Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (September 28)

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by davidlg1971

In fact if it's the same DTV that Comics Continuum was talking about, that's exactly what it is. Here's their description of the next GL DTV release:

"The direct-to-video project will be timed to coincide with the release of the live-action Green Lantern movie in the summer of 2011. The story will not follow one of the Earth-bound Lanterns (Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner or Kyle Rayner), but will tell of the origins of the Green Lantern Corps itself and showcase the first ring wielders."

Though I can't imagine them putting out a GL anthology without including at least one story featuring the movie's main character, so I guess we'll see...

Bruce Timm shot down that rumored story.

[Rambaldi47]

I agree that they're doing too many Superman/Batman movies. I loved Wonder Woman and would love a sequel. Or Aquaman. I heard that they were planning a Catwoman movie too, a REAL Catwoman with Selina Kyle to make up for the Halle Berry movie. I hope that gets made too. The shorts they've started adding are a neat thing too, since they're so hesitant to give lesser-known characters their own movies.

[kdn1221]

I, too, am also tired of seeing mostly Superman and Batman. They are great characters but they are not the only ones. Warner/DC need to expand their scope. There are a bunch of other characters that I would like to see (not only as animated projects but also live action movies).

Flash (Barry Allen)
Green Arrow
Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein)
Captain Marvel (Shazam!)
Teen Titans (not the lousy CN version)
Legion of Super Heroes
Supergirl
Elseworld stories (alternate versions of DC heroes)
Camelot 3000 storyline

[Beast]

Indeed. Flash could make an amazing film. He has a huge rogues gallery.

Not only Gorilla Grodd, but his main group of Rogues themselves.

Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Heat Wave, Weather Wizard, Trickster, Pied Piper, Top and Captain Boomerang

[DanielC]

Oh yes!! I was hoping the second (and imo the best) comic would get a similar treatment as Public Enemies did! I just hope the're able to use Turner's art as a concept ...

[Tyger]

The cover art would imply they did, but who knows. Wonder why they changed the name Too long?

[HDMe]

I think the problem here... is that when they do release Wonder Woman or Green Lantern, if they don't sell as well as the Superman/Batman ones, then the consumers have spoken.

I too would like to see more variety as I like a lot of the other DC characters as well... but if people don't buy them, then I don't expect we will see more of them.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by HDMe

I think the problem here... is that when they do release Wonder Woman or Green Lantern, if they don't sell as well as the Superman/Batman ones, then the consumers have spoken.

I too would like to see more variety as I like a lot of the other DC characters as well... but if people don't buy them, then I don't expect we will see more of them.

Batman and Superman do sell better sure.

But you don't see DC cancelling every book that doesn't feature those two characters.

Most of the rest of the characters are way more interesting than Bats and Supes. So it's a shame.

[csdot]

Originally Posted by Beast

Batman and Superman do sell better sure.

But you don't see DC cancelling every book that doesn't feature those two characters.

Most of the rest of the characters are way more interesting than Bats and Supes. So it's a shame.

you cant compare producing an animated movie to a comic book though, theres a huge cost difference. they stand to lose a lot more money on an unpopular movie than an unpopular comic book title. plus theres already a niche consumer base for comics thats much broader than the demand for these movies.

[hidef al]

Here is the pic of the slipcover. Can't wait for this release

[DaveFi]

Originally Posted by doctorD

Actually, Green Lantern: First Flight has lossless audio (DolbyTrue HD).

It might but the announcement of no lossless was made after First Flight came out during an online chat.

[HDMe]

Yeah, if you compare the comic book print runs...

The "top" selling titles these days are barely over 100,000 copies... and the lesser characters are 50,000 or less per issue.

IF they only sold 50-100,000 of a particular DVD release... that'd be the nail in the coffin for that character for a few years for another movie... but they can skate by a bit longer on comic sales that low.

Also, they have a vested interest in publishing the comic to keep their intellectual property rights ongoing for their characters... so that if they do come up with another way to make money, they still own those characters.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Yeah, if you compare the comic book print runs...

The "top" selling titles these days are barely over 100,000 copies... and the lesser characters are 50,000 or less per issue.

IF they only sold 50-100,000 of a particular DVD release... that'd be the nail in the coffin for that character for a few years for another movie... but they can skate by a bit longer on comic sales that low.

But those numbers just count monthly comic sales. Many comic book readers have migrated to reading strictly trades and hardcovers, or get them illegally through downloads.

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

But those numbers just count monthly comic sales. Many comic book readers have migrated to reading strictly trades and hardcovers, or get them illegally through downloads.

Trades and hardcovers don't typically sell as high as the regular monthly book that they collect... partly because of being more expensive and partly because most people who want them already have them.

There are exceptions, like sometimes when a movie like Watchmen bumps sales on the trades and hardcovers of the old title... but those are blips on the radar that go away once the film goes away.

As for illegal downloads... by the very nature of being "illegal" that means those people aren't paying the creators for the merchandise... and that is yet another indicator of how little people are willing to pay for something if they are only getting it when they can get it for free.

And of course "free" doesn't make the studio money. Those folk who are illegally downloading the comics in digital form aren't likely to be lining up to buy the movies either... so we're back where we started, with only the more popular characters selling movies.

It's true of everything, not just comics... Otherwise studios would make spinoff movies for every single character in any popular movie release. People wouldn't pay to see all those, and they know it.. so they usually don't bother.

[Sir Platypus]

I feel like they may be milking these movies a little too much. Releasing them too close together and only using their standby best selling characters makes the collection a little less interesting in my eyes.

I guess I stand alone on liking Gotham Knight. It's probably because I've always been the type to like to see different takes on well known characters and it offered me several different takes. As long as you don't buy into that "bridging Begins and Dark Knight" crap they tried to sell it on and just take it as a handful of neat stories it's pretty good in my eyes.

Also wasn't Year One rumored to be adapted some time ago? Anything ever come of that?

[doctorD]

Some new info with additional cast members announced:

Superman - Tim Daly
Batman - Kevin Conroy
Darkseid - Andre Braugher
Supergirl - Summer Glau
Granny Goodness - Ed Asner

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 - This documentary covers Darkseid’s story, particularly in reference to the adaptation of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. 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.

DC SUPER HEROES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

Source

[Beast]

Nice to see that Ed Asner is gonna voice Granny Goodness again.

Nice extras as well. It's gonna be a definate purchase. Even if I wish they'd expand their horizons.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by doctorD

Superman - Tim Daly
Batman - Kevin Conroy

Well thank God for some things!

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Rambaldi47

I heard that they were planning a Catwoman movie too, a REAL Catwoman with Selina Kyle to make up for the Halle Berry movie.

AFAIK, this was just something Bruce Timm mentioned in passing - that he'd like to do one and thought they could do it well.

I whole-heartedly agree, though - it would be fantastic to get a stand-alone release for Catwoman. That would be my #1 choice, #2 would be a Supergirl film (though not an origin for either of them, I feel like those are played out).

Of course, I'd also like to see a sequel for WW, and if you look at the actual sales numbers, it didn't sell THAT much less than any of the others, and did better than New Frontier and Green Lantern.

That said, I'm not unhappy with more Supes and Batman. I love DC, but the second and third string heroes aren't my favorites; I barely liked Green Lantern, and I don't see myself, for example, caring about a Hawkman movie.

[gpn]

I'll still likely pick this up, but I'm disappointed Michael Ironside won't be voicing Darkseid.