The film rights to Ready Player One were bought in 2010, before the bestselling novel it was based on had even been published. Years later, Warner Bros’ gamble seems to have paid off: under the direction of Steven Spielberg, it’s already looking like one of the biggest blockbusters of 2018 despite a divided reaction from critics.
The central premise is this: Wade Watts is an orphan living in a slummy 2045, where the only escape from his harsh reality is a VR system called The Oasis. The creator of the system has hidden an Easter Egg inside the virtual world, and whoever finds it is in line for ownership of The Oasis and a $240bn fortune – one Watts looks set to win, until the interference of an evil group called IOI (Innovative Online Industries).
Thanks to the trailer – and to critics who’ve seen it – we know that a list of hulking pop-culture favourites as long as your arm are crammed into the fictional world of The Oasis, from the worlds of film, videogames, comics and more. Here’s who we’ve spotted so far…
1. Star Wars paraphernalia
As Steven Spielberg explains below, the ongoing Disney Star Wars films made it hard for them to include much Star Wars stuff in the films – but you will see R2-D2 and X-Wings here and there in the film, as approved by Disney.
EXCLUSIVE: Contrary to reports spreading now, Disney did let Steven Spielberg use #StarWars in #ReadyPlayerOne. Here, Spielberg explains to me how they snagged IP rights from all the studios and what STAR WARS Easter Eggs to look for in the new film, in theaters 3/29 pic.twitter.com/LslVQP1iCv
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 16, 2018
2. King Kong
https://giphy.com/gifs/xUOxf25iV4wQjmiF3O
3. Harley Quinn & The Joker
https://giphy.com/gifs/3oxHQDXuhE4Evm82be
4. Gundam
https://giphy.com/gifs/xT0xePdK6HIxG6rEbK
5. Child’s Play‘s Chucky
Chucky has a cameo in #ReadyPlayerOne, which will be the 1st time he's appeared on the big screen since 2004.
Also 1st time he's been in the same movie as Freddy.
Also 1st time Spielberg has directed him. pic.twitter.com/cmSz4LT4Ff
— John Squires (@FreddyInSpace) December 10, 2017
6. Overwatch‘s Tracer and Sreet Fighter‘s Chun-Li
Tracer and Chun Li are in the Ready Player One trailer?! pic.twitter.com/qPOdNtv2T3
— JESSICA (@OJessicaNigri) December 10, 2017
7. Lara Croft (hiding in plain sight)
https://twitter.com/razorxc/status/939974196385472512
8. Madballs
As shown in the poster (below), one of the iconic Madballs toys are held by one of the film’s characters in the poster, and they play a part in the film too.
9. Battletoads
Look what I found in the
Ready Player One Trailer!Battletoads! pic.twitter.com/CPw9Bgcrh5
— Jamie Moran (@JamieMoranUK) December 11, 2017
10. Street Fighter‘s Ryu
Did anyone also notice ryu? I feel like I'm just hearing about gundam chun li and tracer. Or am I late? pic.twitter.com/HhhnrmBjy5
— Joe (@thisislijoe) December 10, 2017
11. Deathstroke
https://twitter.com/heavycomix/status/940110324308594688
12. Street Fighter‘s Blanka
Here is Street Fighter's Blanka from the new Ready Player One Trailer, and some other characters too. #ReadyPlayerOne pic.twitter.com/cgb2KdJex5
— ? TigerClaw ? (@TigerClaw305) December 10, 2017
13. Battleborn‘s El Dragón
Randy Pitchford can rest easy knowing at least one person in 2045 still remembers BattleBorn #ReadyPlayerOne pic.twitter.com/DIPn4XrDJE
— Brak (@BreakingBrak) December 11, 2017
Who else did you spot? Scroll down to leave us a comment.