These projects keep getting bigger and better.
We've been hearing rumors of DC Animation's next big direct to video feature from several months now, and it looks like Lauren Montgomery (no relation) and Sam Liu's Batman: Year One–based on the character defining comic by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli–is headed for a 2011 release. Today, we got word of the voice cast, via the Hollywood Reporter. And it's stellar.
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as Jim Gordon
Ben McKenzie (Southland) as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Katie Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) as Detective Sarah Essen
If you've only seen Cranston on Malcolm in the Middle, you're shaking your head. If you've seen him on Breaking Bad (one of the three best dramas on television) you're nodding it vigorously. We can roll with McKenzie. You definitely don't want Kevin Conroy in there, and though Will Friedle bridges the gap between a Nightwing and an adult Batman in his role as Terry McGinnis, this is virgin snow. New blood is needed, and McKenzie is an inspired choice. As for Dushku and Sackhoff, they seem spot on for these roles, particularly this iteration of Catwoman. We're off to a fine start.
Hey, how about some stills?
Batman: Year One will likely debut at SDCC in July, but expect a home video release in the Fall.
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Oooo! I like this.
Plus, the next DCA film is apparently going to be a JLA: Tower of Babel adaptation. Then there are STRONG rumors of ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ getting its own film.
They are getting good at getting great material to adapt now.
Brilliant casting, especially Cranston. Looking forward to this one 1200% more now. Eeeep!
Holy shit! Cranston as Gordon is brilliant! In fact, this whole cast fits like a glove, with the possible exception of McKenzie (I’m just not familiar with him). And those screen-Shots (particularly the one in the abandoned townhouse) look great! Lookin forward to this. Big time.
Can not wait. All these casting decisions sound good.
Haven’t had a chance to see the All Star Superman one, but these just keep getting better.
What a line-up!!!
I’ve never seen any of these types of things, what’s the quality like generally? Year One is probably my favourite comic ever and what I can see above looks pretty great so I’m feeling like I may have to take a look.
Pumped: it’s what i am.
NOW I WANT CRANSTON AS A LIVE ACTION GORDON.
Sorry for the shouting, but, ya know.
Totally thought that said Bret McKenzie. Because THAT would’ve been awesome.
Yes.
@RickyStardust The quality of these films are, generally, pretty excellent.
@RickyStardust If you dig back in the podcast feed, we’ve discussed all of the DC animated features in special edition podcasts. They’re mostly excellent.
Yeah for the amount of time and budget the quality is really high. I liked the Wonder Woman one a lot.
humana humana humana
haha the kid from the OC as batman? that’s interesting, can’t wait to see this though
The BEST Batman story of all time (deal with it) deserves nothing but a stellar cast. Glad to see we’re getting it
@wangman31888 Revise as “the guy from Southland”.
Me and the other 12 people that watch that show (yes, its ratings are that bad) know he’s a good pick.
Heisenberg as Jim Gordon. Brilliant!
And I thought I liked the cast of Under the Red Hood. This is gonna be great.
@srh1son Yeah, Southland is totally underrated show, and McKenzie is great on it.
And I can’t think of how many times I watched Breaking Bad and thought, “If Gary Oldman ever stepped down from the Nolan Batman films, here’s your new Jim Gordon!”
@KenOchalek He could just be Gordon in a new Batman movie after the next one also.
i thought it said Bret McKenize from Flight of The Conchords was cast as Batman. that would be strange
Wow! this should be outstanding! year One is, in my opinion, the best Batman story ever (well, after Batman/Grendel….). it’s also the easiest to adapt to this type of animated movie. With this line-up of talent, this source material, and the production values Warner BRos puts into these releases, this is the closest thing we have to a “sure thing” great movie!
Eliza Dushku is someone I would never have thought of, but thinking about it now is absolutely perfect.
That’s alot of great talent. If only they had cast Eliza as Catwoman instead of that other thing in Dark Kinght Rises??
No familiar with McKenzie, but the rest sound great (pun!). But those art samples are great! They really capture the look and feel. VERY excited.
And I would flip for a Tower of Babel DCA movie!
So looking forward to batman year one. Love the cast. Eliza dushku as catwoman that rocks. Dc is doing a great job with thier animated films.
I never thought that they would be able to keep producing these videos twice a year like this.
Im sold on this! just put the red hood into my amazon cart too. Cranston is great!
Commissioner Heisenburg!!!
Seriously? Ryan from the O.C. is going to be Batman? I mean seriously?!?!?!? Aw well, Year One : )
Guy’s done other stuff since then.
Yes please. I can’t wait for this one. I need to get off my ass and see All Star Superman.
I’m just not a fan of the guy’s stuff, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Just weird casting.
ok, so they did “Gotham Knight” (which was about his origin) then they are doing ‘Year one” (which is about his origin), – is anyone else seeing a pattern here?
@Checkmate That is not an accurate description for Gotham Knight.
@PaulMontgomery you get what im saying though, ENOUGH WITH BATS! theres GL, FLASH, WONDER WOMAN, AQUAMAN, SUPES. …
@SpiderTitan
He was actually pretty good on southland.
The Cranston news got me so jazzed I ordered the first two season of Breaking Bad on amazon becuase I have decided there is no reason I shouldnt own them.
Also the first season of The OC is an American Masterpiece.
@Checkmate No one buys those other ones. Only Batman sells.
If they’re really going the extra mile to do classic stories now, then my dream for a Kingdom Come adaptation can’t be far.
no kevin conroy? why? i dont see a how u can have a batman animated film with out him.whats next no bruce tim?
@ResurrectionFlan okay, people might not buy THOSE ones, but what about BATMAN and a full JLA?
Just a quick question: Since when has Eliza Dushku not been a terrible actor?
@checkmate there have been a couple of JLA ones, a couple of Superman ones, this is only the third solo Batman one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Universe_Animated_Original_Movies
Perhaps the fact that you are unaware of the b-list character movies shows why DC might want to focus more on their popular characters…
Dushku wasn’t half bad in buffy way back when, but then most of her shtick was playing the jealous, angry psychopath so that’s not saying much. people seemed to enjoy her in tru calling though. i’m very happy to see ben mackenzie in the batman role. i liked him a lot on the oc and i think he’s be good as the young punk turned vigilante.
Catwoman is barely in Batman: Year One anyways.
@Checkmate Batman sells.
@Matrix Really? i don’t think so
Thanks Conor and Paul, it’s now very much on my list!