With the current DC Universe Animated Original Movie direct-to-video Batman: Gotham Knight animated feature selling over 310,000 copies in the first two weeks, Warner Home Video is already looking ahead to their next release in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie brand, Wonder Woman, released through the Warner Premiere imprint. Arguably the most anticipated release in the still young line of home entertainment releases, the upcoming direct-to-video Wonder Woman animated feature is the first of at least two releases next year, possibly three.

While each title may come highly anticipated by the core fans, each title has to be a proven seller upon release in order to keep the direct-to-video DC Universe Animated Original Movie line a success. Not counting hi-def or legal downloads, Superman Doomsday sold over 400,000 copies in the first two weeks, with Justice League: The New Frontier accumulating 225,000 and Batman: Gotham Knight reaching 310,000 in the same timeframe, proving the DC Universe Animated Original Movie line is currently a success. With buzz about the possibility of a live-action Wonder Woman movie still on the horizon, and the legion of fans from both the 1970s Wonder Woman live-action series and comic series, Warner Home Video is hoping for similar success with the release of the upcoming direct-to-video Wonder Woman animated feature. According to Bruce Timm, producer behind the upcoming Wonder Woman, and the three previous releases under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie umbrella, each title needs to sell a few hundred thousand copies in the first few weeks to keep the line viable and successful.

This is why fans can expect to see DC’s proven A-List heroes headline the majority of these releases as opposed to the lesser known characters. There will be at least two more long-form Batman-themed releases under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie name, with the possibility of using the banner name to revisit previous established properties, such as Justice League Unlimited. Timm has gone on record saying there’s a good chance fans will be seeing Justice League: World’s Collide, the script by Dwayne McDuffie that bridged the popular Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. However, fans should not be looking forward to Teen Titans: The Judas Contract anytime soon, as that project has been put on indefinite hold for the foreseeable future. Lack of fan support remains the key issue in Teen Titans: The Judas Contract remaining on the backburner.

At least one more DC Universe Animated Original Movie title is planned for next year, after the release of Wonder Woman, with further information to come along shortly. The release can neither be revealed nor confirmed at this time.

The next title, the direct-to-video Wonder Woman animated feature, premieres February 2009 on DVD, Blu-Ray, and OnDemand. Stay tuned for further updates.

Discussion Threads:
–The Official “Wonder Woman” Animated Feature News & Discussion Thread (Spoilers)
–The Official Upcoming DC Animated DTV News & Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

BURBANK, CA, (July 26, 2008) Nathan Fillion (Desperate Housewives, Serenity) has joined Warner Home Videos Saturday, July 26 panel at Comic-Con in support of Wonder Woman, the fourth entry in the DC Universe animated original movie series. Presented by DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation, Wonder Women streets in February 2009 on DVD, Blu-Ray, OnDemand and for download.

The Comic-Con panel, entitled A Look Back and Forward at DC Universe Animated Original Movies, will be held from 2:15-3:15 p.m. in Room 6CDEF.

As the voice of Trevor, Fillion is reunited with Waitress co-star Keri Russell (Felicity) atop a stellar celebrity cast for the animated film. In addition to Russell, who is providing the voice of the title character, the Wonder Woman cast includes Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen (Sideways), Alfred Molina (The Da Vinci Code) and Rosario Dawson (Sin City). Casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano has also recruited Oliver Platt (The West Wing), David McCallum (NCIS) and Vicki Lewis (NewsRadio) for the film.

Fillion and Romano will be joined on the panel by animation legend Bruce Timm, Wonder Woman director Lauren Montgomery and DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz. DC Comics Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs Gregory Noveck will moderate the panel, which will include discussion of the first three DC Universe films as well as reveal inside information on the making of Wonder Woman, and offer the first look at early animated footage from the upcoming film.

Wonder Woman presents the origin story of the all-time greatest female DC Super Hero, beginning with her emergence as Princess Diana on the mystical Amazonian island of Themyscira. The action-packed film follows Dianas adventures as she attempts to return felled pilot Steve Trevor to his American homeland, only to get caught in the middle of god of war Ares diabolic plan to destroy all of civilization including the human inhabitants and the Amazonian warriors.

While the New York-based Russell is unable to attend the San Diego convention, she expressed great fondness for Fillion and said his participation was important to her performance in the film.

I adore Nathan and, after spending so much time with him making Waitress, while I was reading the Wonder Woman script at home I could hear exactly how hed read every line, Russell said. Weve got this great cast with Virginia Madsen and Alfred Molina and Oliver Platt so I really wanted to do (the film) just to be in the cool kids group.

Playing second fiddle to Keri is a wonderful fiddle to play, Fillion said. Ive done it before, Ill do it again quite happily. Besides, I think Ive carved out a niche for playing the not-so-hero.

Molina was already enchanted with the opportunity to stretch his wicked acting chops when he finally had the opportunity to see the chiseled physique of his character, Ares.

They gave me cheekbones! Molina exclaimed. Ares is really cut. He even has a very manly chin. Im very flattered and I must make sure Im never seen in public again, or itll spoil the image.

The film is executive produced by Timm (Justice League: The New Frontier) and directed by Montgomery (Superman Doomsday) from a script by Michael Jelenic (Legion of Super Heroes, The Batman) and a story by Jelenic and award-winning comics writer Gail Simone.