DC Comics, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation are jointly planning to produce and distribute a series of original "DC Universe" animated movies for DVD, with the films being animated and directed by acclaimed comic book creators and animators.
All the movies are to be rated as PG-13, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Home Video. The first three will appear between 2007 and 2008, and will include:
Justice League: New Frontier - written by Stan Berkowitz, with Darwyn Cooke as story and visual consultant
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract - written by Marv Wolfman and Tom DeSanto, produced by DeSanto
Superman: Doomsday - produced by Bruce Timm and written by Duane Capizzi, from a story by Timm & Capizzi
"We are working closely with WHV and WBA to insure that the films honor the legacy of our great heroes. And we are lucky to have Marv Wolfman and Darwyn Cooke, two of the writers who created the source material for the films, involved in the project," said DC Comics President & Publisher Paul Levitz. "The creators bring a passion for the material and a level of creative ambition that will resonate with both DC Comics' fans who treasure the original stories and adults who love adventure, heroics and top-notch animation."
"We are thrilled to announce this unprecedented venture with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation," said Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video. "This initiative is a testament to our commitment to bringing fans new and innovative content created by the most revered names in the comic industry."
Those involved in future releases will including award-winning writer/artist Darwyn Cooke (The New Frontier; Catwoman) and writer Marv Wolfman (The New Teen Titans), along with Bruce Timm (Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series) and Tom DeSanto (executive producer of the first two X-Men films and producer of the forthcoming Transformers feature). Writer/producers Duane Capizzi (The Batman, The Batman vs. Dracula) and Stan Berkowitz (Justice League) will also be part of the creative team on the DC Universe films, with Timm serving as supervising producer on each of the titles.
Other DC products with films in development include Green Lantern, Flash and Wonder Woman.
Simon AbramsMemberJoin Date: June 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 656
Good news times three.
Darwyn Cooke is an excellent choice for a consultant, and having Marv Wolfman on the Titans is the stuff of fan boy dreams. Timm on a Doomsday story should be interesting.
Gabe PowersContributorJoin Date: September 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 3,116
I hope these are more Bruce Timmish and less like the last STV Superman movie that used the character designs but totally different actors and writers.
NickMichalakMemberJoin Date: November 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 110
But Doomsday was lobotimized by the alternate Earth Justice Lord Superman in "A Better World, Part II" of Justice League. Kind of hard to explain away that one, but I'm sure there's a way.
BK GMemberJoin Date: November 2003Location: United StatesPosts: 268
NickMichalak wrote: But Doomsday was lobotimized by the alternate Earth Justice Lord Superman in "A Better World, Part II" of Justice League. Kind of hard to explain away that one, but I'm sure there's a way.
-NJM
These movies aren't part of that Batman/Superman/JL continuity.
JackJackMNMemberJoin Date: January 2006Location: United StatesPosts: 347
well, I hope they are better the brainica attacks, I hear that was a peice a c**p. I love JL, it is my favorite anaimated show. I hope these do it justice
Trap DoorMemberJoin Date: January 2006Location: United KingdomPosts: 250
NickMichalak wrote: But Doomsday was lobotimized by the alternate Earth Justice Lord Superman in "A Better World, Part II" of Justice League. Kind of hard to explain away that one, but I'm sure there's a way.
-NJM
Not part of the same continuity and also Doomsday did come back in JLU after healing from the attack.
Stephen EthertonMemberJoin Date: October 2003Location: United StatesPosts: 607
This news excites me and makes me nervous at the same time. It is like DC has had a hugely popular and decent track record up till now, and I just hope they allow the film-makers to put a lot of heart and love into it, and not just want stuff cranked out for the sake of shelf space.
Is the Doomsday/Superman story going to cover the entire story? Death, World without a Superman and the return (featuring the 4 imposters)? That would rock, but I feel like we will get a massively watered down version.
DC has decades upon decades of good stuff to translate to the animated form. The stories that worked in the past on the page worked for a reason, I see no reason to change. Use the original comics as a script and a storyboards.
Dark JediMemberJoin Date: March 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 220
NickMichalak wrote: But Doomsday was lobotimized by the alternate Earth Justice Lord Superman in "A Better World, Part II" of Justice League. Kind of hard to explain away that one, but I'm sure there's a way.
-NJM
Yeah but in Justice League Unlimited Season Two, Doomsday escaped from Cadmus after his brian had fully healed and he once again went after Superman.
PotterBoyMemberJoin Date: April 2006Location: United KingdomPosts: 25
Is 'Superman:Doomsday' is going to about how Superman died just before his and Louis Lane's wedding? Doomsday is the big monster who beats Superman to death. Atleast that's what happened in the comics. I hope that is what it's about because the picture in the comic was cool, but to see it animated and the characters have voices. So does this mean that they won't make any more animatad Superman movies? I really want to see this movie. This is gonna be f**king awesome! I haven't seen Braniac Attack yet but I'm guessing that it's based on the never-produced live-action movie "Superman Lives" which was supposed to be released in 1998. "Superman Lives" was to be starring Nicolas Cage as Superman.
MinerMemberJoin Date: May 2007Location: United StatesPosts: 1
Well, looks like they are moving ahead with DVD. Says it will be out on 9/18. WB has released a great behind the scenes clip with a couple interviews and storyboards, If your interested, you should check it out.
Either way, this is cool news. Can't wait.