Producer Alan Burnett On “Batman: Mystery Of The Batwoman,” Blu-ray Currently In The Works
Warner Home Video revealed in late 2011 that Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman is slated to hit Blu-ray during the 2012 calendar year. Originally slated as an April 2012 release, the title has pushed back to an as-of-yet undisclosed date later in the summer. Warner Home Video Canada states August 7th, 2012 is the slated release date for the animated features Blu-ray title, but that date is also in contention for the time being. According to a rep from Warner Home Video, a finalized date for the Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman Blu-ray release is not officially confirmed, though will likely hit shelves during Summer 2012.
Alan Burnett, supervising producer on Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, briefly chatted with The Worlds Finest concerning the 2003 animated feature. The animated feature finds Batman facing off against both a new vigilante and a host of familiar threats. Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman remains a hotly debated topic among fans. Continue below for more from Burnett.
The Worlds Finest: While this has been asked before Im sure, care to give us a rundown on how Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman came together? Why this story and why a DTV? Why the lighter tone? What did Warner Home Video ask you to produce when they approached you with this project?
Alan Burnett: I was asked to write two DVD scripts so they could choose one, and the deadline was within two months. I wrote one with Paul Dini, which was a Batman team-up video, in which you saw him on adventures with various other heroes. The other was this one, which I wrote with Michael Reaves. Home video chose this one, mainly because it was a single story as opposed to several stories linked together.
The script with Dini, by the way, was mined by Michael Jelenic for a Batman: The Brave and The Bold episode, so it didnt go completely to waste.
WF: What did you really enjoy about working on this project and the characters you got to use. The cast is quite extensive Batman, Batwoman, Penguin, Bane, Rupert Thorne was it a challenge to make sure everyone got their moment? Were you satisfied with the final product?
AB: I wanted to do Batman lite. I wanted to have some laughs. I think women are a threat to Bruce. I think he has put them off for so long, he doesnt really know what to do with them. I think hed rather face the League of Assassins that have a date with a smart female. So, I thought we could get some humor from that. Genuinely, thats all I wanted to do have some fun. I didnt want to change the world. I didnt want to break his back. I didnt want to see the pearls fall on the concrete again. I had been down the angst road so many times with this character that it was time to take a breather from the melodrama.
The Dini script was also kind of a romp, so that was the mood I was in maybe we all were.
WF: What is your reaction to the fan response on this project? Do you think perhaps the reaction was misjudged, or perhaps the movie misunderstood? Do you think this movie ever got a fair shake? Have you noticed any opinions changing in time since the release?
AB: I dont think the fan response was great, but I have to tell you I dont pay much attention to it. There are guys who comb the internet for any and all fan response, but not me. I also dont think the video sold particularly well, and it just might be in part because it was about a woman, and even Wonder Woman can be a tough sell, even with great reviews.
But I was happy with it. I was very happy with it. I thought Michael Reaves did a wonderful job, and that Curt Gedas direction is terrific. Lolita Ritmaniss score is great, and the opening theme very Bondian. She also did a lovely score of the Catwoman short that was featured with Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. I hope thats on the Blu Ray.
One of the reasons why I like this video as much as I do is that its a very tight story. One of the tightest Ive ever done. There is no fat on it. Its as lean as Clint Eastwoods bicep. Every scene and every piece of information counts.
WF: How has the home video market changed from Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman to today? We now have regular DC DTVs rated PG-13 coming out three times a year. Why do you think Warner Home Video opted to go down this route, and aim for a bit of a higher age demographic, unlike some of their previous comic-related DTVs? What changed?
AB: I dont know. I think our natural inclination is to be more daring with these videos as we continue them. However, we didnt get the audience we thought wed get for Batman: Year One, which is fairly adult, while we got an unexpectedly big audience out of Justice League: Doom, which is a PG movie to me. All I can tell you is that I am hoping to work on an R before I leave this business and these characters, and I bet that will happen.
WF: What are you looking forward to on the Blu-ray release of Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman?
AB: First I have to buy a Blu-ray player, and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman may very well cause that to happen.
Currently available on DVD, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman arrives later this year to Blu-ray. A date has not yet been confirmed, but stay tuned for further updates.
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