All-Star Superman Trailer

It has been announced that the next direct-to-DVD animated movie from the DC Universe will be All-Star Superman,  an adaptation of the 12 issue comic book mini-series by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quietly. And now a trailer for the animated movie has been released, which will also be included on the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse when it arrives on September 28.

The movie is scheduled to be released next spring, and it will feature the voice acting of Desperate Housewives actor James Denton as Superman, Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks as Lois Lane, and Without a Trace star Anthony LaPaglia as Lex Luthor. Additional cast members include Ed Asner as Perry White, Frances Conroy as Ma Kent and Linda Cardellini, Arnold Vosloo and Matthew Gray Gubler in unspecified roles.

Bruce Timm, who has been one of the key people behind the DC Universe Animated projects will be an executive producer on the project. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earth’s director Sam Liu will also be at the helm for this movie, while comic book writer, and Crisis on Two Earths script writer, Dwayne McDuffie is scripting the adaptation.

In the comic book series, which was published between 2005-2008, the Man of Steel is faced with a threat that he hasn’t seen before – mortality. Superman learns that he’s dying due to radiation poisoning. Faced with his life running out, the Man of Steel embarks on a journey of reparation, self-discovery, and a mission to ensure the safety of mankind after he’s gone. The story follows follows the hero as he decides how to spend his remaining year, and what’s truly important to the last survivor of Krypton.

When Grant Morrison discussed writing All-Star Superman a year ago,he simplified the process of writing super hero comics.”All you have to do is turn the dial, and turn it into a metaphor and a symbol, and you’ve got superhero stories.”

All-Star Superman is currently scheduled for a Spring 2011 release.

Batman Beyond: The Complete Series

Warner Bros. is releasing a complete series box set for their futuristic animated show, Batman Beyond. Taking a look at the future for DC Comics’ Dark Knight, Batman Beyond: The Complete Series presents over 52 episodes of the hit series, as well as all-new bonus featurettes and a 24-page, 8”x 12” collectible booklet. Batman Beyond: The Complete Series will be distributed by Warner Home Video on November 23, 2010 as a nine-disc limited edition DVD set for $99.98 (SRP).

Batman Beyond: The Complete Series follows Terry McGinnis, an ordinary teenager whose father was mysteriously murdered. Suspecting foul play at his father’s company, the Wayne/Powers Corporation, Terry meets Bruce Wayne and learns of a secret identity hidden for decades. Now too old to don the cape and cowl as Batman, Wayne refuses to help – so Terry does what any brash young kid would do: steal the Bat-suit and take matters into his own hands! Vowing to avenge his father’s death, Terry dons the high-tech suit tricked out with jet packs, a super-sensitive microphone and even camouflage capabilities in search of his father’s assassin. It’s 52 action-packed episodes following the adventures of the partnership between an ex-crime fighter and his apprentice, starring Will Friedle (Boy Meets World) as Terry McGinnis and, reprising his seminal role, Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Bruce Wayne.

Casting throughout the series’ 52 episodes featured award winners from feature films, primetime television and the Broadway stage – from Paul Winfield, Stockard Channing and Seth Green to William H. Macy, Wayne Brady and Teri Garr – not to mention George Lazenby , Dan Castellaneta , Jodi Benson , George Takei and Henry Rollins.

An all-star production team was headed by executive producer Jean MacCurdy and producers Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami and Paul Dini. Writers on the series included Burnett and Dini, as well as Stan Berkowitz, Bob Goodman, Rich Fogel, Hilary Bader and John McCann.

Included in the beautifully custom designed package is a 24-page, 8”x 12” collectible booklet with the inside perspective and artwork from the vaults especially compiled by DC Comics for this release.

Three new bonus features created specifically for the Batman Beyond: The Complete Series are:

• Tomorrow Knight: The Batman Reborn
  The Batman Beyond creative team gives you a peek into the character of Terry McGinnis, and what made him worthy to become the new Caped Crusader.
• Gotham: City of the Future
  A look at Gotham City, circa 2039, and how the team built a realistic vision of the near future while remaining true to the city they created in Batman: The Animated Series.
• The High Tech Hero
  Explore the technology behind the Bat-suit, its amazing powers and the real world science that inspired it.

The collection will also contain the DC 75th anniversary documentary, Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics.

“Batman Beyond was a landmark series as it created altogether new directions for the iconic character, and added dimensions for fans both old and new to the Batman mythology,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing. “Warner Home Video is proud to release this important series in an all-encompassing box set, just in time to make a perfect holiday gift for the ultimate fan.”

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Animated Movie

I am always eager to see what is next in line for the direct-to-DVD animated movies that Marvel and DC have been doing. And while I’m waiting for Batman: Under the Red Hood to get here, I’m already being teased by DC next project. Thier next movie will be Superman/Batman:Apocalypse. This story will adapt the Supergirl storyline from Jeph Loeb’s run on Superman/Batman. And what could be better than Superman and Batman teaming up? Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy are returning to their voice acting roles as Superman and Batman, along with  Summer Glau (Serenity) providing the voice of Supergirl.

And continuing the line-up of DC Showcase shorts to accompany the movie will be a Green Arrow story.

Here is the full press release:

THE END IS NEAR!
WORLD’S FINEST WAGE WAR WITH DARKSEID IN ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGNAL MOVIE SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE AVAILABLE FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO SEPTEMBER 28, 2010!

Andre Braugher, Summer Glau, Ed Asner join popular voices Kevin Conroy & Tim Daly; New DC Showcase  GREEN ARROW on Special Edition Blu-ray & 2-Disc Special Edition DVD

To save an earthbound Kryptonian, the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight unite once again – this time to battle the powerful forces of Darkseid – in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming September 28, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The highly anticipated, full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Fan favorites Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Kevin Conroy (China Beach) return to their seminal roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. The celebrity-laden guest cast is headed by Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid. Sci-Fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) provides the voice of Supergirl, and seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) reprises his Superman: The Animated Series/Justice League role as Granny Goodness.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

After a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor, Batman and Superman encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

In addition to the feature film, the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the third DC Showcase animated short, Green Arrow. Screenwriter Greg Weisman’s story finds Oliver Queen at the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, only to be forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. The short features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage). Bruce Timm is executive producer.

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse 2-Disc Special Edition DVD features more than 1 1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:

• Feature film (est. 75 min)
• DC Showcase: Green Arrow (10 min)
• Sneak Peak at the Next DC Universe Animated Original Movie (10 min)
• Featurette: Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton – A comprehensive look at The Maiden of Might from her introduction in the classic age of comics to her death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event to her appearance on Smallville and beyond.
• 2 bonus episodes from animated television series handpicked by Bruce Timm

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Special Edition Blu-Ray™ will include more than 2 1/2 hours of intriguing bonus features, starting with all of the content available on the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and adding:

• All-New Featurette: The New Gods. A primer on the wealth of material and stories contained in the New Gods series, along with a deeper understanding of why these characters – and especially Darkseid – are so memorable and important to the DC pantheon.
• All-New Featurette Pods
• Orion – The mightiest warrior on either New Genesis or Apokolips, Orion follows an almost Shakespearean arc culminating in the slaying of his father, Darkseid. This mini-featurette shines a light on this classically tragic character.
• Mister Miracle – This mini-featurette focuses on the greatest escape artist the universe has ever known and how he was traded in a peace effort to be raised by Darkseid, the enemy of all New Genesis.
• 2 additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm
• Digital copy on disc of the feature film

“Great things happen when powerful entities come together, and the partnership of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation is proud to continue this popular film series by once again uniting the two most popular characters in the DC Universe in a story that truly tests their strength, trust, loyalty, ingenuity and heroism,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

“It is a testament to the larger-than-life nature of Jeph Loeb’s blockbuster storylines that two of the first nine DC Universe movies are based on his work,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse lets us see Superman and Batman in action side-by-side again, but this time along with Supergirl and one of DC’s greatest villains, Darkseid.”

“Just as Superman and Batman stand atop the DC canon of characters, so do the respective seminal voices of Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy in the hearts and minds of fans. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will no doubt please comic-centric and mainstream audiences alike – particularly in the performances of Daly and Conroy opposite dynamic actors like Andre Braugher and Ed Asner, and fanboy favorite Summer Glau,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands.

To tell the truth, I thought that Superman/Batman: Public Enemies was only a so-so movie. It was alright, but  I wasn’t really swept away by it. And because of that I would almost rather see them do a different movie next, before going back to the Superman/Batman comics for another movie. And after Public Enemies and the upcoming Under the Red Hood, I would like to see them do another orignal story, like they did with Crisis on Two Earths, rather than adapting another comic book story.

Still, I love comic books. And I love animation. So, this is a movie that I have to check out. Original or adaptation, these animated movies have been good over all, and I’m always looking forward to the next one.

Jeph Loeb To Head Marvel TV

Loeb, who has made his name known as a writer for comic books and as a television producer, has been named the head of Marvel Entertainment’s new television division. As executive VP and head of television for Marvel, Loeb will oversee the development and distribution of new live-action and animation series for TV and direct-to-DVD releases. He will report to Dan Buckley, publisher and president of print, animation and digital at Marvel.

During the 80s, he earned writing credits on the movies Teen Wolf and Commando. Later he could become one of the first writers to cross over from Hollywood to comic books. As a comics writer he has worked with some of the major flagship characters at DC and Marvel, including the X-Men, Batman, Superman and the Hulk. One of his best known works is the Batman: The Long Halloween mini-series that collaborated on with artist Tim Sale.

Loeb also has stayed active in television, having worked as a writer and producer on Smallville and rising to the role of co-executive producer on NBC’s Heroes.

“His work in the comic book field is in a class of its own,” said Marvel Studios executive VP and creative committee chairman Alan Fine. “Jeph’s work on multiple award-winning television series and popular films has shown fans worldwide his ability to deliver thrilling entertainment in a number of media.”

Marvel Studios’ executive VP and creative committee chairman Alan Fine said Lobe’s “work in the comic book field is in a class of its own.”

Given his experience in television, as well as comics, Loeb seems to be a good pick to head up Marvel’s TV department. And its not surprising that the Disney owned Marvel Entertainment would make a move like this. This is what the merger was all about. Tapping into the well of Marvel characters for Tv and DVD productions. I’m excited to see what Marvel projects we’ll be seeing in the future.

DC Showcase: Jonah Hex Animated Images

Here’s a few sneak peeks at images from the Jonah Hex short that will accompany the Batman: Under the Red Hood DVD. This looks to be first class animation, and Warner Brothers is bringing in some cool talent on the project. The Jonah Hex story is being scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale, and it will be starring the voices of Thomas Jane (The Punisher), Linda Hamilton (Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

The basics of the story is that bounty hunter Jonah Hex always gets his man, that is until this time when someone else gets to him first, a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just her bounty from Jonah Hex. Based on the award winning comic book, DC Showcase: Jonah Hex will be rated PG-13.

Batman: Under the Red Hood,  along with the DC Showcase: Jonah Hex short, arrives in stores on July 27, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video.

Jonah Hex has always been a character that I like, and I am psyched that they are including this short on the DVD. I love that they are including these  DC Showcase stories with the main feature. Some of these characters like The Spectre and Jonah Hex may not be really well known, and they aren’t the headliners that some other characters are. So its great that there is an outlet to get some animated goodness of these characters, even if its not a full-length movie. Adding the DC Showcase to their line of direct-to-DVD movies is a great idea, and it looks like they are continuing to create awesome work on these productions. I’m looking forward to this one, and I hope that the line continues.