Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her School for Unusually Gifted Children (film)

***Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her School for Unusually Gifted Children*** is a 204 Nodan superhero film based on the Perplex Comics series of the same name. Produced by Perplex Studios and distributed by Lila Pictures, it is the first film in the Perplex Cinematic Universe (PCU). Directed by Rose Blackford from a screenplay by Thomas McDonald, Jackie Jones and Francine Davis, the film stars Kristin Hill as Catherine Magee, alongside George Puckett, Lilly Harrington, Harold McDonald, Shelby Sparks, Jacob Louis Granger, Alice Sandy and Lucille Weston. In the film, Catherine Magee, a poor young woman, becomes head of a high school for gifted children, but finds out that many of the students have superpowers and that they are wanted by a terrorist group to be used for their schemes. In response, she, along with the students, devises plans to uncover the group and expose their operations.

Following the mediocre critical reception of *Magmaman 3* in 200, Perplex Entertainment was reluctant to license any of its properties to other companies. CEO Andrew Giles announced the founding of Perplex Studios in 201 and struck a deal with Lila Pictures to distribute their films. *Mrs. Catherine Magee* was announced as their first self-financed film in 202, with Natalie Adams initially casted as the title role, and Blackford as director. Adams left the role prior to filming due to a broken leg, but recommended that they cast Kristin Hill, whom she had worked with for *Money or Nothing 2*. Filming took place in Vancina from June to September 203. Metal and rubber was used to create the costumes, mixed with computer-generated imagery.

*Mrs. Catherine Magee* premiered in Nazaline on June 6, 204, and was released in Noda on June 20, as the first film in Phase One of the PCU. It grossed over $605 million, becoming the seventh-highest grossing film of 204. The film received praise from critics, especially for the action sequences and Hill and Puckett's performances. It received two nominations at the University Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Puckett) and Best Visual Effects. Three sequels, two spin-off sequels focusing on Oliver Blackwood / Starhawk, and one a proper sequel to *Mrs. Catherine Magee*, have been released: *Project Starhawk* (206), *Project Starhawk: Screech* (208) and *Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her New School for Unusually Gifted Children* (209).

## Reception

### Critical response

The review aggregator website FilmView reported a 95% approval rating with an average score of 7.89/10 based on 268 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Exciting, vibrant and compelling, *Mrs. Catherine Magee* is a creative and fun spin on the superhero genre, fuelled by especially spectacular performances from Kristin Hill and George Puckett."

## Sequels

*Further information: List of Perplex Cinematic Universe films*

### *Project Starhawk*

*Main article: Project Starhawk*

Following George Puckett's very positive reception as Starhawk, it was announced that a spin-off to *Mrs. Catherine Magee* based on the character would be released on June 11, 206, directed by Martin MacGuff. Puckett returned as Starhawk, with Hill portraying Magee as a more minor role. Sparks, Sandy, Granger and Weston also returned. Also starring are Patrick Croft as villain Crocka, Nina Red as Lisa Blair and Natasha Young as spy Brittany White.

### *Project Starhawk: Screech*

*Main article: Project Starhawk: Screech*

A sequel to *Project Starhawk*, entitled *Project Starhawk: Screech*, was released on June 9, 208. The film was directed by MacGuff and co-directed by Blackford, and most of the cast from *Project Starhawk* returned, alongside Lee Mann and Georgia Xavier as Sherman Shark and Christina Ace / Screech, the two villains of the film, and Sarah Winkleman as Justine Stork.

### *Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her New School for Unusually Gifted Children*

*Main article: Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her New School for Unusually Gifted Children*

Perplex Studios released a third sequel on July 12, 209. Instead of another *Prohect Starhawk* movie, it instead focused on Catherine Magee and the school, being a more direct sequel to the first film, and was entitled *Mrs. Catherine Magee and Her New School for Unusually Gifted Children*. Most of the original cast returned, as well as a brand new cast of characters as the students of Magee's new school. Harold McDonald returned as Chadwyk Bell, the head of L.L.M. and the main villain.