As per standard operating procedure, Tuesday's release of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths came with a bonus look at DC's next comic book DVD movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood. Finally, someone has put it on YouTube (and thankfully tipped to me by Neon Tofu); part one is above. It doesn't have any animation, but it does have several animatics and color character designs, so it's certainly worth a look. Also, if you hadn't heard, it reveals that Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in the new Trek) will be Batman, Neil Patrick Harris will voice Nightwing, and Supernatural's Jensen Ackles will play Red Hood, which is kind of a nerd voice-acting hat trick. So what's the verdict? Interested? Dismayed? Cautiously optimistic?
41 comments
Comments
Doug said:
Interested.
Geoff said:
Oh, gods, they decided to adapt a JUDD WINICK storyline. Bad enough he's got compromising pictures of the comics guys, but now that's spread to Bruce and Alan as well?
Even then, however, Nightwing FINALLY showing up in one of these movies is a welcome development, plus being voiced by NPH is a pretty good choice.
I'd kill for the entire thing to look like Jim Aparo art, but sadly I don't think that'll happen.
ZADL said:
I watched that last night, and I have to say that it made me interested. It's got storyline that didn't much grab me in the comics, but it sounds like they have done a more engaging job with this version. I'm interested.
RubyRoses said:
Bruce, Neil, and Jensen? Wonderful plus it'll be nice to judge him on his voice acting.
"Starman" Matt Morrison said:
It's based on a Judd Winick storyline that is dependent on knowing a LOT of Batman history most people don't know or care about.
This is going to contain more pure sucking force than a Bangkok brothel at the heart of a black hole.
Meddler said:
The cast sounds decent enough, but I'm still perplexed as to why DC can't maintain some kind of continuity of voice actors throughout its animated projects. Back in the day, Kevin Conroy voiced Batman across multiple series and movies. I'm not an especially big fan of Deidrich Bader-in fact he's kind of scared me off of The Brave and the Bold-but he is the current Voice of the Bat. Does anyone know why they seem to recast superheroes in every one of these animated movies nowadays?
The Flash III replied to Meddler:
It's just a guess, but it probably depends on what projects the actors are working on at the time. I know there was a talking Batman B&B toy that was made with a different voice actor because Deidrich Bader wasn't available in time. I think of Conroy as the best Batman, but Bader fits the B&B series perfectly.
The reason for the recasting is that it makes it easier to sell the movie both to distributors and internationally.
Because as much as fanboys identify Conroy with Batman (... although personally it's more jarring to not hear Clancy Brown playing Luthor in COTE...), that's not the case with the world at large, and using name actors helps get the movies wider distribution.
Arcane replied to Geoff:
Clancy Bron is dead to me as a serious actor. Anytime I see or hear him in anything now all I can hear is "Spongebob! What happened to me money? Kekekekeke!"
darthmalevol replied to Meddler:
I think they use different voice actors for the same reason comics use different writers and artists: It brings a freshness to a character and puts a different spin on them. It also emphasizes that the stories aren't supposed to be viewed as part of the same continuity. I disagree that it's for marketing purposes: in what country in the world was it a huge selling point to get Jeremy Sisto to play Batman in New Frontier? They cast him because he was the right choice stylistically.
BStu replied to Meddler:
Why should there be continuity in the voices? This series of movies isn't meant as a continuity much less as a continuity with the cartoon series. I believe Bruce Timm has noted that this has been an intentional creative choice to separate the films from what had been done before. If anything its an acknowledgment of what a good job the cartoon series voices did that people associate them so strongly with the characters. These are different stories and ultimately different characters. So you want to approach that anew each time by looking for the actor that will tell this story.
Andrew said:
Anyone know if the short about the Spectre's up anywhere?
KingOfDoma said:
My only question is... even if the only foreknowledge of A Death In The Family are those two videos... who's not going to figure out IMMEDIATELY who the Red Hood is?
tasakeru828 said:
... But why is Dr. Horrible playing a super hero?
The Flash III replied to tasakeru828:
He was already The Flash in New Frontier. He's a good actor and a good voice actor.
Juancho replied to tasakeru828:
Because he is awesome and fuck you.
Also, he played the Music Meister in Brave and the Bold and was amazing.
Scipio said:
What I want to know is if this will be darker than the upcoming Brave And Bold episode retelling of Bruce's Parent's death which has been pitched as the darkest thing ever animated for DC.
LealahLupin3 said:
Eh, my only problem is that Kevin Conroy isn't voicing Batman. Otherwise, looks pretty cool.
Xenos replied to LealahLupin3:
You know, as much as I agree that Conroy is THE Batman voice in my head, I'm getting tired of fans complaining with every single movie that comes out that he's not voicing Batman. Same with Hamill as the Joker. I'm for giving other actors a chance.
Arcane replied to Xenos:
Jeff Bennett is a really terrible Joker.
LealahLupin3 replied to Xenos:
Eh, it's just a matter of preference. I've heard some good non-Conroy Batman's and I've heard so good non-Hamill Jokers, but they'll always be my favorite. And if you're sick of people complaining, don't go to sites where they complain. Simple enough.
Kayla-Leigh said:
I'm SO excited about this, it isn't funny. Neon is my comic book hero. Living with her ruined me for anyone who doesn't like comic books. Its sad and depressing for me that we can't stay up until 4 am fighting about whether Superman or Batman is better. Without her, I wouldn't even care about this.
Scortia said:
Jensen hasn't sold me yet from the clips of his voice acting. I desperately want to know who is voicing Tim Drake.
Josh said:
Is it just me, or are other people having difficulties with the home page?
Lifehater said:
I realise it's a fanboy thing to say but whenever someone but Conroy voices Batman my interest drops almost completely.
Robobros said:
I'm sure this will be a good project but really...more Batman? C'mon with Flash already!!! He's been neglected for far too long.
The Flash III replied to Robobros:
Word.
Tekkaraiden said:
As long as Billy Baldwin never voices Batman again I'm in.
BallsMonkey said:
I cannot wait.
Xenos said:
I haaaaaaated Winick's run on Batman bringing back Jason Todd. Yet.. I think I have to check this out. Without the continuity of crap like Hush, the Infinite Crisis Superboy Prime retcon punch, and the bad taste of War Games lingering, maybe the story might be decent. The original books made me wish Jason was still six feet under, but the initial concept sounded good. Now with this movie maybe they can get it right. Plus that cast is legend.. wait for it... dary. Actually, not sure about the awesome NPH as Nightwing, but it might work. One worry is that they'll leave out Tim as the new Robin for simplicity. I hope they don't, but it doesn't ruin it for me.
mightynard said:
Yeah, wow that captured still frame of lil Juddy makes whatever content's in that video immediately unclickable.
demoncat said:
i am interested for a few reasons one that dc actully dared to animated even a scene from death in the family one of the two batman storeis they will never do animated due to the viloent content the other being killing joke. and second seeing black mask show up in other batman projects for the first time. plus night wing. as for the voices dc does that to keep the character fresh. though rumor was that the next ainamted batman project was suppose to be long Halloween gues Judd called in some favors for this.
Xenos replied to demoncat:
"rumor was that the next ainamted batman project was suppose to be long Halloween gues Judd called in some favors for this."
DAMMIT. Actually, I almost would rather wait for funding for a whole mini series of Long Halloween than see it rushed into an hour twenty minutes.
13rian said:
Call me crazy but I'm mostly stoked about getting to see Black Mask.
He wasn't the best villain Bats had in his rouge gallery but he was one of the better crime bosses Gotham ever had.
Zortt1 said:
I hope this opens the door for the better Batman storylines as in: The Killing Joke, No Man's Land, Knightfall, Hush, and Batman R.I.P.
Another thing that I think they chose this project is to get people more interested in Black Mask, my number one choice of villain for Batman 3.
Finally, being a huge Batman fan, I'm 100% laying off of Batman/Superman in favor of doing a The Flash story. All I want to see is some The Rogues love. Rogues Revenge? Salvation Run?
Danicus Spamicus Decimus Meridius said:
SIGH.
No Batman voice will ever be right for me other than Kevin Conroy.
eulcedes said:
gotta say i'm curious to see the write-around they come up with to explain todd's return without going into the whole Punching reality bullshit from infinite crisis
Hanni said:
Finally Nightwing shows up in a movie! YESSSS. And being voiced by NPH--not how I'd ever imagined him, but awesome enough that it doesn't matter.
I'd probably watch this movie anyway out of a sense of nerdish duty, but now I WANT to see it just because it has Dick Grayson in it >.>
Maha said:
Definitely interested. However, does anyone else think there's a Batman overload these days? I mean, I'm enjoying it as a longtime Bat-fan, but in the long-term nature eventually it might end with lack of interest in Batman... Would hate to see that happen =/
