The complete main cast and crew rundown for the All-Star Superman direct-to-video animated feature, as listed in the official credits for the new DC Universe Animated Original Movie animated feature, are as follows below. Further extensive coverage on the All-Star Superman release is forthcoming here on The World’s Finest.
James Denton as Superman/Clark Kent Christina Hendricks as Lois Lane Anthony LaPaglia as Lex Luthor
Edward Asner as Perry White Obba Babatunde as Judge Steve Blum as Atlas Linda Cardellini as Nasthalthia Catherine Cavadini as Floral Frances Conroy as Ma Kent Chris Cox as Lead Agent Alexis Denisof as Dr. Quintum John Dimaggio as Samson Robin Atkin Downes as Solaris Michael Gough as Parasite Matthew Gray Gubler as Jimmy Olsen Finola Hughes as Lilo Kevin Michael Richardson as Steve Lombard Fred Tatasciore as Krull Arnold Vosloo as Bar-El
Voice Direction by: Andrea Romano Editor: Margaret Hou Music by: Christopher Drake Based on the DC Comics characters Superman created by: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster Executive Producer: Sam Register Producer: Bruce Timm Co-Producer: Alan Burnett Based on the DC Comics Graphic Novel by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely Written by: Dwayne McDuffie Directed by: Sam Liu Character Designers: Dusty Abell, Joshua Middleton, Jon Suzuki Storyboard: Christopher Berkeley, Eric Canete, Michael Chang, Gary Hartle, Kalvin Lee, Sam Liu, Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva, Alan Wan, Adam Van Wyk Animation Services: Moi Animation Studios
Click here for The World’s Finest review of the All-Star Superman animated feature and Blu-ray disc release. Click here to view the trailer for the All-Star Superman animated feature and click here to view the All-Star Superman subsite.
In further All-Star Superman news, Warner Home Entertainment and The World’s Finest has teamed up to giveaway five Blu-ray editions of the highly-anticipated All-Star Superman direct-to-video animated feature, available everywhere February 22nd, 2011. To enter, simply send an email to bbeyond@yahoo.com including your name, mailing address and phone number. Additionally, please label the email “All-Star Superman contest.” The contest runs from 12:00am (ET) February 15th, 2011 to 12:00am (ET) February 23rd, 2011. Only the winners will be contacted upon closure of the contest and recipients selected. Please note this contest is open to Canadian residents only.
In All-Star Superman, the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) and, 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 Luthors perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earths safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.
The celebrity-packed voice cast is headed by James Denton (Desperate Housewives) as Superman, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) as Lois Lane, and Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace) as Lex Luthor. The stellar cast includes seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Perry White, Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) as Jimmy Olsenand Linda Cardellini (ER) as Nasty. Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Catherine Cavadini (The Powerpuff Girls), Finola Hughes (General Hospital), Alexis Denisof (Angel), Obba Babatunde (That Thing You Do!), Michael Gough (Batman) and John DiMaggio (Futurama) round out the voice cast.
All-Star Superman, the latest entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies, arrives February 22, 2011 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The highly-anticipated, full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video Canada as a Blu-Ray Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.
Stay tuned for further All-Star Superman updates here soon at The Worlds Finest.
DC Comics has released comic solicitation information for the publisher’s May 2011 library of releases, including details for The All-New Batman: The Brave and The Bold #7, the revamped comic title based on the popular Batman: The Brave and The Bold animated series. Official details for The All-New Batman: The Brave and The Bold #7, scheduled to ship in May 2011, can be found below. Click on the thumbnail for a closer look at the cover art.
THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #7
Written by: Sholly Fisch Art by: Rick Burchett & Dan Davis Cover by: Rick Burchett & Dan Davis
A tale from Batmans past! The young Dark Knight has just begun his war on crime. But if he wants to prowl the shadows, Batman must first withstand the light of Gotham Citys original protector: the Golden Age Green Lantern! On sale May 11th, 2011. Cover price is $2.99 US. Rated E.
Click here for further details on the Batman: The Brave and The Bold comic series. Additionally, stay tuned for continued Batman: The Brave and The Bold updates, including exclusive content and details on upcoming episodes of the acclaimed animated series.
DC Comics has also released details on the May 2011 issue of the new comic title based on the forthcoming Cartoon Network animated series Young Justice. This comic series acts as a compliment the acclaimed animated series. Further details are below.
YOUNG JUSTICE #4
Written by: Art Balazar and Franco Art by: Mike Norton Cover by: Mike Norton
A woman is targeted by a covert group of assassins! Its Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad to the rescue, but can they save her from the combined menace of Hook and Black Spider? Only if they can escape from the deadly duo themselves! The junior heroes must prove they can work as a team and take on the menace of the League of Shadows at the same time! On sale May 18th, 2010. Cover price is $2.99 US. Rated E.
DC Comics has also released details on a new DC Direct product slated to tie into the upcoming Green Lantern: Emerald Knights direct-to-video animated feature. Details are as follows below.
GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS DVD SINESTRO MAQUETTE
Sculpted by Robert Lynders
SIX LEGENDARY GREEN LANTERNS. SIX INTERLOCKING STORIES. ONE GROUNDBREAKING FILM. DISCOVER THE ORIGIN OF THE CORPS.
With stories by acclaimed writers including Geoff Johns, Alan Burnett and Dave Gibbons, this DC Universe Animated Original Movie explores the rich mythology of the Green Lantern universe through six interlocking chapters. While awaiting a battle with Krona, an ancient enemy of the Guardians of the Universe, Earths Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Kilowog, Sinestro and other members of the Green Lantern Corps recount their greatest adventures to new recruit Arisia everything from tales of the first Lantern to the ominous events that led to the Corps Blackest Night! The power-packed voice cast includes Nathan Fillion, Elisabeth Moss, Jason Isaacs, Henry Rollins and Arnold Vosloo.
This hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain maquette of SINESTRO is based on art from the highly anticipated Warner Home Video made-for-DVD animated original movie GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS which will be released on June 7, 2011.
Measuring approximately 11.6 high x 4.75 wide x 4 deep, the statue is packaged in a 4-color box.
Limited Edition.
*Quantities may be allocated
On sale July 20, 2011* Statue * $99.99 US
Click here to view early-design DVD cover artwork for the upcoming Green Lantern: Emerald Knights direct-to-video animated feature, as revealed recently at Toy Fair 2011. Warner Home Video officially announced this title earlier this month, with the accompanying press release available here.
Stay tuned for further updates, including exclusive content and more, here soon at The World’s Finest.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has passed along the official trailer and synopsis for the upcoming videogame Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters, both of which are available below. Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters, based on the upcoming live-action Green Lantern theatrical feature, is slated to appear on all major home video consoles Summer 2011. Please click on the thumbnail below to view the trailer in the Quicktime format.
Synopsis: Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is inspired by the feature film, which brings the enduringly popular DC Comics super hero to the big screen for the first time and which stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as Hal Jordan, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps. In the videogame players will utilize over a dozen constructs and take flight across the deepest parts of the Universe to restore intergalactic order by wielding the ultimate weapon: the Green Lantern power ring.
Further details on this upcoming video game release are expected in the near future, including new content.
Cartoon Network has passed along the episode synopsis, two video clips, and a collection of images from the all-new Young Justice episode “Infiltrator.” The new Young Justice episode is scheduled to air tonight, Friday, February 11th, 2011 at 7:00pm (ET) on Cartoon Network. Click on the thumbnails below to view the complete library of hi-res images and Quicktime-format video clips. Please note the first two thumbnails link to the aforementioned Quicktime video clips. The official episode description is also provided below.
Video Clips:
Images:
YOUNG JUSTICE “Infiltrator” Friday, February 11th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. on Cartoon Network
Synopsis: Artemis faces an uphill battle trying to win over her new teammates as she tries to fill Red Arrow’s boots on a mission he initiated: saving a brilliant young scientist from the League of Shadows.
Photo credit – Young Justice Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Young Justice and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and DC Comics.
Young Justice airs on Cartoon Network every Friday at 7:00pm (ET), with the network airing special encore presentations the following Sunday at 8:00pm (ET). Stay tuned for further coverage on Young Justice here soon at The World’s Finest.
The World’s Finest presents the latest in a series of studio-conducted interviews, provided by Warner Home Video, for the All-Star Superman direct-to-video animated feature. Continue reading below for the latest installment featuring voice director Andrea Romano discussing the highly-anticipated upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie title. Please click on the thumbnails below for a closer look at the included images.
ANDREA ROMANO DISCUSSES THE NUANCES OF CASTING & VOICE DIRECTING ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL FILM COMING TO BLU-RAY/DVD FEBRUARY 22
Eight-time Emmy Award Winning Casting/Dialogue Director will Appear at Premieres in New York (2/14) and Los Angeles (2/17) at The Paley Center for Media
To vocally craft the characters within the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, the production brain trust of DC Entertainment, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation is smart enough to employ the best in the business on both sides of the microphone.
While winners of Oscars, Emmys and Tonys alike provide the voices behind some of the worlds best known comic book characters, it is the super hero of voice directors that guides these unique talents Andrea Romano.
Arguably the top animation voiceover director in the business today, Romano has been instrumental in orchestrating the vocal tones behind the first 10 DCU animated films, including the highly anticipated February 22 release of All-Star Superman.
The eight-time Emmy Award winner (not to mention 30+ Emmy nominations) has a voiceover casting/direction resume that spans more than a quarter century, covering the genre gamut from action (Batman: The Animated Series) and humor (Animaniacs) to contemporary (The Boondocks) and timeless (Smurfs). She will appear at both the New York and Los Angeles premieres of All-Star Superman next week, and will undoubtedly be greeted with a wild, lengthy cheer an ovation she regularly receives at Cons around the globe.
For All-Star Superman, Grant Morrisons beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Supermans heroic final days on Earth, Romano has rounded up an intriguing lineup of stars to fill the comic book character roles. James Denton (Desperate Housewives) has donned the cape as Superman, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) is Lois Lane, and Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace) voices Lex Luthor to form the core cast. They are joined by seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Perry White, Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) as Jimmy Olsen and Linda Cardellini (ER) as Nasty. Also amongst the voice cast is Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Catherine Cavadini (The Powerpuff Girls), Finola Hughes (General Hospital), Alexis Denisof (Angel), Obba Babatunde (That Thing You Do!), Michael Gough (Batman) and John DiMaggio (Futurama).
Romano paused between her many current projects including a few upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movies to discuss the cast and recording of All-Star Superman. Listen up
QUESTION: Are there certain writers scripts you find easier to direct or get an instant feel?
ANDREA ROMANO: There are several writers Ive worked with over the years whose words I can recognize without even seeing a title page, like Stan Berkowitz, Alan Burnett, Bob Goodman and especially Dwayne McDuffie. And because Ive worked with them for so long over so many different projects, and once they know Im on a project, its almost as though they write for me because they know exactly what information I need to know to give to the actors. So I love working with all those guys. Dwayne works so hard on being true to the source material, and yet translating it into something that can be acted. Hes really good at making that transition of honoring the material, but bringing the words off the page to make it actable and dramatically interesting.
QUESTION: Youve directed your share of voices for Superman. How did James Denton rank in his first foray in animation?
ANDREA ROMANO: Jamie was a voiceover virgin, or he hadnt done much, but he was outstanding to work with. Once an actor trusts that I will not let their voice go out sounding bad, and that their performance will be nothing less than the best, it becomes a very pleasant experience for all involved. Jamie was like that. He reminded me of Jensen Ackles both are good actors, Id seen their on-camera work, but because this form is different than what theyre used to working with, there is some insecurity with the territory. But once they dont feel threatened, they relax into the role. Jamie was a really interesting choice it can be difficult to cast some of these Superman films and he brought some unique interpretations and sensitivities to the role. And thats interesting for a director to hear somebody elses thoughts on what a man like Superman would sound like.
QUESTION: What are you seeking in a Superman voice that differentiates from all other voices?
ANDREA ROMANO: Superman is such an interesting character because, while he isnt human, he has so many human qualities. Hes interesting because without the effects of certain kryptonites, his instincts are always going to be to do the right thing. But you dont want that to come off as being a Boy Scout or one note. And so you need kind of the white knight, but to still keep him interesting. Its like when we girls first start dating, its never the clean-cut nice guy that attracts us its always the bad boy with the extra dimensions. Thats why I like Batman so much. But when we can give Superman some layers, that makes him interesting. And every actor Ive used for Superman has brought some amazing layers.
QUESTION: How did you choose Christina Hendricks to play Lois Lane?
ANDREA ROMANO: I am such an admirer of her work, and I love what she does on Mad Men. It was cute because she was quite nervous coming in with no prior voiceover experience, but her acting instincts are so good, she has the ability to adjust to acting to a microphone as opposed to camera very quickly. I always give people positive feedback, but I was telling her terrific job and youll see the evidence when you see the piece. This is a very unusual, different story between Lois and Superman, and she captured everything we were looking for and then some. She was so enthusiastic about the role that she found a way to squeeze the recording into her schedule right after getting married and she gave us a terrific Lois Lane. I would use her again in a minute.
QUESTION: Im guessing youve been angling to get Anthony LaPaglia behind the microphone for a while?
ANDREA ROMANO: The actors I tend to bring in are people Ive admired from afar and have been looking for a specific character for them as with Anthony LaPaglia for Lex Luthor. He is such a versatile actor, and his dialect work is so good. Moreover, he was so directable. If something confused him, he asked just the right questions he wouldnt blindly do it 10 times to make it be right. Hed ask a very specific question, and that makes it easy to direct, because you can answer those direct questions.
QUESTION: Do you hold actors in any higher esteem when they are able to perfectly portray an accent foreign to their own?
ANDREA ROMANO: I admire anyone who is a dialectician in addition to acting. Doing dialects is very technical, while the acting is more organic, so when they can marry those two things convincingly, its golden. What I find more often is that British actors can do a spot-on American accent I think thats often because they come to America to find work and theres lots of casting to be done for American characters, so theyre just smart to do it. And its not that easy to do an American accent because there are so many regional versions the deep south, the northeastern variations, even Southern California. They each have their own twists. Greg Ellis can do just about any accent you throw at him. Robin Atkin Downes is just amazing. Jason Isaacs does some stunning accent work he perfected a Rhode Island accent for Brotherhood. Miriam Margolyes is another brilliant dialectician I adore her accents.
QUESTION: At one point in the LaPaglia session, he wasnt understanding your direction no matter how many different ways you worded it and Brcue Timm was able to communicate your direction with a simple drawing of Lexs face. Has Bruce done that previously/often over your 20-plus years working together?
ANDREA ROMANO: When Bruce did that for Anthony, I thought that was one of those great moments where a picture is actually worth ten thousand words. One of the things Bruce has done a million times before is, when someone comes in to play a role, hell draw the character right there on the spot. That almost always helps an actor establish a voice.
QUESTION: Whats the most unconventional casting of a villain youve ever done?
ANDREA ROMANO: Bill Macy as a villain in Batman Beyond. I thought Id do it just to let him be the bad guy, because at the time he was getting all the hapless, milquetoast, endearing good guy roles. So I thought it would be fun to switch it around and, of course, he was brilliant.
QUESTION: This film has a lot of smaller that make an impact, and you spared no expense in bringing in some lofty talent like Matthew Gray Gubler as Jimmy Olsen, Frances Conroy as Ma Kent, Ed Asner as Perry White and even cult favorite Alexis Denisof as Dr. Quintum. What was your thinking behind some of those casting choices?
ANDREA ROMANO: I think Matthew is such a talent. He just did an episode of Criminal Minds where his character was suffering a migraine throughout the entire episode, and he was so good that you actually felt his headache. What I love about Matthews voice is that its got a naturally youthful quality, and theres something interesting he does naturally where he almost ends every sentence with a question mark. Its a very specific speech pattern. His sentences tend to go up at the end. Hes a perfect Jimmy Olsen sweet, endearing, slightly nerdy. If I had a role for him in every project, I would always hire him.
Frances Conroy first, let me say that she is not related to Kevin Conroy, which is kind of funny because they know each other very well, and they even went to Juilliard together. Ive admired her work on everything from Six Feet Under to Maid in Manhattan, and when I heard she was doing voiceovers, I was so jealous somebody else got her before I did. While there werent many lines for Ma Kent, its always a pivotal role its the woman who helped shape Supermans sense of right and wrong. And Frances just has that quality about her voice that is mothering and warm and thoughtful, and what she did with such few lines of dialogue was wonderful and exactly what I was hoping to get.
Alexis has such an interesting quality to his voice. I loved Dr. Quintum, hes such an odd character, and the voice matches perfectly. Im never 100 percent sure when doing the casting if I made the right decision. Its not until it comes back in animation that we really know that it actually did work. Alexis as Dr. Quintum is definitely one of those circumstances that worked well.
QUESTION: Beyond the on-camera actors, you tend to appear to have the best times directing when you have a room full of full-time voiceover actors like on this project with John DiMaggio, Kevin Michael Richardson, Robin Atkin Downes, Steve Blum, Fred Tatasciore, Michael Gough and so on. Whats that group session like?
ANDREA ROMANO: Often when I cast my ensemble players for some of the secondary characters, and that is to say secondary characters by the number of lines they must perform, I treat it almost like a casting party. I want to put together people who enjoy being in a room together, that are going to bring something to the party, and that theyre somebody with whom I want to spend a few hours locked in a room together. Okay, sometimes it should be a padded room. I find that I get a core group of actors and I almost want to carry them with me to every different project Im working on the end credits of my films and series probably back that up. When I get the chance, I also like to cast those guys in major featured roles, like John DiMaggio as the Joker in Batman: Under the Red Hood. The thing about these actors is that theyre so versatile that I could assign three roles to each before they walked into the room, and I could change it when we walked into the room and theyd have no problem playing the other characters instead. Its always fun to work with that group, but sometimes it is like being a kindergarten teacher with an over-crowded class.
For more information please go to AllStarSuperman.com.
Click here to view the trailer for the All-Star Superman animated feature and click here to view the press release for the forthcoming animated feature. Click here for a breakdown of the seperate home video releases for All-Star Superman, including hi-res artwork for each edition. Additionally, the latest details on the bi-coastal premieres of All-Star Superman, presented by Warner Home Video and ComicBookResources.com, are available to view here.
A co-production of Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation, the direct-to-video All-Star Superman animated feature debuts February 22nd, 2011 on DVD and Blu-ray disc from Warner Home Video. Stay tuned for further updates here soon at The Worlds Finest, including a review of the All-Star Superman animated feature and Blu-ray release.
The All-New Batman: The Brave and The Bold #4, the latest issue of the revamped DC Comics title based on the acclaimed Batman: The Brave and The Bold animated series, arrives in comic book and hobby stores today. The issue, written by Sholly Fisch with artwork by Rick Burchett, features Wonder Woman guest-starring in this fractured love story. Official details for this issue of the Batman: The Brave and The Bold comic series are available below.
THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #4
Written by: Sholly Fisch Art by: Rick Burchett
Here comes the bride! It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re invited to the wedding ofBatman and Wonder Woman?! Don’t miss the latest issue of the comic based on the hit cartoon series!
The cover price for The All-New Batman: The Brave and The Bold #4 is $2.99US. Further details on both the Batman: The Brave and The Bold animated series and comic title are available at the The World’s Finest Batman: The Brave and The Bold subsite, and stay tuned for further updates here soon.
In additional DC Comics news, the publisher has announced a new mini-series based on the upcoming Batman: Arkham City video game scheduled for a May 2011 release. The official press release, along with the cover art for the first issue, are available below.
Batman: Arkham City comic book miniseries announced!
Batman: Arkham Asylum was one of the most successful video games of 2009, and earned a Guinness World Record for the Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever. This May, find out what happened between Batman: Arkham Asylum and its highly anticipated sequel in Batman: Arkham City, a six-issue miniseries that bridges the gap between the two games, and leads into the games release this fall.
Written by Batman: The Animated Series writer Paul Dini (who also penned both Arkham games) and drawn by Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City concept artist Carlos Danda, Batman: Arkham City picks up one year after the original game, where former Arkham Warden turned newly elected Mayor of Gotham City Quincy Sharp has decided to close down the infamous institution. In its stead, he establishes Arkham City, the new maximum security home for all of Gotham Citys thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, inmates can roam free and do whatever they want as long as they dont try to escape. To run this urban prison, Sharp has appointed Dr. Hugo Strange, a man who knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Each issue of the miniseries will be available day-and-date digitally worldwide for $2.99 each. These releases will alternate with 8-page digital-first interludes that will expand on the story included in the miniseries. Written by Dini and drawn by a variety of artists, these digital stories will focus on The Dark Knights many enemies as they vie for power in this new city within a city. Each eight-page digital-first interlude will be available for .99 cents, releasing in between issues of the miniseries, and will later be included in print in the Batman: Arkham City collected edition.
The digital first stories offer a unique incentive for fans to experience interesting and exciting stories beyond the pages in the printed comic, said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher, The additional pages will serve as interludes within the regular issues and wont be necessary to follow the main story of the miniseries. Fans will also be able to read these interludes in print later, when we publish the collected edition.
Read the comic before you play the game, and keep an eye out for the issue #1 variant cover, utilizing in-game graphics.
Batman: Arkham City will double-ship in its first month, with issues 1 & 2 landing in May.
Stay tuned for further updates here soon at The World’s Finest.