I know this wouldn't have slipped past Mike if he weren't on the road, but The Dark Knight Returns (part 1) is the next DC DTV movie after Superman vs The Elite. The special features that have been listed show a preview of this being included on the Blu-Ray.

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/news. ... ws&id=1282

While this is pretty cool, I really wish that they'd get away from Batman for awhile.

And that Kingdom Come would finally get made.

Batman sells. Unless that changes we can continue to expect every other DTV release to be Batman related.

But yeah, I would love to see more releases featuring every other character in the DCU.

Voice Cast Announced for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

by SuperHeroHype

May 23, 2012

Heat Vision reports that Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video have set the voice cast for its upcoming animation adaptation of Frank Miller's classic 1986 tale The Dark Knight Returns.

They say the story is being split up into two animated features titled Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 and Part 2, with Part 1 hitting stores in the fall and Part 2 coming in early 2013.

Peter Weller (Robocop) will star as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Modern Family’s middle child Ariel Winter will play Robin.

Also in the cast are David Selby, the veteran actor who starred in the original Dark Shadows soap opera as well as the classic 1980s soap Falcon Crest; Wade Williams (Prison Break) as Harvey Dent/Two-Face; and Michael McKean as Dr. Wolper, the psychiatrist who releases the Joker from the insane asylum.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is being directed by Jay Oliva, who storyboarded Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman movie Man of Steel, from a script by Bob Goodman. They site adds the following synopsis for the title:

The Dark Knight Returns is set in a near future where Batman is retired and Gotham City has slid into a dystopian state ruled by a gang of hooligans called The Mutants. The 55-year old Bruce Wayne is forced to don the cape once more, this time partnering with a female Robin to not only stop the Joker but keep the peace when the city falls into chaos after being hit by an electromagnetic pulse.

First Stills from The Dark Knight Returns Animated Film

by SuperHeroHype

May 30, 2012

With the announcement of the voice cast of DC's animated adaptation of Frank Miller's classic The Dark Knight Returns we're getting our first look at what the film will look like.

The Hollywood Reporter posted a series of the pictures.







The animated feature will be released in two parts with the first expected to hit home video Fall of 2012 and the second Spring of 2013. Peter Weller (pictured first) will provide the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Ariel Winter will be voicing Robin, and David Selby (pictured above). It is being directed by Jay Oliva, who storyboarded Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman movie Man of Steel, from a script by Bob Goodman.

The Dark Knight Returns is set in a near future where Batman is retired and Gotham City has slid into a dystopian state ruled by a gang of hooligans called The Mutants. The 55-year old Bruce Wayne is forced to don the cape once more, this time partnering with a female Robin to not only stop the Joker but keep the peace when the city falls into chaos after being hit by an electromagnetic pulse.

The animation looks a little too "clean" to properly portray the Frank Miller epic. I almost want it to be smudged and have slightly harsher lines to it.

Wondering why they made the decision to release this in 2 parts though.

Are they telling the "complete" story including both of Miller's arcs or will this just be an "extended" telling of the seminal work?

Disagree, Ben. I think the art looks amazing (and better than the comic, whose story was amazing, but the art underwhelming).

Miller's story, while only 4 issues, was a very dense narrative with quite a bit of internal dialogue. So I'm pretty excited it'll be getting the 2 hour treatment (although I'm bummed I won't see the Superman/Batman throw down until next year).

Here's hoping Kingdom Come is the same way when it eventually goes released.

so it is just the one story then ... broken up over releases?

Its not a trend I think I'm going to like to be honest.

If they want to make it an extended release, that's awesome, but give me both halves at the same time in one package please.

But then again, with the odd release structure for "season" sets now, I guess I shouldn't be complaining.

I'll hold out hope that the Best Buy pack in figures are a Batman and a Joker with each release

I have to honestly say that the art in the comic made this one a painful read-- its just bad in my opinion-- but Im just not a frank miller fan-- sin city is just as bad...


If they really want to do a real Batman epic-- I think Hush, No Mans Land or War Games would translate very well to an animated series (and they could do No Mans Land in several movies and it still would work great.)

It works for how Dark Knight Returns was written. Not sure if you have read it but each part can sort of be looked at as a stand alone story with one small underlining theme.

The art was terrible and at that point I pretended I was reading a novel with pictures. It's a good story not the Godsend people make it out to be but still good.

Again, I've gotta disagree.

DKR is the best Batman story of all time, and only Watchman and Kingdom Come surpass it overall.

IMHO.

Wow... I agree with Watchmen and I could possibly be won over on Dark Knight Returns. I'm just soured by the crappy sequel that cost $7.99 a copy at cover price!

But Kingdom Come... worst thing DC has ever published. And that's saying a lot. I just didn't get it... I mean I understood the story and it was good Mark Waid but it's a terrible future stories which DC tried to force feed us as canon for a while. And people read it and see like... God and stuff... it's talked about as if it should be on a shelf with literary classics... me, it's one of those things that befuddles my mind like dare I say the JLU figure craze...

That's it sir, you are BANNED.

Come back tomorrow and we can start again.



No, seriously, I'm glad you are strong enough to voice a differing opinion.

Me, personally, I love the story of DKR. Both writing and art. (I also love Watchmen and Kingdom Come since we're on the subject).

While, yes, I can see HOW it would work in separate releases, I'm still not happy that IS separate releases. I'm just not a fan of that as a format.

Imagine if, when the Lord of the Rings movies were released to DVD as multidisc monster epic movies they only released 1 disc at a time with a 6 month gap. Not each movie released individually, but each part of each movie released individually. (i know that is an extreme analogy and probably not an accurate comparison, but I think it makes my point)

It just kills momentum and I guarantee they will lose some of the audience in the gap. Some because they won't understand it, some because they won't care, and some because they are just too stupid to realize that part 2 isn't more of the same as part 1.

I'll be there for both, and the up side is that I can look forward to 2 different pack in figures when I buy my copies at Best Buy.

But, again, I'm just not excited about the precedent this sets

And bnjmnrlyr I understand your disdain and it makes sense. I will expect these to be good though, given that they are sounding as if they are taking their time and doing each individual issue or so. It better be epic page for page action. Much like Batman: Year One.

Well, on the other hand, Ben, they could have tried to cram it into 70 minutes (or less as the minute count keeps dropping). That would have felt rushed.

Van, a lot of my love for KC comes from the unparalleled artwork of Alex Ross. He's my favorite artist. But I also thought the story very, very good. When Shazam throws down with Superman? Pure geek nirvana.

The less said about the sequel (DKR's as well), the better.

That's why I'm REALLY leery about the Watchmen prequels.