Princesses and the Children
“But Bill, those are historical babes.” Oh, how deep our heroes have fallen for their loves. So much as to basically take them away from 15th century England to wed them and have them be a part of the band. They play a pivotal role in the sequel more so than the original, but their importance to Bill and Ted reaches the cosmos and beyond, with children being born in the midst of Bill and Ted’s rocking legacy.
We last saw the children as merely infants who were brought from the future when Bill and Ted needed quick lessons before the televised performance. All we know now is that the children are revealed to be the daughters of Bill and Ted, and the modern impact of technology will play a part in their roles alongside their time traveling fathers.
Princesses Joanna and Elizabeth are being recast for the third time, with Jayma Mays and Erinn Hayes portraying the roles, respectively.
1.) Mars and Beyond
As Death reunited with Bill and Ted in their escapades of epic rock-n-roll effects on the wold, they flew to the red planet of Mars for a performance, with “Station!” exclaimed on a newspaper reporting on the trio’s excellent journey. It might not have the same monumental impact as the rest of the details on this list, but it goes to show the audience how bizarre and how far the comedic outrageous execution the writers will go to make the two best friends all the more everlasting.
We’ve seen them go through Death and back, we’ve seen them conquer history and reports and evil, and we’ve witnessed them rock out to bring serenity and goodwill to the people of Earth and beyond. Just how far will Bill and Ted go this time, though, is the real question. With the help of Death, the phone booth, and their motivation to keep on partying, it’s only a mystery now as to what could get in their way the closer Bill and Ted get to face the music.
What other details do you have in mind? Are you looking forward to watching Bill and Ted Face the Music this summer? Let us know in the comments below, dude!