George Newbern Talks Playing Superman, New Media From “Superman Versus The Elite”
The World’s Finest presents a new studio-conducted interview, provided by Warner Home Video, for the Superman Versus The Elite direct-to-video animated feature. Continue reading below for an interview with George Newbern, who returns to the role of Superman in the new DC Comics Premiere Movie title. Newbern previously voiced the character in Justice League, among other projects. Superman Versus The Elite arrives June 12th, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray Combo Pack and DVD, On Demand and for Download. Please note the first three thumbnails below lead to interview clips in the Quicktime format, and the remaining thumbnails lead to high-res images.
Justice League & Justice League Unlimited star returns to title role in
all-new DC Comics Premiere Movie available June 12
George Newbern makes his triumphant return as the voice of the Man of Steel in Superman Versus The Elite, the latest DC Comics Premiere Movie coming June 12 from Warner Home Video.
Newbern put all the resounding tones of truth, justice and the American way into the commanding vocals behind the animation of Superman in both the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited television series. He last reprised the characters voice for the DC Showcase original animated short, Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam.
Newbern is a constant on primetime television, appearing on current hit series like NCIS, The Mentalist, Castle and Greys Anatomy, to name a but a few. Hes widely recognized for his starring turn opposite Steve Martin in Father of the Bride, and for the NBC series Providence. His latest projects include a recurring role on the new ABC hit series Scandal.
In Superman Versus The Elite, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical and decidedly non-lethal Man of Steel.
Newbern is joined in the core cast by NCIS star Pauley Perrette as Lois Lane and versatile voice actor Robin Atkin Downes (Babylon 5) as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.
Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives June 12, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD, On Demand and for Download. Both the Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will include an UltraViolet Digital Copy.
Newbern offered a few thoughts about playing Superman in a short chat following his final recording session for the film. Heres what Mr. Newbern had to say
QUESTION: Where do you start as an actor when trying to create a voice for Superman?
GEORGE NEWBERN: I think you watch an actor like Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or Its a Wonderful Life, and you try to find the humanity of an everyman like that. When I think of an All-American hero, I think of an actor in a role like that. And thats what Superman really is an American hero. Super powers are just ancillary. Its that character, with all those principles and understanding, thats who he is right there.
QUESTION: Are there any specific characteristics you believe are essential to the voice?
GEORGE NEWBERN: I think I tried to portray a sense of trust and power and charisma for Superman. I think thats what we believe Superman is.
QUESTION: You had a guest role on Private Practice opposite Tim Daly, the actor you replaced as Superman for the Justice League animated series. Did the commonality come up for discussion while you were on set?
GEORGE NEWBERN: We laughed about it. I said something like Thanks for being busy, and he asked if I was having fun with it. We didnt really compare notes there was no secret handshake or anything. But there was an acknowledgment that were in an exclusive club.
QUESTION: Aside from Superman, do you have a favorite DC Comics character?
GEORGE NEWBERN: I like Flash a lot. He cracks me up. And always has something to say. Plus Michael (Rosenbaum) is hysterical. But all of those actors on Justice League were terrific a really great group of people. We had fun with the core cast in the old days. Susan (Eisenberg) and Michael and Carl (Lumbly) and the gang. Then we had these rotating guest casts as the seasons went on, and it was insane to see who would come through the door of the booth. It was guys like John Rhys-Davies, Ed Asner, Powers Boothe, Mark Hamill. There were so many great actors. It was funny because Id go to work on a TV series and Id look at one of the series regulars and immediately realize, Oh, he did a role on Justice League! So it was fun. It was a lot like doing a little readers play every week.
QUESTION: What value do you see for comic books in society today?
GEORGE NEWBERN: I see value in comic books, especially in terms of graphic art. Its sort of old school and I think it gives people something tangible. Kids are reading things like e-books, and people are starting to forget that reading can be held in your hand and seen and appreciated.
So theres a tactile benefit to it. And the old style is a great way to tell a story. Things dont have to be 3D or complicated. Thats where a comic book comes in its a simple, 2D way to tell a story with great art and words. Theres a lot of value in that.
QUESTION: What are your childrens impressions of you voicing Superman?
GEORGE NEWBERN: Since Ive been doing it so long, my two younger children, when they are asked, are quick to say, My dad is Superman. Thats the first thing they knew, the first thing they told the other kids at school. Forget about the other 93 things Ive done. To them, the coolest thing Ive ever done is to play Superman.
The above content is also available at The World’s Finest Superman Versus The Elite subsite.
In further Superman Versus The Elite news, Warner Home Entertainment and The World’s Finest has teamed up to giveaway five Blu-ray editions of the highly-anticipated Superman Versus The Elite direct-to-video animated feature, available everywhere June 12th, 2012. To enter, simply send an email to bbeyond@yahoo.com including your name, mailing address and phone number. Additionally, please label the email “Superman Versus The Elite contest.” The contest runs from 12:00am (ET) May 28th, 2012 to 12:00am (ET) June 11th, 2012. Only the winners will be contacted upon closure of the contest and recipients selected, which will happen by June 15th, 2012. Please note this contest is open to Canadian and United States residents only.
A co-production of Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video, the direct-to-video Superman Versus The Elite animated feature debuts Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 on Blu-ray, DVD, OnDemand and for Download from Warner Home Video.
Stay tuned for further Superman Versus The Elite updates here soon at The Worlds Finest.
Discuss this in The DC Animation Forum!
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has provided a press release announcing the official release of Batman: Arkham City – Game of the Year Edition. The new edition of the video game is now available in North America for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Click on the thumbnails below to view the trailer in the Quicktime format and the behind-the-scenes video in the MP4 format, along with additional press details for the release.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR Xbox 360 AND PLAYSTATION 3 SYSTEM
Critically Acclaimed, Top-Selling Action-Adventure Game of 2011 Returns Fully Loaded with the Complete Content Set Including the Brand New Harley Quinns Revenge Mission
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Rocksteady Studios Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition is now available in North America for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation3 computer entertainment system. The game is scheduled for release in Europe, Australia and other global territories in September.
Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition includes the award-winning Batman: Arkham City, one of the highest reviewed titles of 2011, along with all previously released downloadable content (DLC) packs, Batman: Year One movie download* (restrictions apply), and Harley Quinns Revenge, the final chapter of the Batman: Arkham City saga that adds more than two hours of completely new gameplay.
Featuring playable chapters for both Batman and Robin, the Harley Quinns Revenge chapter plunges players back into Arkham City to uncover Harleys plan for vengeance against Batman for the events that unfolded in Batman: Arkham City. Those who already own the original boxed edition of Batman: Arkham City can experience the new mission by downloading the Harley Quinns Revenge Pack, available worldwide beginning today in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStationNetwork. The DLC will be available for PC in early-June.
The DLC included on disc includes the Catwoman Pack, Nightwing Bundle Pack, Robin Bundle Pack, Challenge Map Pack and Arkham City Skins Pack. All in, Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition packages new gameplay content, seven maps, three playable characters, and 12 skins in addition to the full original game.
Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players flying through the expansive Arkham City five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum the new maximum security home for all of Gotham Citys thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham Citys most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City.
Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition is based on DC Comics core Batman license and rated T for Teen by the ESRB. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com for more information about the game.
‘Batman: Year One’ Movie Download* (restrictions apply) offer expires March 31, 2013. Internet connection required. Offer available only through Xbox LIVE or PlayStationNetwork. Must be 13 years or older to redeem offer. Offer good in the United States and Canada only.
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroesa giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroesto raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
About Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Rocksteady Studios is a multi-award winning videogame developer based in London, England. Located in a spacious, purpose built converted factory, with full motion capture and audio studio capabilities, Rocksteady is an energetic company formed by a core team of senior industry professionals. This creates an ideal balance of drive, talent, proven methods, experience and cutting edge technology to make AAA games. Now employing over 90 people, Rocksteady’s mission is to be a highly professional, efficient company whose purpose is to make great games, and have happy and healthy team members. This philosophy is the heart and soul of the company. Rocksteady received the coveted studio of the year award at the 2009 VGA awards.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
Click here for more content from the Batman: Arkham City video game. Batman: Arkham City – Game of the Year Edition, the expanded version of the award-winning blockbuster videogame developed by Rocksteady Studios, is how available in North America and will be available in Europe, Australia and other global territories in September 2012, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation3 computer entertainment system. To discuss the new video game below, please click on the links below.
–Batman: Arkham City Video Game Talkback (Spoilers)
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