Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One coming to DC Animated?

[Doug!]

I'm loathe to link Bleeding Cool but...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/04/14/movie-version-of-frank-millers-the-dark-knight-returns-in-the-works/

It’s going to get rather crowded out there, with alternative Batmen cropping up left, right and centre. We’ll barely be over Christian Bale* when a reboot will see another lucky young man dropped into the role, and there are plans for another, different Bats to appear in a Justice League feature. Add to this the various animated Batmen, from Kevin Conroy, Diedrich Bader and Bruce Greenwood.

Too much Batman? Or never enough?

Well, I think there’s always going to be room for The Dark Knight Returns, don’t you?

Bleeding Cool have heard from multiple sources (enough with the multiples already) that work is underway on a movie adaptation of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson‘s classic The Dark Knight Returns. As you might have guessed, however, this is to be an animated adaptation, much like the recent All Star Superman or in-the-works Year One.

Fittingly, Year One will come along first, but DKR is already in the early stages of development. According to our sources, several veterans of Batman toons past will be on the crew list, though we’re still trying to confirm who is writing and directing the film.

It would be sheer guesswork to try and determine when this might make it to the screen, but it isn’t going to be anytime soon. Here’s hoping they do it right.

Which doesn’t necessarily mean with a dry, determined insistence on copying Miller’s pages…

Is it too late to suggest Adam West in the role?

*Some people have been over him for years, to be fair.

So... two of my favourite stories by one of my favourite creators about my favourite character in all of fiction?

There's only one way to describe how I feel right now:

[Tom Scioli]

It makes a ton of sense. I'm surprised it's taken this long. They've done a good job of taking okay comics and turning them into very good cartoons (Death of Superman). All-Star Superman showed that they can take a great comic and make a compelling film out of it, so this seems like a good way to go.

[Jon O]

Sounds great.  I'm on board with any of the DC films, they've all been at least fun, and sometimes great.

[Julian Lytle]

Batman is the only one that constantly sells.

these aren't really the DCAU though.

[slurmo]

hmmm...I'll watch 'em of course, but they really need to step up the voice acting on these. The Armaggedon & All Star left me cold with the voice acting.

I would like to see more current interpretions of all the characters though. Maybe a Brave & the Bold (comic) style Batman & green arrow/swampthing whatever features.

In any case like I said I'll watch 'em and probably enjoy them

[Paul]

I'm looking forward to Year One, but indifferent toward Dark Knight.  That tends to be my feeling toward the books themselves, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.

[Andrew Tom]

Remeber the episode of Batman: TAS that had the Junkyard segment from DKR with Michael Ironside doing the voice of Batman.  That was all kinds of awesome!!!  (you can find it in Volume 4 of the DVD sets).

Michael Ironside is the DKR Batman in my opinion.   

[Jon O]

I loved that Batman episode.  "Tales of the Dark Knight" or something like that.  It had a different retelling of a classic Batman story/time period for each of the blocks between commercials.

[Doug!]

Batman is the only one that constantly sells.

these aren't really the DCAU though.

It's DC, it's animated and Bruce Timm will be involved.  It's pretty much the DCAU.

Remeber the episode of Batman: TAS that had the Junkyard segment from DKR with Michael Ironside doing the voice of Batman.  That was all kinds of awesome!!!  (you can find it in Volume 4 of the DVD sets).

Michael Ironside is the DKR Batman in my opinion.    

Remeber the episode of Batman: TAS that had the Junkyard segment from DKR with Michael Ironside doing the voice of Batman.  That was all kinds of awesome!!!  (you can find it in Volume 4 of the DVD sets).

Michael Ironside is the DKR Batman in my opinion.    

Michael Ironside would be perfect for DKR.

[Andrew Tom]

as I already said, Michael Ironside definitely.  But... Bruce Greenwood did a "bang-up job" in the last Batman movie.

[Julian Lytle]

It's DC, it's animated and Bruce Timm will be involved.  It's pretty much the DCAU.

There is no continuity of these with any of the other dvds or the series that make up the "DCAU"

These have NO universe, they are nicely made DVDs features.

To get back on thee topic. I have a good feeling for these. I just wonder who is directing them.

[scoundrel3000]

It makes a ton of sense. I'm surprised it's taken this long. They've done a good job of taking okay comics and turning them into very good cartoons (Death of Superman). All-Star Superman showed that they can take a great comic and make a compelling film out of it, so this seems like a good way to go.

seconded

[jack239]

There is no continuity of these with any of the other dvds or the series that make up the "DCAU"

These have NO universe, they are nicely made DVDs features.

To get back on thee topic. I have a good feeling for these. I just wonder who is directing them.

yeah Julian is right. this is Bruce Timm's tour of the elseworlds if anything.

i am too hoping for Micheal Ironside for batman in DKR.

i am kind of hoping Batman year one has voice over narration from Jim Gordon. 

[Doug!]

Changed the thread title.  Happy now?

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I kinda wish they'd be more open to extending the length of the movies or even do it in episodes. They did a great job with All-Star Superman* but I wish it could've been longer. Its not a deal breaker for me though, I'll still be watching them.

* My wife really liked it which is sort of my barometer when it comes to animated comic book movies.

[Kenney]

I kinda wish they'd be more open to extending the length of the movies or even do it in episodes.

That's one thing I want as well. To be fair, I think most of the movies work in the shortish run-time they have, and Batman: Year One can probably be done in a similar speed, but DKR I would think needs a bit more time than the movies ususally get.

Also, while I'm so happy to see Year One coming, I hope this leads to the canceled Batgirl: Year One.

[steve bryant]

'Batman: Year One' Lines Up Voice Cast, Sets Comic-Con Premiere

Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Eliza Dushku and Katee Sackhoff will voice roles in the Frank Miller comic book adaptation.

Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Eliza Dushku and Katee Sackhoff have been tapped to star as the voices in Batman: Year One, the adaptation of the Frank Miller comic book classic from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation.

Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu are directing the movie, the 12th entry in the successful series of DC universe animated originals. Tab Murphy wrote the script.

The feature adapts the landmark four-issue story written by Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli that first appeared in 1987 on the heels of Miller's seminal work, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Those tomes, along with The Watchmen, helped elevate the comics medium, changing the public's perception of the art form and influencing Hollywood writers and artists to this day.

In Year One, a young Bruce Wayne is first starting out as a costumed vigilante. He creates an early bond with Lieutenant James Gordon, whose importance in the tale makes it as much as Gordon's story as Wayne's.

Cranston is playing Gordon, while McKenzie is Wayne/Batman. Dushku voices Catwoman, while Sackhoff is Detective Sarah Essen, a Gordon love interest.

Additionally, Alex Rocco lends his pipes as crime lord Carmine Falcone.

As one of the holy grails in comic books, Year One will be closely scrutinized for faithfulness, but superhero animation veteran Bruce Timm, who is exec producing, says there is very little in the movie that isn't in the comic.

"The source material is surprisingly cinematic; it's a pretty straight forward literal retelling," he says. "Mazzucchelli's artwork is beautifully composed and we were able to refer to the comic for about 80 percent of the camera setups."

Cranston, an Emmy winner for AMC's Breaking Bad, says he initially turned down the chance to work on Year One, not even wanting to read the script. He blames it on his ignorance of the animation medium as well as the classic comics.

"I wasn't aware of this level of storytelling in animation. I confess that freely," he says. "They didn't give the characters the short shrift. I was stunned."

Batman: Year One, which will be rated PG-13, is scheduled to be released on home video in the fall but will world premiere in July at Comic-Con.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942

[Kenney]

Cranston is a great casting of Gordon. He even sort of looks like Gordon.

[Tom Morris]

Liked most of the casting except McKenzie, however he must have done a great job to get the part.

[scoundrel3000]

In the words of Abed: "Cool, cool,cool,cool"