Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animated?

[Kai "the spy"]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

... and frank millers grim and gritty bats is what killed endless reruns of batman 60s on tv and in the comics...

That is an urban legend, and an easily disprovable at that.

The funny Adam West-style Batman disappeared from the comics when Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams had their great and influantial run (though rarely working together, but mixing with other creators) in the Batman books beginning in 1969, and their depiction of a dark and mysterious detective was continued in the 70s and 80s by the likes of Steve Engleheart and the late Marshall Rogers.

Not to take anything away from his great work (back in the 80s, that is), but Miller did not bring Batman back to his dark and grim roots, as that was not necessary. Batman was already back to his dark and grim roots. Miller's TDKR merely brought back the readership's attention and improved on the general popularity of the character.

Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention, we have also Frank Miller to thank for the ridiculous idea of Batman being able to beat anyone and everyone, no matter how much more powerful, and the depiction of Superman as a "Yessir, Mr. President" idiot seems to have made a bit too much an impression on some people, too. Thanks a lot for that, Mr. Miller!

 

[barnaclelapse]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Do people enjoy adaptations of classics more than original stories?

Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't.
Sometimes I enjoy them just as much as the original.
If it's something I like, I'm curious how people adapt it.

I'm just asking because TDKR is held in such high regard I don't think an adaptation will live up to the books standards. So I'm wondering why would they even try (besides the obvious money factor). And then, if people have the comics, why not just read it? It won't be better than the book, there's no possible way, so why even try?

Why couldn't it be better than the book? It IS a possibility.
It probably won't be, but that doesn't mean it won't be entertaining. And isn't that the point?

I agree. I'm not expecting an adaptation that's superior to the source material. I just want to be entertained. I've been hoping to see this project realized for years now.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

You just wait till you hear who they've cast as the Joker. Genre fans are going to love it.

The way you emphasize "love" there must be a clue.

Clearly, the leading candidate for the Joker is Mike Meyers, star of The Love Guru.

That's a relief. I thought it was Jennifer Love Hewitt.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

This is being talked about. Nothing is official yet or announced. I guess it just is a natural reaction to be discussing who will voice Bruce if this does get green lit. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[barnaclelapse]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Lance Henriksen would be perfect. I forgot to agree completely with that.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Will Arnett - has a pretty gruff voice that I think would work for Batman, it's the Bruce Wayne part that might get a little iffy.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q-eFsn3S4E&feature=related[/yt]

or

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fHG-oGdoto[/yt]

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

double post

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

I'll just use this thread to post this rather than start another one.

http://www.cinemablend.com/dvdnews/...-Rises-Getting-An-Animated-Release-31387.html

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Might get a little confusing for some people upon release since they share the same name, but ones animated and ones not, so the math shall be easy.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

They made a mistake with the article title. It's talking about the animated version of The Dark Knight Returns. I thought they were talking about making the dreadful sequel "The Dark Knight Strikes Again!" For some reason the article says Frank Miller's Dark Knight Rises. He never wrote a story called that lol.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

They've fixed the title.

Tough story to adapt for a PG-13 market. The DVD movies get darker than WB Animation's TV output, but not too much so. A lot would have to be cut or toned down. Then again, toning down Frank Miller's relentless excesses doesn't strike me as a bad thing.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

^Agreed. I would say that "Batman: Under the Red Hood" was their most violent adaption to date.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

^^ Well, it was the darkest for sure. But, you know, "Wonder Woman" had people's heads cut off and stuff like that. The battle scenes were really gory in that one.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Voice Actors for Batman: Year One animated announced! with screen caps.


http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=76677


Ben McKenzie - Bruce Wayne/Batman
Bryan Cranston - Lieutenant James Gordon
Eliza Dushku - Catwoman
Katie Sackhoff - Detective Sarah Essen

 

[Mr Light]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Never heard of the Batman guy. Otherwise, cool.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

He was on The O.C. and is now on a police procedural called Southland on TNT.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

Never heard of the Batman guy. Otherwise, cool.

He's from The OC and Southland. Cranston, Dushku, and Sackoff are good casting choices. McKenzie is an unexpected choice. I can't imagine how he'll be in the role at this point, so I'm just in wait and see mode. The screen caps look great.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

I don't recognize Cranston's name, though IMDb says he's done various roles I've seen or heard in years past, mostly one-shots. Never heard of McKenzie, but apparently he's the nephew of playwright Robert Schenkkan, who was Lt. Remmick in ST:TNG's "Coming of Age" and "Conspiracy." Alex Rocco is another actor I've seen in a few scattered roles; the one I really remember is Roger Myers, Jr. (producer of Itchy and Scratchy cartoons) in The Simpsons. But he's done Batman before, having appeared as a henchman in the Green Hornet crossover episodes of the Adam West series.

Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery seem to be the go-to directors for the DC Universe DVD series. With the exception of Under the Red Hood (Brandon Vietti) and the short films (Joaquim Dos Santos), every DCU movie from Wonder Woman on has been directed by Montgomery and/or Liu. Not that I'm complaining. Liu does excellent action work, and Montgomery is fantastic with both action and character animation.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

I don't recognize Cranston's name, though IMDb says he's done various roles I've seen or heard in years past, mostly one-shots.

Cranston played the father in Malcolm in the Middle (for which he was nominated for an Emmy three times) and is the star of Breaking Bad (for which he has won the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series three times). His acclaim on the latter series has led to some high profile film roles, including that of the villain in the upcoming Total Recall.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Re: Warner Bros Considering Developing The Dark Knight Returns Animate

I guess you don't watch Breaking Bad which is a really good show. Then there was Malcom in the Middle, but I first knew him as Tim Whatley on Seinfeld.