Emerald's Return: A Steven Universe Movie

Emerald's Return: A Steven Universe Movie is a 2028 American animated action adventure sci-fi drama comedy film based on the Cartoon Network television series Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar. The film was directed by Jill Culton and Vicky Jenson with a screenplay by former series writers Matt Burnett and Ben Levin and story by Culton and Jesse Zuke. The film stars Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno-Hall, Tom Scharpling, Matthew Moy, Kate Micucci, Jinkx Monsoon, Della Saba, and Charlyne Yi reprising their roles from the series while Sarah Nicole-Robles replaces Grace Rolek as Connie Maheswaren; Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda, Jenny Slate, and Awkwafina accompany the cast. The film follows Greg Universe reuniting with his parents who are proud of him after discovering about his alliance with the Crystal Gems, while Lars Barriga enlists the help of Steven and the Gems in rescuing his team, the Off Colors, from Emerald.
Emerald's Return premiered in Los Angeles, on May 21, 2028 on the pilot's 15th anniversary, then was later released theatrically in the United States on June 7 by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received critical acclaim from critics for its action sequences, writing, humor, and heart. The film grossed $214.3 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Cartoon Network Studios feature film.
== Plot ==
Captain Lars Barriga escapes from the clutches of Emerald, who has captured his team, the Off Colors. He sets his ship, the Sun Incinerator, en route to Earth. Meanwhile, Greg Universe, now residing with the Crystal Gems—Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl—after his son, Steven, had moved out two years ago, spends his time bonding with the Gems and assisting them around Little Homeworld. Pearl, who now possesses the name "Pearl Akoya" from the requirements on accounts, had become more accustomed to Earth culture and developed human traits, much to Garnet and Amethyst's bafflement. Greg and Pearl had also developed mutuality for each other since he moved in, with the two having put aside their differences and developed a close relationship. Steven returns from his travels and has brought Greg's parents to pay him a visit; while Greg was dismayed with their presence for how they were dismissive about his endeavors in his youth, they were shown to be proud of him after Steven had told them about his father's involvement with him and the Gems, much to his delight, despite them badmouthing his deceased girlfriend, Rose Quartz, over how she was "bad news".
Seeing the Sun Incinerator having crashed on the beach, the Universes and Gems arrive at the crash site and see Lars emerge out, injured from the crash. Informing them about the Off Colors' capture, they formulate a plan to rescue them: they bring two Amethysts as Lars' captors to Emerald while the others rescue the Off Colors. Greg, with wanting to keep his parents proud of him, comes along to assist, only for his parents to come along as well to see him in action, to which he reluctantly allows. Sadie Miller, Lars' former girlfriend, having brought her spear, comes to assist as well. With everyone aboard, they set off to Klavius 7. Meanwhile, Emerald had formed an alliance with Aquamarine and Eyeball, who are enemies to the Gems, to make sure her plan in capturing Lars and exacting her revenge on him goes swimmingly.
With the group arriving to Klavius 7, Greg catches up with his parents while they get acquainted with Steven and the Gems. As Pearl and Lars strategize further on their plan, they find themselves entering an asteroid field and end up hit by one that takes out one of the thrusters and causes half the group—consisting of Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, and Sadie—to be separated upon crash landing on Upsilon 9. As Greg and Pearl help repair the ship's thrusters while they wait for the others to regroup, Greg tells Pearl his relationship with his parents having been "rocky", which she sympathizes over, but hopes for his parents to accept him for his ambitions. With the Amethysts by Lars' side, they contact Emerald and the Amethysts claim to have captured him and Lars makes a deal with her to give her back the Sun Incinerator in exchange for the Off Colors' freedom.
After the thrusters were fixed, Pearl decides to teach Greg combative skills should he consider coming into conflict. During their sparring, they start having a good time and develop intimate affections for one another before sharing a kiss. Having witnessed this, almost about to confront him for his opinion about them after eavesdropping, Greg's parents are proud of him for his relationship with Pearl, his father, especially, who finds her better than the "carefree, ambition-lacking hooligan" Rose, whereas Pearl calls him out on before saying he is grateful to have her son Steven as a grandson while also wanting what is best for Greg. With the rest of the group reunited, they resume their journey.
Arriving at Klavius 7, Lars, in shackles, is taken to Emerald, who congratulates the two for his capture. As promised, she lets the Off Colors go, but is exposed by Garnet, having learned though her future vision that she was about to kill Lars' in retaliation for her dismissal from the Diamonds and subsequent stripping of her position due to her fixation on defeating him. As the Gems were about to take on Emerald, she has Aquamarine and Eyeball, who fuse into Bluebird, occupy them while she settles her business with Lars, until Sadie intervenes and holds her off while he gets his crew onboard the Sun Incinerator. Seeing Lars board the ship with the Off Colors, Emerald instructs Bluebird to target him, only for Connie to inadvertently get in the way of Bluebird's cryokinetic cutlass; an enraged Steven duels with Bluebird and impales her with her own cutlass, poofing her and leaving Aquamarine and Eyeball's gemstones in the process. Steven bubbles their gems and sends them into space, finding them beyond redemption before taking the wounded Connie on board as the team retreats home.
As Greg's parents, specifically his father, were disappointed in him for not assisting his friends or engaging in combat, Greg eventually calls them out for controlling his life growing up, not accepting him or supporting his choices, and criticizing Rose; he had hoped they would warm up after hearing about his contributions with the Gems, but had known they would still be dismissive of him in whatever way shape or form, to the point of disowning them as his parents, much to his mother's heartbreak while his father could care less. As they arrive back home, Steven drives them home without them saying their farewells to Greg. As Steven, discusses their relationship between Greg and them as they reach the town limits, he notices Emerald's ship, the Destiny Destroyer, arriving at the beach and he turns around. Emerald confronting Lars after subduing the Gems with a Gem Destabilizer and their friends with her swiftness. Taking a revived Connie's sword to slay Lars, Greg, overcoming his cowardice, comes in with his waffle iron and fights her one-on-one. Eventually disarming her, Pearl takes Emerald's dropped destabilizer and poofs her. Having witnessed the whole fight, Greg's parents were amazed and proud of him for his bravery; they apologize for their behavior towards him and accept him for him.
Among making amends with each other, Greg lets them stay for another day to bond as a family. Before he and Pearl, who slowly start to begin a romantic relationship, drive them back home, the Universes have begun a healthy, respectful relationship. Meanwhile, Lars and the Off Colors stay in Beach City for a while to catch up with Steven, Sadie and the others.
== Voice cast ==
* Zach Callison as Steven Universe, Greg's son and fourth member of the Crystal Gems who possesses his late mother's gemstone.
* Estelle as Garnet, the de-faco leader of the Crystal Gems and fusion of Ruby and Sapphire.
* Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, the third member of the Crystal Gems born in a Gem Kindergarten on Earth.
* Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl Akoya, one of the original members of the Crystal Gems who was Rose Quartz's and now Garnet's second-in-command.
* Tom Scharpling as Greg Universe, Steven's father who was a musician and artist known as "Mr. Universe" who fell in love with the former Crystal Gem leader Rose Quartz.
* Matthew Moy as Lars Barriga, a friend of Steven's who formerly worked at the Big Donut and currently captain and leader of the Off Colors
* Kate Micucci as Sadie Miller, Steven's close friend and Lars' former girlfriend who formerly worked at the Big Donut after forming her band Sadie Killer and the Suspects.
* Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald, a longtime enemy of Lars and the Off Colors who had been dismissed and stripped of her rank in the Gem Homeworld due to him.
* Della Saba as Aquamarine, a Gem who was went to Earth by the Diamonds to retrieve Steven's loved ones and had now gone rouge after banishment from Homeworld due to Steven's influence.
* Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, a ruby with a gem on her left eye who had joined forces with Aquamarine to get revenge on Steven for his affect on Gem kind.
* Sarah Nicole-Robles as Connie Maheswaren Steven's level-headed former best friend now girlfriend. Grace Rolek was the original voice from the original series to Steven Universe Future.
* Harrison Ford and Jane Fonda as Greg's parents.
* Jenny Slate as Amethyst Facet-5 Cut-8XG "Amie", one of the Famethysts that has her gem located on the back of her right hand.
* Awkwafina as Amethyst Facet-5 Cut-8XL "Anna", one of the Famethysts that has her gem located on the back of her right hip.
* Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite, a fusion of Aquamarine and Eyeball.
* Jennifer Paz as Lapis Lazuli, a member of the Crystal Gems who was incarcerated in a mirror before being freed by Steven.
* Shelby Rabara as Peridot, a member of the Crystal Gems who was on a mission to check on the Cluster.
* Miriam Hyman as Bismuth, a member of the Crystal Gems who forges weapons. She was originally voiced by Uzo Aduba from the orginal series until the Future episode "Bismuth Casual", while Hyman had first voiced her in the video game Unleash the Light.
== Production ==
=== Development ===
With Cartoon Network Studios' resurgence of producing feature films, Steven Universe was one of the picked series for a potential feature film. The premise of the film introducing Greg's parents and revisiting the character Emerald from the episode "Lars of the Stars" was pitched as the storyline. The story would also visit on the evolved friendship between Greg and Pearl, while the writers were informed it not be too prioritized in favor of Greg's parents and Emerald.
Former Steven Universe writers Matt Burnett and Ben Levin were brought back to write the screenplay while Jesse Zuke wrote the story and scenes involving Emerald. Abominable director Jill Culton and Shrek co-director Vicky Jenson were brought on as directors; Culton provided additional story writing. As the original cast was brought back for the film, Grace Rolek was recast with Sarah Nicole-Robles as Connie Maheswaran in wake of several actors passing on their roles as diverse characters to diverse actors. For the roles of Greg's parents, Harrison Ford and Jane Fonda were cast.
== Music ==
Heitor Pereira was brought to score the film with series composers Aivi & Surasshu as music supervisors. Chance the Rapper, who had collaborated on the soundtrack of Steven Universe: The Movie, performed a cover of the original series theme song "We Are the Crystal Gems". Tenacious D also performed the a cover of "Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart" for the end credits. Both covers were released on June 6, 2028 as singles, a day before the film's release. The soundtrack album was released on the same day as the theatrical release, June 7, with "Love Like You" resung by series creator Rebecca Sugar with Pereira singing alongside.
== Release ==
=== Theatrical ===
Emerald's Return premiered in Los Angeles on May 21, 2028, on the 15th anniversary of the series' pilot before its release in the United States on June 7.
=== Home media ===
Emerald's Return was released on digital on August 1, 2028. It was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 12, then on Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service on September 13, the following day.
The Blu-ray release includes three additional shorts: Steven's Travel (which entails Steven's whereabouts after the finale of Steven Universe Future and how he met Greg's parents, voiced by Piotr Michael and Laraine Newman), Sadie Killer Reunion (which focuses on Steven inviting Sadie and the Cool Kids to play live at the Gem Homeworld), and Pink Buddies (which centers around Lars bringing Connie along on a mission with him and Off Colors); along with two episodes from each series: "Mr. Greg" (Steven Universe), "Lars of the Stars" (Steven Universe), "Bluebird" (Steven Universe Future), and "Mr. Universe" (Steven Universe Future).
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
Emerald's Return grossed $105.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $109.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $214.3 million, with the film being the highest-grossing film from Cartoon Network Studios.
=== Critical response ===
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 128 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Even after a near-decade of seeing the beloved Crystal Gems, Emerald's Return shows that the Steven Universe universe still has enough musical power and emotional charm left." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 82% of filmgoers gave it a positive score.
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