DC Comics announce three animated movies

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Working with Warner Bros. Home Video and WB Animation, the company will launch a new line of direct-to-video DC animated movies that are being designed with DC Comics fans in mind, Levitz said.

 

He continued, saying that DC is looking to do a series of titles that will tell the character bits and stories that were important to fans, and will be working with the comic book creators on them. The first title will be the previously-leaked animated film version of Darwyn Cooke's The New Frontier. Cooke will work with Stan (JLU) Berkowitz on the film, with Cooke providing key art direction.

 

Another title in the series, Levitz continued, will be Superman/Doomsday, which will take the "essence" of the Superman/Doomsday story - and will be directed by Bruce Timm and written by Duane Capizzi, who's currently working on The Batman animated series.

 

The third title in the series will be an animated version of the classic story Teen Titans story “The Judas Contract”, written by Marv Wolfman. Tom DeStano (X-Men) will join Wolfman as co-writer and producer on the film.

 

"This is just the beginning," Levitz said. "We're sitting around and thinking of more...so send all your suggestions in."

 

"We're going to take the marquee-value characters that have love across the generations," Levitz said. "And use the stellar characters so that the parental generation will reach out and share it with their kids. We're looking at all the great stories, and cases where we can find the best stories of a long run."

 

Levitz also added that George Perez will be working on the animated Judas Contract as well, and that Bruce Timm will be overseeing all the animated films.

 

Can't wait for all three

[AndrewTS 0]

Another title in the series, Levitz continued, will be Superman/Doomsday, which will take the "essence" of the Superman/Doomsday story - and will be directed by Bruce Timm and written by Duane Capizzi

 

I can wait until forever on this one after that piece of crap Brainiac Attacks. Ugh, why couldn't they get one of the old Superman/Batman TAS writers back for this one?

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Well Bruce Timm is the director, and he is THE Superman/Batman TAS guy, so there's hope.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

I always thought Timm & Dini should do a straight to DVD Knightfall movie.

[dubq 0]

I hope it's the same animation style as the JLU/Batman/Superman TAS'verse...

[bobobrazil1984 0]

It's not. The DC guy said they were going to use animation styles closer to their comics counterpart.

[dubq 0]

Oh well. New Frontier had a pretty cool style anyway.

[CBright7831 0]

Why do I keep hoping that they make another DTDVD Batman movie when I know they won't thanks to The Batman?

[Vampiro69 0]

I wonder how closely they will follow the Doomsday story? If so we will get to see Ice, Booster Gold and of course BLOODWYNE!

[Dr. Zaius 0]

These have to be better than "Ultimate Avengers."

[Vampiro69 0]

It should be better then, however, I remember the massive disapointment everyone felt about Brainiac Attacks, and I hope these live up to our expectations.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

DC: The New Frontier cast so far

 

Phil Morris... King Faraday

 

Lucy Lawless...Wonder Woman

 

Neil Patrick Harris...Flash

 

David Boreanaz... Hal Jordan

 

Brooke Shields.. Carol Ferris

 

Kyle MacLachlan... Superman

[Frosty 0]

These have to be better than "Ultimate Avengers."

 

 

I've never seen Ultimate Avengers but have always wanted to.... what is so bad about them?

[Ravenbomb 0]

The Twin Peaks guy is playing Superman?

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Superman Doomsday out on 09/18/07

 

Press Release

 

Press Release

 

“Movie is The First Ever Animated Superman Project to Be Rated PG-13”

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 3, 2007 – Warner Home Video, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release an all-new original movie Superman Doomsday on September 18, 2007.

 

Utilizing the vast history and tradition of DC Comic’s classic comic book stories along with a more provocative and action-packed story line for avid comic fans as well as kids and their parents, Superman Doomsday features the voices of Adam Baldwin (“Independence Day”) as Superman, Anne Heche (“Men in Trees”) as Lois Lane and James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as Lex Luthor, and will be available for $19.98. Order due date is August 14, 2007.

 

Produced by Bruce Timm (Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series) and written by Duane Capizzi (The Batman, The Batman vs. Dracula), Superman Doomsday is inspired by the best-selling graphic novel of all time, DC Comics’ The Death of Superman. When the intergalactic serial killer Doomsday is unearthed, Superman meets the creature head on in the battle to end all battles. Going punch for punch, Superman finally ends the threat of Doomsday as he throws one last punch and collapses forever – making the ultimate sacrifice to save Metropolis and all those he once loved.

 

Superman Doomsday will be available exclusively on DVD with collectable packaging as well as over 70 minutes of incredible DVD extras including:

 

• “The Clash of the Juggernauts” – A retrospective look at the craze which caught the world by storm. What happens when millions of fans are suddenly subjected to the death of their favorite character? Total mayhem! Going on record about the “Death of Superman” will be Paul Levitz and other DC staff as well as comic book artists throughout the industry. News clippings, reports and first-hand archival testimony from fans will be pieced together in a retrospective way. The featurette will also include a closer look at the dark Superman appearing in “The Return of Superman” graphic novel. • The Artists Playground…From Art to Sound Design in Superman Doomsday – Producer Bruce Timm and his creative team of writers, animators and designers will take us on an exciting journey of character evolution. This documentary will focus on early character concept drawings, final character art, various stages of modeling, storyboards, animatics, layering of colors, voice talent and ultimately final animation. • Justice League: The New Frontier - Sneak peak of the next DC Universe Original Movie • Defeat Doomsday: Battle Challenge - Battle as Superman to defeat Doomsday in this fast-action, dexterity challenge which lets the users relive the epic battle with unique gameplay inter-cut with footage from the movie. • Widescreen (1.78:1) • 5.1 Dolby Digital

 

“We are thrilled to be releasing the first of the DC Universe movies that feature extraordinary talent including Adam Baldwin and Anne Heche, as well as the lauded producer/writer team of Bruce Timm and Duane Capizzi,” said Dorinda Marticorena, WHV Vice President, Kids and Sports Marketing. “With an authentic animation look and feel and a more emotional as well as action-packed storyline, Superman Doomsday will certainly appeal to adult comic book fans and older kids.”

 

Superman Doomsday Marketing Support Superman Doomsday will be supported by a massive media campaign delivering millions of impressions. Marketing support will also include strong promotion support as well as explosive online promotion stunts. Finally, the DVD release of Superman Doomsday will be supported by a network television premiere.

 

 

 

Superman Franchise Information

 

The ultimate Superhero is the ultimate global icon:. ? Universal awareness across all age groups ? Combined Superman films have generated over $1 billion in worldwide box office ? Over 35 Superman titles on video and DVD ? Superman comic books in over 40 countries ? 400 licensing partners worldwide

 

DC UNIVERSE ORIGINAL MOVIES

 

DC Comics, Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) began the production and distribution of “DC Universe,” a series of original, animated PG-13 movies in July 2006. This original made for DVD movie is part of the DC Universe series of animated PG-13 films written and directed by acclaimed comic book creators and animators and featuring recognizable talent. WHV will be the exclusive worldwide home entertainment distributor for all DC Universe movies which will include a slate of 2-3 action-packed films per year. Superman Doomsday is the first DC Universe original animated movie. Other DC properties with films in development include Justice League, Teen Titans, Green Lantern, Flash and Wonder Woman.

 

BASICS Street Date: September 18, 2007 Order Due Date: August 14, 2007 Languages: English, Spanish Subtitles: Spanish

 

Run Time: 75 minutes approx. Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (1.78:1) Audio: 5.1 Dolby Surround Stereo Color / Closed Captioned Rating: PG-13

 

Superman Doomsday Original Movie Price: $19.98 SRP / No MAP DVD catalog: #74621

 

About Warner Home Video: With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

 

About DC Comics: DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

 

Superman Doomsday!, and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

 

About Warner Bros. Animation: Warner Bros. Animation has been producing award-winning original animation since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinking in the Bathtub.” Since then, Warner Bros. Animation’s characters have set the standard for innovative, quality animation. Producing for network and cable television, online, home entertainment and feature films both domestically and internationally, Warner Bros. Animation is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as maintaining the studio’s rich cartoon heritage. Warner Bros. Animation also oversees the creative use of, and production of animated programming based on classic animated characters from the Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics libraries. Warner Bros. Animation is one of the most honored animation studios in history, garnering a grand total of six Academy Awards®, 34 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, a Humanitas Award, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

[AndrewTS 0]

written by Duane Capizzi

 

It's gonna suck.

 

Yeah, I think even just adapting an existing comic, it'll somehow manage to suck.

[SuperJerk 0]

These have to be better than "Ultimate Avengers."

 

 

I've never seen Ultimate Avengers but have always wanted to.... what is so bad about them?

Bad voice acting, cliched situations, horrid dialogue, and they don't nearly live up to the comic stories they're based on.

[Vampiro69 0]

Anne Heche as Lois Lane? It won't be the same not hearing Dana's voice.

[AndrewTS 0]

Anne Heche as Lois Lane? It won't be the same not hearing Dana's voice.

 

Braniac Attacks' voices were really, really jarring, but at least Dana and the returning Tim Daly anchored it well. I could have dealt with it fine if the writing wasn't utterly horrible.

 

I guess with Marsters they're going to try to make Lex a badass again. However, Capizzi's writing and none of the old cast apparently on the project? Spells bad news.

[Vampiro69 0]

The one hope we can still have is that Bruce Timm will be overseeing the animation of the films.

[starvenger 0]

These have to be better than "Ultimate Avengers."

 

 

I've never seen Ultimate Avengers but have always wanted to.... what is so bad about them?

Bad voice acting, cliched situations, horrid dialogue, and they don't nearly live up to the comic stories they're based on.

On the flipside, they didn't come out months late...

[Justice 0]

The weirdest difference with the Ultimate Avengers is that, for whatever reason, Iron Man's identity is secret. I didn't even get why it was, and why he was trying so hard to hide it. It was one of those weird subplots that just didn't really do anything.

[Special K 0]

Well, the Death of Superman sucked in the first place, but I'll reserve judgment.

 

Just as an aside, have you ever heard Marsters' regular speaking voice? It's jarring. Of course he's American, and it's like half an octave higher. I'm sure he'll change it a bit.

 

Kyle Maclauchlan should be great as Supes.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Superman/Doomsday trailer

 

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0934706/trailer...lay-E32340-10-2

 

Looks good

[CBright7831 0]

Looks like they kept the designs of Superman, Luthor, and Doomsday similar to their designs in the original DCAU.

 

Might be good.

[AndrewTS 0]

Apparently they are going to smash Death of/World Without a /Return of all in one movie.

 

That's going to be a huge cluster of something...

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Apparently they are going to smash Death of/World Without a /Return of all in one movie.

 

That's going to be a huge cluster of something...

 

 

Since they took out the four Supermen from the story it won't be as clustered

[razazteca 0]

So Shaq won't be doing the voice for Steel?

[AndrewTS 0]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Steel in it, but his origin/backstory has already been done in Superman: TAS. Yet he's an established DCAU character that was in the original story too.

[dubq 0]

Looks pretty rad. I like that they kept the character renderings close to the DCAU style of animation, but there are some little tweaks that make it seem more... mature than usual I guess, for lack of a better term.

 

The casting choices are interesting. I like that Adam Baldwin is getting all kinds of opportunities to show off what a great character actor he is, even if it is mostly through voiceover work. James Marsters should be interesting as Lex and probably infinitely better than Powers Boothe - no slight to him as an actor.. but he's Grodd to me.. not Lex.

 

What's the release date on this?