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Alan Tudyk has taken on dozens of iconic voice roles over the years, but he’s recently been doing a lot of work for James Gunn in the Dcu. During the first season of Creature Commandos, which aired on HBO Max last year, Tudyk voiced Dr. Phosphorus, Surfer Son, Clayface, and Magnus. He can also be heard in Harley Quinn voicing Clayface, The Joker, Condiment King, Firefly, Perry White, Dr. Trap, and many more.

Dr. Phosphorus became a fan favorite throughout the first season of Creature Commandos for his hilarious one-liners, which are undoubtedly made even more funny thanks to Tudyk’s brilliant voice performance. Collider’s Maggie Lovitt recently moderated a panel at FanExpo Denver for Tudyk, where he was asked how many of these jokes are directly from the script vs. improvised. While he didn’t go too in-depth, he credited the script work of James Gunn, who...

Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's 1988 graphic novel "Batman: The Killing Joke" is a legendary entry in the Batman canon that has influenced countless interpretations of the Dark Knight. Not only did it add major elements to Batman lore, including the shooting of Barbara Gordon and what is now widely accepted as the Joker's origin, it influenced even more popular depictions of the Batman mythos. Director Tim Burton cited "The Killing Joke" as a big inspiration for 1989's "Batman," even going so far as to claim Moore's graphic novel was the first comic book he ever really loved. Later, Christopher Nolan borrowed major elements from the story for "The Dark Knight," most notably Joker's hazy past and unreliable narration whereby we never truly know if the villain is recounting his origin story accurately or not.

This is to say nothing of the way in which "The Killing Joke," alongside seminal...

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This June, Max is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the highly anticipated return of the period drama series The Gilded Age to the streaming release of the hit film A Minecraft Movie. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Max next month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 5 best films coming to Max in June 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (June 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% Credit – Lionsgate

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a dystopian action thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay co-written by Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn. Based on the 2009 novel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the 2013 sequel film continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark after...

If you look at a lot of the best films in the superhero genre, a common denominator is Batman. The Caped Crusader's 80+ year legacy makes him one of the comic book heroes most open for interpretation. Different filmmakers have produced widely different, yet equally excellent, Batman movies. 1966's "Batman: The Movie" is a camp classic. "Batman Returns" is a gothic German Expressionist melodrama only Tim Burton could have made. Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" and Matt Reeves' "The Batman" are both fantastic crime dramas with big ideas most superhero movies don't even reach for.

But it'd be a big mistake to leave animation out of this conversation. "Batman: The Animated Series" is generally considered the finest Batman adaptation ever, proof positive the Dark Knight can excel on film no matter the medium. There are also many more animated Batman movies than live-action ones at this point. Many of them...

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Where Marvel Comics has "What If...?", DC Comics has Elseworlds, which takes DC heroes and reimagines them in different time periods, different genres, etc. In Elseworlds, the Justice League can become cowboys, Superman can be raised in the Soviet Union, and Batman can fight Dracula.

Elseworlds goes back to 1989 and kicked off with "Batman: Gotham By Gaslight." Written by Brian Augustyn and drawn by Mike Mignola, "Gotham By Gaslight" throws the Dark Knight back 100 years, revealing what would happen if Bruce Wayne was Batman in the 1880s. Among other things, it turns out, he'd battle Jack the Ripper rather than Jack Napier.

The comic opens with a letter titled "From Hell," which was authored for the book by Robert Bloch and named for the letter the real Jack the Ripper sent to the chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. This...

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Back in the 2010s, superhero movies adopted the "cinematic universe" as their storytelling framework; like the comics, separate franchises with unique lead characters existed within a common setting and would cross over. In the 2020s, cape-flicks leveled up to the multiverse, where each past version of a screen superhero also exists and can interact with the current ones. It's all really an excuse for easy nostalgia plays and inside jokes, hence Michael Keaton showing up as Batman again in "The Flash." (Not that it helped the movie succeed.) Last year's "Deadpool & Wolverine" was similarly all about Disney buying out 20th Century Fox and discarding the latter studio's Marvel franchises.

For my money, only one superhero movie has used the multiverse in a way befitting true science-fiction rather than just picking and choosing favored action figures for a single play-set.

When we think of Mark Harmon, the image that instantly comes to our mind is his portrayal of the stoic and sharp-witted Leroy Jethro Gibs on NCIS. The cornerstone of one of television’s longest-running TV shows and most beloved crime drama, Harmon is best known for his effortless on-screen charm and nuanced portrayals.

Mark Harmon | Credit: NCIS / CBS

Over the many years of his career, the actor has been in several TV shows and movies and even dabbled in theatre. However, there is more to his persona and career than what meets the eye. Beyond his television success, Harmon once even donned the mantle of DC’s Superman.

When NCIS icon Mark Harmon played Man of Steel Superman in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths | Credit: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

In his decades-long career, Mark Harmon has taken on a range of roles, from his fan-favorite role of Leroy...

Quick Links Creature Commandos Was Condescending Towards Women Creature Commandos' Bride of Frankenstein Dispatches Sadistic Criminals

The following contains spoilers for Creature Commandos Season 1, Episode 6, "Priyatel Skelet," which debuted Jan. 2 on Max. It also contains a mention of sexual assault.

With Creature Commandos Season 1 winding down, the war in Pokolistan is heating up. Fans have seen Amanda Waller renege on her partnership, thinking Circe's visions mean she has to have her troops kill Princess Ilana. The soldiers don't care if it's conjecture, misinformation or the truth -- they just obey their prison warden.

It sums up how bleak their story is: a world where many toxic villains run amok. Interestingly, in Episode 6, "Priyatel Skelet," the show addresses a problematic TV trope: objectifying women. While the results are empowering, they are also brutally violent.

Creature Commandos Was Condescending Towards Women The Bride and Nina Now Experience Sexual Abusers Targeting a...

While James Gunn's first official entry in the new DC Universe - the animated Creature Commandos - is dominating the Max streaming service, DC animated movies of yesteryear have moved over to a popular free streamer. And they're among some of the franchise's best.

Marvel Studios has led the live-action film space over the last decade-plus, but DC has long held the front line in the animated medium. The Dcau (DC Animated Universe) features dozens of standalone and interlinked movies, adapting some of the most popular DC Comics stories of all time.

Over a dozen animated DC movies have landed on the Tubi streaming service for free. The list of new additions includes old classics like Superman: Doomsday (released in 2007), and newer favorites, like Constantine: City of Demons (2018). The full list of titles added to the platform is astounding, and would be twice the length of this article.

Some...

If you’ve been following DC’s ups and downs, you know the franchise hasn’t always had the smoothest ride (we’re being kind in our judgment here). It is, however, a different ballgame altogether now – with James Gunn and Peter Safran in charge. This era begins with Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, a slate comprising fresh iterations and adaptations of both movies and shows.

Aur revoir Zack Snyder, hello James Gunn | Credits: Warner Bros.

Unlike the fragmented approach of the past and countless Zack Snyder misfires, Chapter One looks to present a cohesive and interconnected universe. While characters like Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Todd Phillips’ Joker remain in their respective Elseworlds universes, this feels like the fresh start DC fans have been waiting for. Let’s take a closer look at each project in Chapter One, and see just how they are set to reshape the DC Universe.

Creature Commandos is the first entry in the new DC Universe, under the creative vision and leadership of newly minted DC Studios Co-Chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. With just two episodes out, we're already getting a good idea of what the new Dcu will look like – and it's not shying away from adult content, as evidenced by Episode 2 of Creature Commandos, which features Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) in a bathroom with a princess.

The series features a new team of misfits to root for in the form of monsters like The Bride (Indira Varma), Weasel (Sean Gunn), and Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk). This time around, the monstrous squad at the center of the series is led by Rick Flag Sr., who is sent to the fictional country of Pokolistan to protect Princess Ilana Rostovic (Maria Bakalova) from an evil sorcerer. Featuring a colorful cast and vibrant action, the...

Batman has been brought to life by a plethora of talented actors over the years, not just in live-action but also in animated films and series. Some of the most recognizable voices in entertainment have stepped into the iconic DC role, lending their unique interpretations to the Dark Knight. From seasoned veterans to surprising newcomers, these portrayals highlight Batman's versatility as a character, with some surprising stars assuming a metaphorical cape and cowl in animated Batman projects.

Batman has been a powerhouse in animation since the classic 1990s Batman: The Animated Series, which garnered the first animated Batman movie, Mask of the Phantasm. Dozens of animated series and Batman movies soon followed, becoming some of the most celebrated entrants in the Dcu timeline. As such, Batman has become as desirable a role in animation as he is in live-action, with e swathe of famous faces voicing the iconic Dark Knight.

Colin coming out as gay was a huge moment for LGBTQ+ representation in Ted Lasso, though something about how the Apple TV+ sports comedy handled his story didnt quite sit right with me. Colin, played by Billy Harris, had been a staple of Ted Lasso since the pilot, so his coming out in episode 6 of season 3, Sunflowers, was a long time coming. Hints about Colins sexuality had been drip-fed to viewers since the shows second season, and werent confirmed until season 3, episode 3, 4-5-1. After such a buildup, some of the ways the show handled this incredibly personal story arc were, to say the least, disappointing.

Ted Lasso confirmed Colin is gay at the start of 4-5-1, but its not until the end of the episode that other characters discover his LGBTQ+ identity. This comes when Trent spies Colin kissing Michael (Sam Liu) outside the restaurant the AFC Richmond players were all visiting.

Quick Links Gotham by Gaslight Created DC's Entire Elseworlds Brand Batman: Gotham By Gaslight Is a Darker Story Than the Comic Version How Gotham by Gaslight Perfectly Married Batman and Sherlock Holmes Why Gotham by Gaslight Is One of Batman's Darkest Movies in Any Medium

When The Batman from Matt Reeves debuted to near-universal acclaim, fans and admirers joked about the film being darker and grittier. The same thing was said about its predecessors, like the Christopher Nolan films, and even Tim Burton's 1989 classic. However, an animated adaptation of a DC Comics story published the same year as Burton's film inspired perhaps the darkest Batman movie of all time.

In 1989, Mike Mignola and Brian Augustyn published Gotham by Gaslight, a Batman story set in the decline of Victorian times. This story was adapted into a standalone DC animated film by Jim Krieg and Sam Liu. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight...

Hulk Vs offered the full guts and glory battle between the Hulk and Wolverine, a fight fans have been waiting for since 1974. The Wolverine segment truly stands out, showcasing the epic showdown fans have been craving between these two iconic Marvel heroes. The MCU should draw inspiration from Hulk Vs for a future Hulk and Wolverine showdown, creating one of the best moments in MCU history.

15 years ago, Marvel already gave fans the perfect fight between Hulk and Wolverine that Deadpool & Wolverine only hinted at Underrated animated double feature Hulk Vs offered the full guts and glory battle between the two. Directed by Sam Liu and Frank Paur, Hulk Vs. featured two 40 minute films that saw the titular hero face off against two iconic Marvel heroes. The first film featured Hulk up against Wolverine, while the second had him battling Thor, providing incredible fights and shows that the MCU should...

Batman: Caped Crusader will premiere on Amazons Prime Video streaming service on Aug. 1, 2024. Early reviews for the show seem to insinuate that a controversial relationship involving Batgirl will be featured in the series, causing one of its co-creators to set the record straight online.

Bruce Timm, one of the co-creators credited for Caped Crusader and is one of the talents behind the DC Animated Universe that began with the critically-acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, spoke up about the new show on the Anime Superhero (formerly ToonZone) forum. Timm, who goes by the username B.T. on the animated message board, addressed the early criticism the show is getting for seemingly pairing Bruce Wayne/Batman with Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. The Batman / Barbara relationship in Caped Crusader is purely platonic. Honest! Timm said. But the whole BT is obsessed with Batman/Babs!!! meme is so ubiquitous now that people are going to...

Bruce Timm has influenced an entire generation of DC fans with his take on popular superheroes by bringing them to the animation medium. Timm’s work on Batman: The Animated Series remains iconic and the writer-director continues to contribute to projects based on DC properties to this day.

A still from Batman: The Animated Series

One of Timm’s more recent projects in the DC sandpit is the animated film Batman: Soul of the Dragon. During an interview, Timm was asked about what made him return to his Batman roots and why the film was a departure from his previous take on the character. Here is why Bruce Timm made Batman: Soul of the Dragon, explained in his own words.

Bruce Timm Reveals the Real Reason He Worked on Batman: Soul of the Dragon.

Directed by Sam Liu, Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a 2021 animated film, which sees Bruce...

The upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine film starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is set to shake up the MCU after a couple of slumps in the past one or two years. Fans have been dreaming about this live-action team-up for years ever since their brief interactions in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Deadpool 3 pairs The Merc With a Mouth with his frenemy Logan/ Wolverine

Another iconic combination that Wolverine was a part of on the animation side was with the Hulk in the 2009 film Hulk Vs Wolverine. The film did not get the deserved attention and popularity back in the day. As Deadpool 3 comes closer to release, fans are giving a shoutout to the film for giving them a badass two-hander back in the day.

Hulk vs Wolverine Sees a Resurgence As Fans Hail The Underrated Film The Hulk Vs two-part film is getting a lot of love from fans...

Get ready for some action-packed entertainment as Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Atlas, starring Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong, finally received an official trailer, which also confirmed that the movie would be released on May 24, 2024, which is very soon. You can check out the exciting trailer here:

The movie was initially announced back in 2022, with principal photography beginning on August 26, 2022; the shooting ended in November 2022. Atlas is directed by Brad Peyton from a script by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. Netflix initially confirmed an early 2024 release, but the newly-released trailer confirmed that the movie will be released on May 24, 2024, which is a bit over two months away.

The official synopsis for the movie reveals the following:

Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past.

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’ s All-Star Superman is described as the finest salute to Silver Age ever to be written, embracing all the silliness and heart found in the Mort Weisinger-edited run of the Superman family of titles. Distilled down into a feature animated film, the story remains the same, just tighter.

The 2011 Warner Home Entertainment release is back, making its 4K Ultra HD debut. I liked it when first released, and the new edition is sharper and crisper, the 2060p transfer is excellent. Is it enough to upgrade? That’s up to you, but it belongs in your home video library in one form or another.

The strength in the adaptation has everything to do with the late Dwayne McDuffie’s screen adaptation, aided and enhanced by a wonderful score by composer Christopher Drake

The DTS-hd 5.1 Master Audio track is the same as the 2011 release and sounds just fine.

[This story contains spoilers for “Sunflowers,” episode six of Ted Lasso’s third season.]

Ted Lasso watchers have speculated that AFC Richmond player Colin Hughes (Billy Harris) is gay since early in season two, and those suspicions were confirmed in season three’s third episode.

With the April 19 episode, “Sunflowers,” Colin’s story took a big step forward as he acknowledged his sexuality — and the way he deals with living a closeted life among his teammates — to journalist Trent Crimm (James Lance) while the Richmond players had a night off in Amsterdam. Trent then shares with Colin that he’s gay as well, opening the door for Colin to — perhaps — tell his teammates and coaches.

“I think with Ted Lasso, you can understand exactly why footballers or sports stars would want to hide their true identity,” Harris tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Their work life is tough enough. … In this world, you’re never far from someone that’s going to make a joke like that.

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers for Season 3, Episode 6 of “Ted Lasso,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

Shortly before Billy Harris landed the role of footballer Colin Hughes on the Apple TV+ smash “Ted Lasso,” he found himself without an agent. Rather than be discouraged, though, he sent a note to casting director Theo Park to let them know to keep him in mind for an upcoming project. “Lo and behold, a day later, this email came in about a show called ‘Ted Lasso,’” Harris recalls. Harris had only recently graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and the show marked his television debut. Though little was known about the character in the first season, the actor relished the opportunity to learn the ropes from what he calls “the best of the best.”

Now in its third season, Harris finds himself at the epicenter of a major storyline on the show.

The latest Warner Animated DC feature film adapts the 2000-2001 Elseworlds miniseries Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham. The fun of the Elseworlds comics, and soon the live-action versions under the new artistic regime, is taking the familiar and imagining them in other times and other places. Here, we do back to the early 20th century and overlay it with a dose of Loftcraftian horror.

Cowritten by Mike Mignola and Richard Pace, two men better known for their artistic skills, this story was designed for visual impact, something Troy Nixey did well in print, and the animators from Jase Ricci’s script and co-directed by Sam Liu and Christopher Berkeley, replicate nicely.

Basically, an arctic expedition headed by Bruce Wayne (David Giuntoli), sent to check on a previous team led by Professor Oswald Cobblepot (William Salyers) reveals horrors and a missing professor. The only surviving is Grendon (David Dastmalchian...

Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham Is Available On Blu-ray And DVD From 27th March, And On Digital Download From 28th March. To celebrate its release, we’re giving one lucky winner a copy of the latest DC Animated Movie, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham on Blu-Ray!

Batman’s rational mind and unparalleled fighting skills are put to the ultimate test when an ancient force threatens his world and everyone he holds dear. Batman finds himself up against Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham as he’s aided and confronted along the way by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and more…

David Giuntoli reprises his Batman: Soul of the Dragon role as the voice of the Dark Knight in this all-new 1920s-based DC Elseworlds tale.

Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from the newest DC animated movie, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, which is making its way to digital and home release on March 28. Another entry into the animated Elseworlds canon, The Doom That Came to Gotham is three-issue comic book miniseries written by Mike Mignola and Richard Pace. Set in 1920s Gotham, the story is inspired by Lovecraftian horror and sees Batman accidentally awaken a powerful entity called the Lurker on the Threshold.

Batman's new enemy in The Doom That Came to Gotham counts with warped versions of iconic villains as his minions, which means Bruce will have to pull in some allies of his own to protect his city. The talented voice cast includes David Giuntoli (A Million Little Things), Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer) as Oliver Queen,...

Features the voices of: David Giuntoli, William Salyers, David Dastmalchian, Emily O’Brien, Navid Negahban, Patrick Fabian, Jason Marsden, Jeffrey Combs, Christopher Gorham, Gideon Adlon | Written by Jase Ricci | Directed by Christopher Berkeley, Sam Lui

Based on a 2001 three-issue comic book miniseries written by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Richard Pace, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is an alternate-world tale that introduced an alternate version of Bruce Wayne and the residents of Gotham to Lovecraftian horrors. It’s the most overtly horrific entry in the animated Batman franchise as well as the strangest.

In the 1920s an expedition led by Bruce Wayne arrives in Antarctica looking for another expedition, this one led by Professor Cobblepot. What he finds instead are mutated creatures and the professor’s undead assistant Grendon whom he brings back to Gotham.

This sets into motion a plot by Talia al Ghul to bring back Ra...

"Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham" is the latest DC animated feature, directed by Christopher Berkeley and Sam Liu, starring David Giuntoli, David Dastmalchian and Tati Gabrielle, available on Digital, 4K and Blu-ray, March 28, 2023:

"...a 1920s-based tale finds explorer 'Bruce Wayne' accidentally unleash an ancient evil, expediting his return to 'Gotham City' after a two-decade hiatus.

"The logic/science-driven 'Batman' must battle 'Lovecraftian' supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham, along the way being aided and confronted by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including 'Green Arrow', 'Ra’s al Ghul', 'Mr. Freeze', 'Killer Croc', 'Two-Face' and 'James Gordon''.

Click the images to enlarge...

"Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham" is a new DC animated movie, directed by Christopher Berkeley and Sam Liu, starring David Giuntoli, David Dastmalchian and Tati Gabrielle, available on Digital, 4K and Blu-ray, March 28, 2023:

"...a 1920s-based tale finds explorer 'Bruce Wayne' accidentally unleash an ancient evil, expediting his return to 'Gotham City' after a two-decade hiatus.

"The logic/science-driven 'Batman' must battle 'Lovecraftian' supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham, along the way being aided and confronted by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including 'Green Arrow', 'Ra’s al Ghul', 'Mr. Freeze', 'Killer Croc', 'Two-Face' and 'James Gordon''.

Click the images to enlarge...

Burbank, CA – One of the Man of Steel’s most personal tales in DC history – from the mind of comics icon Grant Morrison, and produced under the expert oversight of animation legends Bruce Timm and Dwayne McDuffie – All-Star Superman will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time on April 18, 2023 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.

Grant Morrison’s beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman’s heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s...

Burbank, CA – Batman’s rational mind and unparalleled fighting skills are put to the ultimate test when an ancient force threatens his world and everyone he holds dear in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham, available to purchase Digitally and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray on March 28, 2023 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The all-new, feature-length DC Animated Movie puts Batman up against Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham as he’s aided and confronted along the way by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and more.

David Giuntoli reprises his Batman: Soul of the Dragon role as the voice of the Dark Knight in this all-new 1920s-based DC Elseworlds tale. Tati Gabrielle makes her DC animated debut as Kai Li Cain, Batman’s closest ally.

Click here to read the full article.

The Dark Knight is headed to the 1920s in Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham, with A Million Little Things actor David Giuntoli starring as Batman.

The actor leads a voice cast that includes Tati Gabrielle as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham as Oliver Queen, John Dimaggio as James Gordon, Patrick Fabian as Harvey Dent, Brian George as Alfred and Jason Marsden as Dick Grayson and Young Bruce Wayne.

The film is inspired by the 2001 graphic novel by Mike Mignola, Richard Pace and Troy Nixey. It is part of DC’s Elseworlds line, which tells stories set outside the DC universe. Sam Liu produces and co-directs, with Christopher Berkeley also co-directing. The film has a script from Jase Ricci.

In Doom That Came to Gotham, explorer Bruce Wayne accidentally unleashes an ancient evil, and returns to Gotham after being away for two decades.

Since 2007 DC has released a steady stream of direct-to-video animated movies featuring their iconic characters. These ambitious features have been praised for their aim at a more adult audience with many of the movies rated PG-13 and even R. While the plots often adapt classic comic book storylines, their most recent film, Batman: Soul of the Dragon is an original story from the minds of director Sam Liu, writer Jeremy Adams, and executive producer Bruce Timm.

Related: DC: Top 10 Animated Original Movies Ranked According To IMDb

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is DC’s 40th direct-to-video animated film and over the 13+ years these fan-favorite films have starred a wide range of voice actors. Notable actors include Michael B. Jordan who voiced Cyborg in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013), Neil Patrick Harris who voiced Barry Allen/The Flash in Justice League: The New Frontier (2008), and Rosario Dawson who voiced Wonder Woman...

This article contains Batman: Soul of the Dragon spoilers.

The latest DC animated film Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a complete reimagining of the Dark Knight. It’s an out-of-continuity story, the kind of tale DC usually places under its Elseworlds banner. Set in the 1970s, Soul of the Dragon places Batman (David Giuntoli) as part of an ensemble of heroes, a collection of the top martial arts masters in the DC universe including Richard Dragon (Mark Dacascos), Lady Shiva (Kelly Hu), Ben Turner a.k.a. Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White), and O-Sensei (James Hong).

“It’s a weird movie in that you can literally take the voice cast and transpose it into live-action and they can make the same movie,” gushes writer Jeremy Adams, “They’re all accomplished and good looking. It all works!”

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a mash-up of Batman and ‘70s Kung Fu films.

Features the voices of: David Giuntoli, Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, Michael Jai White, James, Hong, Eric Bauza, Jamie Chung, Chris Cox, Grey Griffin, Josh Keaton, Erica Luttrell, Patrick Seitz | Written by Jeremy Adams | Directed by Sam Liu

Now this is my kind of Batman movie! Part James Bond spy thriller and part Bruce Lee-esque martial arts movie, Batman: Soul of the Dragon is very much like the Batman books I grew up reading. Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of Batman and world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady...

Strap on your bell-bottoms, spin the disco ball, and grab your nunchucks. The Dark Knight returns in a groovy, karate chopping, seventies retro animated adventure. Batman: Soul of the Dragon is an original story that mixes Bruce Lee inspired action with a James Bond storyline. The Caped Crusader is actually a supporting character to the ass-kicking Richard Dragon (Mark Dacascos). Bruce Wayne's (David Giuntoli) origin story is updated with a Japanese master and cohort of allies. The plot runs thin at times, but the film offers a fun and interesting new take on the beloved superhero.

Batman: Soul of the Dragon opens in the seventies with a secret agent, Richard Dragon, infiltrating a shady millionaire's mansion. There's something sinister about the snake-eyed Jeffrey Burr (Josh Keaton). Richard finds an ominous clue. After a high-flying escape, he travels to Gotham City to reconnect with an old friend.

Bruce Wayne is stunned...

Batman: Soul of the Dragon sets Gotham’s caped crusader in a vintage martial arts homage. Directed by Sam Liu, who also directed the animated movie version of one of the greatest Batman graphic novels ever published, Batman: The Killing Joke, this is the 42nd project in the ongoing DC Universe Movies series.

However, Soul of the Dragon is an original tale, not based on a precedent comic. Like the eye popping anime-style film Batman Ninja, this is a completely stand-alone story. Batman: Soul of the Dragon is yet another chapter in the many creation tales for Batman. It tells of his martial indoctrination and joining him on this adventure are three of the best martial artists within the DC multiverse: Lady Shiva (Kelly Hu), Ben Turner a.k.a. Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White), and Richard Dragon (Mark Dacascos).

“It’s a 70s martial arts action-adventure drama with a great sense of humor,...

The years spent by Bruce Wayne training to become a crimefighter are some of the most fascinating in the Batman mythos, and have been explored in multiple ways across various mediums. A new DC animated feature, Batman: Soul of the Dragon now offers the intriguing prospect of a 1970s-set story wherein a young Bruce embarks on the path to martial arts mastery. We recently received the trailer and first clip from the film, and now have an introduction to Richard Dragon, one of the main characters from the Bruce Timm-produced movie.

In the video, which you can catch above, voice actor Mark Dacascos describes how we meet Dragon in the 1970s as a super spy who trained with Bruce alongside master O-Sensei. We then see Dragon in training, and being pointed out by O-Sensei to Bruce, foreshadowing the partnership between the two depicted in the recent trailer. At this point,...

"Batman: Soul of the Dragon", the new R-rated animated 'DC Universe Movies' feature, directed by Sam Liu, starring Michael Jai White, Kelly Hu and Mark Dacascos, is available on Digital January 12, 2021 and in 4K Ultra, January 26, 2021:

"...set in the midst of the swinging 1970's, this 'Elseworlds' adventure finds 'Bruce Wayne' training under a master 'sensei.' It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. 

"The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of 'Batman', world-renowned martial artists 'Richard Dragon', 'Ben Turner', 'Lady Shiva' and their mentor 'O-Sensei' to battle the monsters of this world and beyond..." 

Click the images to enlarge...

Batman: Soul of the Dragon sounds like an interesting departure from the usual slate of DC animated movies. The story is set during the 1970s and follows a young Bruce Wayne on the path of martial arts mastery. We’ll see him training with and battling other elite martial artists, including Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva, all of whom are under the tutelage of O-Sensei.

We don’t know too much about the plot just yet, but the synopsis has teased that the students will have to face off against “a deadly menace from the past.” Who this is remains a mystery, but given the location the film is set in, the kung fu movie tone and the 1970s time period, I think the chances are good that the menace will be a bare-chested Ra’s al Ghul.

Now, we have the first clip from the pic, showing...

"Batman: Soul of the Dragon", the R-rated martial arts action, animated DC Universe Movies feature, directed by Sam Liu and produced by Bruce Timm, stars Michael Jai White, Kelly Hu and Mark Dacascos, available on Digital January 12, 2021 and 4K Ultra, January 26, 2021:

"...set in the midst of the swinging 1970's, this 'Elseworlds' adventure finds 'Bruce Wayne' training under a master 'sensei.' It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of 'Batman', world-renowned martial artists 'Richard Dragon', 'Ben Turner', 'Lady Shiva' and their mentor 'O-Sensei' to battle the monsters of this world and beyond..." 

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Warner Bros. has released the trailer for their upcoming animated movie, Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Renowned animation producer Bruce Timm takes the Dark Knight back to the 1970s for a supernatural-laden martial arts extravaganza in the upcoming R-rated project, which is the next entry in the popular series of the DC Universe Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated movie will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting January 12th, 2021, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray on January 26th, 2021.

Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It...

The Dark Knight is going back to the swingin' '70s in a new animated film, Batman: Soul Of The Dragon. Directed by Sam Liu, with a script by Jeremy Adams, Batman's latest animated adventure finds the Caped Crusader (David Giuntoli) pulled into a conspiracy alongside his former martial arts colleagues. As exciting as that is, no Batman…...

We just wish Dennis O’Neil were here to see this.

Bruce Timm takes the Dark Knight back to the 1970s for a supernatural-laden martial arts extravaganza in Batman: Soul Of The Dragon, the next entry in the popular series of the DC Universe Movies.

Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of Batman, world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, and Lady Shiva and their mentor O-Sensei to battle the monsters of this world and beyond!

Comics fans are well aware of Richard Dragon, who was created by Dennis O’Neil and...

"Batman: Soul of the Dragon", the R-rated martial arts action, animated DC Universe Movies feature, directed by Sam Liu and produced by Bruce Timm, stars Michael Jai White, Kelly Hu and Mark Dacascos, available on Digital January 12, 2021 and 4K Ultra, January 26, 2021:

"...set in the midst of the swinging 1970's, this 'Elseworlds' adventure finds 'Bruce Wayne' training under a master 'sensei.' It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of 'Batman', world-renowned martial artists 'Richard Dragon', 'Ben Turner', 'Lady Shiva' and their mentor 'O-Sensei' to battle the monsters of this world and beyond..." 

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As if DC hadn't already given fans enough to be excited about over the weekend, it has now been confirmed that a 2-part animated movie based on Batman: The Long Halloween is currently in the works. One of the most popular comic book storylines for the Dark Knight, fans have been asking for a Long Halloween movie for years. While the comic may have served as inspiration for Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and other Batman projects, the time has come for the title to get a feature of its own.

Speaking about the project at IGN's DC FanDome panel for Superman: Man of Tomorrow, host Matt Bomer revealed that three new animated DC movies are set to release next year. This includes Batman: The Long Halloween, which will be getting a two-part adaptation similar to The Dark Knight Returns. Originally scheduled to release this year, the first...

What if the 'Man of Steel' was raised behind the 'Iron Curtain'?... begins DC's 'Elseworlds' story, "Superman: Red Son", the next animated entry in the 'DC Universe Movies' series, produced and directed by Sam Liu, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack, March 17, 2020:

"...'Superman: Red Son' takes place in an alternate reality where the spaceship bearing the last survivor of 'Krypton' crash lands – not in rural Kansas, but in 'Stalinist Russia'.

"Can the 'Cold War'-era Earth survive the coming of a 'Soviet Superman'?

Voice cast includes Jason Isaacs as 'Superman', Diedrich Bader as 'Lex Luthor', Amy Acker as 'Lois Lane', Vanessa Marshall as 'Wonder Woman', Phil Morris as 'James Olsen'...

...Paul Williams as 'Brainiac', Sasha Roiz as 'Hal Jordan', Phil Lamarr as 'John Stewart' and Roger Craig Smith as 'Batman'.

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The best of DC Comics’ Elseworlds stories where when the writers challenged the conventional wisdom, upending how we envisioned our heroes. Among the more celebrated of these stories was Mark Millar and Dave Johnson’s Superman: Red Son, imagining the Kryptonian rocket ship landing in Soviet Russia, not Kansas.

It has long been on people’s wish list for adaptation as either a live-action or animated feature. Those wishes have finally been granted in one of Warner Animation’s more successful adaptations. The film is out now from Warner Home Entertainment in all the usual formats including the popular 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD combo.

Superman (Jason Isaacs) arrives in the late 1930s and by the time his powers begin to manifest with his adolescence, we’re on the tail end of World War II and the arrival of Joseph Stalin’s (William Salyers) Iron Curtain. With a super-powered loyalist,...

Superman: Red Son sets a new high standard for Warner Bros. Animation. It is breathtakingly good; a sophisticated, thought-provoking, and thrilling new take on DC's most beloved characters. The film, adapted from Mark Millar's limited comic series, changes the fundamental lore of fictional icons. Truth, justice, and the American way, the mantra of Superman, never existed. Kal-El's ship lands in Stalin's Soviet Union, not Kansas. The Man of Steel becomes the shining symbol of the proletariat. The hammer and sickle of the Russian revolution emblazoned on his chest.

In 1946, a twelve-year-old Russian boy (Tara Strong) shows his great secret to a dear friend. He has unlimited strength. He can even fly. He was not born on Earth. She convinces him to use his powers for the good of the communist state. Several years later, the Cold War pits the Soviet Union against the oppressive capitalist dogma of the United States.

Burbank, CA – What if the Man of Steel was raised behind the Iron Curtain? So begins DC’s acclaimed Elseworlds story, Superman: Red Son, the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated film arrives – along with a new DC Showcase animated short, Phantom Stranger – from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting February 25, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on March 17, 2020.

Superman: Red Son will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (USA $39.99 Srp; Canada $43.99 Srp) and Blu-ray Combo Pack (USA $24.98 Srp; Canada $34.97 Srp) as well as on Digital. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with Hdr, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a Blu-ray disc with the film in hi-definition,...

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for Superman: Red Son. This serves as an animated adaptation of Mark Millar's famous 2003 Elseworlds tale that paints the hero we all know in a very different light. Instead of growing up in Kansas, what if Kal-El had grown up in the Soviet Union? As we can see from this trailer, the answer to that question is one that completely recontextualizes the famed DC hero and puts him at the center of a world war. Instead of being a symbol of hope, he's a symbol of fear.

The trailer opens up by turning a classic Superman bit on its head. We see the Soviet version of the hero flying from the sky and a woman down below says, "Look! Up in the sky!" Yet, instead of sounding enthused or curious, she sounds terrified. We then see the world discovering who this mysterious...