'Monsters University': Billy Crystal explains the prequel's 'Revenge of the Nerds' connection

We already know from the four trailers released in June that Pixar’s upcoming prequel Monsters University will explore the college years of Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) — and all the hard partying, pranking, and perhaps even studying (yeah, right) that went on as the friends prepared to be professional scream-catchers. But when EW recently caught up with Crystal to talk about his upcoming babysitting comedy Parental Guidance (due Dec. 25), the seasoned Oscar host was feeling so excited about the progress being made on Monsters University, he shed light on a few more details of the otherwise unknown story. (Minor SPOILERS ahead.)

As it turns out, Monsters University isn’t just about life on the dorms, the movie will take us into the raucous monster fraternity world as well — even if the Mike and Sully aren’t exactly in the coolest house on campus. “[Mike and Sully] end up in the same fraternity where they have this scare competition — like Greek Games in college,” says Crystal. “They have to mobilize a group, sort of like Revenge of the Nerds-monsters, and get them ready to be scary.” Sounds like a reversal of fortune for John Goodman, who played a nerd-hating, inspirational speech-delivering coach in the beloved ’80s comedy.

Despite the fact that Mike and Sully are now junior frat stars, don’t expect to see them casually fist-pumping to “Party in the USA” while drinking jungle juice from red solo cups and playing cornhole with their pastel-wearing “bros” on the lawn. In University, neither monster has fully graduated from his awkward phase yet. “They’re 17 and 18 years old in the script,” says Crystal. “My guy has a retainer, even.”

Hey, we’d still rush your frat.

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