Thomas Jane Talks Jonah Hex

The actor and comic book fan was once linked to the live action Jonah Hex film. I’m sure he’s now thankful that he had nothing to do with it, as the film has received a lot of criticism from mainstream audiences, and of course comic fans due to its wild divergence from the source material. Now though Jane gets Hex-ed in the short film which now seems to be a staple of DC’s excellent animated films. Interview below with Jane, and his thoughts on directing and love for comics.

HUNG STAR THOMAS JANE FINALLY GETS HIS MAN AS JONAH HEX IN ALL-NEW DC SHOWCASE ORIGINAL SHORT

If at first you don’t succeed, take the animated role. Therein lies the lesson of Thomas Jane’s quest to play the role of comic book anti-hero Jonah Hex. The star of HBO’s popular series Hung once lobbied to play the theatrical role of Jonah Hex and, though he fell short in that attempt, Jane has found another path to the character as the disfigured cowboy’s voice in the DC Showcase Original Short, Jonah Hex.

The all-new, animated Jonah Hex appears as a companion piece on the upcoming Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD release of Batman: Under the Red Hood, the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming from Warner Home Video on July 27, 2010.

In the short, the tough-as-nails bounty hunter always gets his man – until someone else gets to him first. In this case it’s a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just bounty from Jonah Hex. The animated short Jonah Hex is based on a story from the award-winning comic series, and scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale. Jane leads a voice cast that includes Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder) and Jason Marsden (Spirited Away).

A lover of both comic books and westerns, Jane felt a certain kinship to the character – and the result is clearly evident in his vocal depiction of Hex and the emotional range of the performance. Jane was the ultimate perfectionist throughout the recording process, never settling for good takes when great was attainable. From the original recording session through follow-up ADR, the give-and-take between Jane and the filmmakers – including executive producer Bruce Timm – was quite collaborative in achieving the final presentation.

Jane currently headlines HBO’s Hung, though he’s active in numerous other projects, including films being developed by his own production company, Raw Studios. Coincidentally, Jane founded Raw Studios with Timothy Bradstreet and Steve Niles, the screenwriter of the first DC Showcase short, The Spectre. Jane’s directorial debut, Raw Studios’ Dark Country, continues to play to rave reviews and enthusiastic crowds at conventions and festivals around the world.

No stranger to the fanboy/comics realm, Jane co-wrote his own comic book miniseries, Bad Planet. He played the title character in the 2004 version of The Punisher, starred in Mutant Chronicles, and had roles in both The Crow: City of Angels and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has drawn widespread acclaim for many of his non-fanboy roles, especially his turn as Mickey Mantle in the HBO film, 61*. His numerous credits run the gamut from Magnolia, Deep Blue Sea and The Thin Red Line to Boogie Nights and Face/Off.

After shooting all morning on the set of Hung, Jane came into the recording studio to put some final touches on his Jonah Hex performance – and to chat about his attraction to anti-heroes, his adoration of comics, and how he came to (literally) rub elbows with Ringo Starr. This is what Thomas Jane says …

QUESTION: This isn’t your first run at the role of Jonah Hex, is it?

THOMAS JANE: I’ve been a fan of the comic and the character and that whole western world. I’m glad to be voicing the role, and I actually wanted to do the live-action film. When they were casting the movie, I had a guy come and do my makeup, we took some photos and sent them off to Akiva Goldman. I know some of those photos have leaked out online. They had a different director at the time, and Josh Brolin had just hit with the Coen brothers movie, so he had pick of the litter. And that spelled outski for me.

QUESTION: Did you do any research to voice the role?

THOMAS JANE: Well, I lived with a pack of wolves for a week up in the ponderosa foothills to perfect my growl (he laughs). No, mostly I just tried not to love my voice. I tried my best.

QUESTION: Any thoughts on the look of Jonah Hex?

THOMAS JANE: The animators did a great job in capturing the ugliness of the character. He’s not a pretty boy. He looks like he’s been butchered by a blind barber. He’s mean as hell, and I can’t imagine anybody wanting to make love to the dude. He must be awful lonely. And that just makes him meaner. He’s a true anti-hero, and I really love that kind of character. Hollywood doesn’t do the anti-hero justice very often – it’s a tough character type for the studios to understand. The closest you get these days is like (Michael) Chiklis on The Shield. Taxi Driver may have been the last great anti-hero film. There’s always good ones in video games, especially games like Grand Theft Auto. Actors and directors lover anti-heroes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be the case with the rest of America right now.

QUESTION: Now that you’re directing, has that perspective effected your performances?

THOMAS JANE: I’m a lot nicer to the guy directing than I used to be. I’m also a little more pragmatic. I understand the needs of the story on the whole, and I’m less myopic in my view of the role as an actor. I’m serving a machine, the story as a whole, so the mechanics of me trying to strike an emotional truth are counter-balanced by not gurgling into the microphone or throat clicking. There’s a balance between the technical and the emotional that you have to strike.

QUESTION: Did that director’s perspective lead you to your asking to re-record so many lines after seeing/hearing your original performance?

I’m really interested in a great performance. I’m interested in the texture of a performance and I understand that, especially in the animated projects, the human voice is really all you’ve got to connect with on a visceral, emotional level. You’ve got the writing, the words, and the human voice. And that’s what gives it life. So even more so than live action acting, I pay particular attention to the vocal performances.

QUESTION: You’ve had the chance to perform the dialogue wild, and also to picture. Was it easier or more difficult to record the lines while seeing the actual animation?

THOMAS JANE: It’s both. Without the animation, you have more freedom to make up the rhythm of the scene, and you can take more chances in your delivery because hopefully the director will choose an interesting performance, and the animators will animate to that performance. Once you’re locked in and I come back to redo the lines, I’m stuck with the rhythms that have been predetermined by the animators. But that also gives me structure, which affords me some other freedom in the delivery of the dialogue – because then I have a set rhythm and I can play with the intensity of the performance.

QUESTION: How would you describe your relationship with comic books?

THOMAS JANE: I discovered comic books when I was about 8 years old and I’ve been in love with them ever since. I thought I’d outgrow it, and I sort of did in my 20s, but then came back full force in the my early 30s. It’s because the medium is so powerful. As a kid, I thought of it as kid stuff, and then I grew up and found more adult material.

I never liked super heroes – I was always drawn more to a great story. I even loved the illustrated classics like Moby Dick – adaptations of a classic novel, or some of the original autobiographical stuff. And then there’s all the independents – Robert Crumb or Charles Burns or Daniel Clowes. The medium is so broad, much more so than film. There’s so much more room in comics for genres, styles, flavors, different auteurs. That’s what makes comics a great and timeless medium – a medium that will always be a compelling way to tell a story.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite western?

THOMAS JANE: I love westerns. One of my all-time favorites is High Noon … and Stagecoach. Then there’s Red River, and The Unforgiven. Even The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has the western themes. That’s what counts. I think you could make a western in a city so long as it has that western theme of an individual against the group. Man against nature. The outsider. Those themes are common to all westerns, but you can branch that out into other genres.

QUESTION: Which actors do you most like watching perform?

THOMAS JANE: My favorite actors are the “still” actors – guys like Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen, combined with Montgomery Clift, John Garfield, William Holden and Sterling Hayden. They were all guys who had something interesting going on underneath. That combination of stillness on the surface and a boiling underneath is pretty much my favorite way to go.

QUESTION: What’s the hardest part about being a celebrity?

THOMAS JANE: I think it’s the misconceptions that people have about you. When I met Ringo Starr, I went to shake his hand and he said, “How about an elbow?” So we rubbed elbows, laughed, and I thought, “What the hell – he doesn’t want to shake my hand?” But it was about germs – he was going on tour and he didn’t want to get sick. When I was on tour for Punisher, there were about 500 people in line for an autograph and wanting to shake hands, and I finally stopped. I got inventive. It was funny to be on that side of it. I figured that I had to shake several people’s hands over the next few weeks and chances were pretty high that I was going to catch something that would be bothersome. The point is that you’re going to upset some folks when you don’t act the way they think you should. But it’s got nothing to do with who you are. It’s about taking care of yourself.

July 11, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, Interviews, Movies . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Lex Luthor, Meet Death

The last few weeks have seen internet murmurs about the walls between DC and Vertigo slowly breaking down, perhaps as the new DC Entertainment seeks to put all its diverse characters under one proud roof. Now, at CBR a short, but interesting interview with British (and recent DC exclusive) writer Paul Cornell about his just begun tenure on Action Comics sheds a little light on it. It’s DC’s longest running series, with Detective Comics close behind, and the fact that Lex Luthor is now the book’s star, rather than Superman, is surprising enough. However, Neil Gaiman’s much loved character Death will be showing up in Action Comics #894 in October. This could just be crazy enough to work. I must admit that last week’s first Cornell (with artist Pete Woods) ish on AC was grand and full of cool, wow moments. Starring Lex Luthor and not a Superman in sight. Who’da thought?

July 9, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Brightest Day #5 Preview

Courtesy of DC’s blog, here’s a few pages from this week’s Brightest Day installment, in which the once-dead heroes (and villains) who rose from the grave at the end of the Blackest Night saga look for answers as to their resurrections. It’s good to see the original Aquaman back in action. He’s always been one of DC’s most underrated heroes.

July 8, 2010
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Wonder Woman Movie Costume

DC have long been criticised, especially as of late, for not treating their non-white male characters with much respect, whether it be killing them or just not really knowing what to do with them.

Their oldest female superhero hit the headlines last week though thanks to new Wonder Woman writer J. Michael Straczynski, with help from artist Jim Lee and their new costume for Princess Diana. The leather jacket, and streamlined look has very few supporters though, as fans get angry flashback to her similar redesigns in the ’90s. Certainly it’s a less revealing and a more practical costume, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. I don’t hate the costume (below) as much as my fellow fans in internetdom do, as Diana did need an update. However the new duds do look younger than she’s ever appeared before. WW is not a teenager in desperate need to accessorise. She’s the original warrior princess and should reveal an air of majesty who’s comfortable in her own toned skin. What worries me more is JMS’ new story direction, as hinted at in last week’s Wonder Woman #600. Having an amnesiac Diana running around, dealing with a destroyed Paradise Island, a blind “oracle’ in fishnets and a time altering history leaves very little to be inspired about. Diana doesn’t need to be so drastically “ultimatised.” Greg Rucka wrote her wonderfully in his short time on the title.

Well, on a similar note, Bleeding Cool has revealed some preliminary costume designs from the Wonder Woman film that Buffy creator Joss Whedon was attached to in 2007. The film should be  a priority for Warner Bros. Out of their Trinity only Batman has had a good film or two this decade and Superman’s last awesome film was in 1978. So if she ever does get to the silver screen, maybe they’ll look at these designs from Shawna Trpcic, who also worked with Whedon on his Firefly TV series.

July 7, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

Oh, happy day. It’s now official that the 9th release in DC’s series of awesome animated films is another Superman/Batman entry. Last year’s Public Enemies was based on the first story arc of the classic title, and now September 28 sees the release of the much loved Jeph Loeb/Michael Turner arc which saw the debut of the new Supergirl. All the details you need to know are below, including the fact that the original actors behind the cartoon versions of Superman and Batman are once more teaming up. Woo hoo!

THE END IS NEAR

WORLD’S FINEST WAGE WAR WITH DARKSEID IN ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGNAL MOVIE

SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE AVAILABLE FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010!

Andre Braugher, Summer Glau, Ed Asner join popular voices Kevin Conroy & Tim Daly;

New DC Showcase GREEN ARROW on Special Edition Blu-ray & 2-Disc Special Edition DVD

To save an earthbound Kryptonian, the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight unite once again – this time to battle the powerful forces of Darkseid – in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming September 28, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The highly anticipated, full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Fan favorites Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Kevin Conroy (China Beach) return to their seminal roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. The celebrity-laden guest cast is headed by Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid. Sci-Fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) provides the voice of Supergirl, and seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) reprises his Superman: The Animated Series/Justice League role as Granny Goodness.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel “Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

After a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor, Batman and Superman encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

In addition to the feature film, the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Special Edition Blu-Ray™ and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the third DC Showcase animated short, Green Arrow. Screenwriter Greg Weisman’s story finds Oliver Queen at the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, only to be forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. The short features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage). Bruce Timm is executive producer.

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse 2-Disc Special Edition DVD features more than 1 1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:

• Feature film (est. 75 min)

• DC Showcase: Green Arrow (10 min)

• Sneak Peak at the Next DC Universe Animated Original Movie (10 min)

• Featurette: Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton – A comprehensive look at The Maiden of Might from her introduction in the classic age of comics to her death in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event to her appearance on Smallville and beyond.

• 2 bonus episodes from animated television series handpicked by Bruce Timm

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Special Edition Blu-Ray™ will include more than 2 1/2 hours of intriguing bonus features, starting with all of the content available on the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and adding:

• All-New Featurette: The New Gods – This documentary covers Darkseid’s story, particularly in reference to the adaptation of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. A primer on the wealth of material and stories contained in the New Gods series, along with a deeper understanding of why these characters – and especially Darkseid – are so memorable and important to the DC pantheon.

• All-New Featurette Pods

• Orion – The mightiest warrior on either New Genesis or Apokolips, Orion follows an almost Shakespearean arc culminating in the slaying of his father, Darkseid. This mini-featurette shines a light on this classically tragic character.

Mister Miracle – This mini-featurette focuses on the greatest escape artist the universe has ever known and how he was traded in a peace effort to be raised by Darkseid, the enemy of all New Genesis.

• 2 additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm

• Digital copy on disc of the feature film

“Great things happen when powerful entities come together, and the partnership of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation is proud to continue this popular film series by once again uniting the two most popular characters in the DC Universe in a story that truly tests their strength, trust, loyalty, ingenuity and heroism,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

“It is a testament to the larger-than-life nature of Jeph Loeb’s blockbuster storylines that two of the first nine DC Universe movies are based on his work,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse lets us see Superman and Batman in action side-by-side again, but this time along with Supergirl and one of DC’s greatest villains, Darkseid.”

“Just as Superman and Batman stand atop the DC canon of characters, so do the respective seminal voices of Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy in the hearts and minds of fans. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will no doubt please comic-centric and mainstream audiences alike – particularly in the performances of Daly and Conroy opposite dynamic actors like Andre Braugher and Ed Asner, and fanboy favorite Summer Glau,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands.

June 30, 2010
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics? . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Blue Boxing Beetles

This week 3 rather interesting and very different films (or rather 2 films and a TV show) unveiled a few first looks. Hugh Jackman’s latest film is called Real Steel and is directed by Shawn Levy who made Night at he Museum. Hmmm…not great so far, plus Jackman plays an ex-fighter who returns to the ring in the midst of robot boxing. This could be absurdly hilarious, or surprisingly awesome. It is based on a short story from Richard Matheson (I Am Legend) and was previously adapted in a Twilight Zone episode, so it may just be OK after all.

Geoff Johns’ new position as Chief Creative Officer isn’t slowing down his great writing of Green Lantern and Brightest Day. He’s also making fans happy with his tidbits of the Ryan Reynolds-starring GL film and this little peek at a possible live action Blue Beetle TV series. The latest incarnation is teenager Jaime Reyes and he’s the version that will be the focus of the show, if it happens. More of the screen test photos and details here.

Next year is the CGI/live action/3D Smurfs film. It looks to be yet another bland attempt to bring a beloved franchise screaming and kicking into today’s world. See the trailer below. Yes, it has an “epic” intro, “tantalsing” shots of the Smurfs loose in a big city and a “hip” re-imagining of the original TV show theme tune. How original. OK, that’s enough sarcasm for one day.

On a related note, here’s a cringe inducing piece on Dark Horizons about the upcoming Fraggle Rock movie and how the screen writer’s vision was rejected from the studio. The reason? It wasn’t edgy enough. I fear for today’s kids.

June 17, 2010
Categories: Movies . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Andrea Romano Talks Under the Red Hood

Official interview below with the legendary Andrea Romano about the next DC animated film.

CASTING/DIALOGUE DIRECTOR ANDREA ROMANO FINDS THE PERFECT BLEND OF VOICE AND CHARACTER FOR “BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD,” THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL FILM COMING TO DVD JULY 27, 2010

Few individuals understand the intricacies of the voice of Batman better than Andrea Romano.

Arguably the top animation voiceover director in the business today, Romano has been instrumental in orchestrating the vocal tones behind the character’s non-live appearances for more than two decades. From Kevin Conroy and Rino Romano to Jeremy Sisto and William Baldwin, Romano knows precisely what voice will best fit the tones of a particular story or series.

Enter Batman: Under the Red Hood and all of its deep, emotional undertones. Romano has outdone herself once again, balancing the veteran acting chops of Bruce Greenwood as Batman with the youthful, pained intonations of Jensen Ackles as Red Hood, and tossing in Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing for humorous resonance.

All in a days work for Romano, who recruits the best in the business – winners of Oscars, Emmys and Tonys alike – to provide the voices behind some of the world’s best known super heroes for the DC Universe Animated Original Movies.

Romano’s voiceover casting/direction resume spans more than a quarter century, covering the genre gamut from action (Batman: The Animated Series) to humor (Animaniacs) and contemporary (The Boondocks) to timeless (Smurfs). The eight-time Emmy Award winner (along with more than 30 nominations) is a star in her own right, earning the respect of her peers and the adoration of legions of animation fans. One need only witness the reaction to her introduction at a Con to understand that voiceover work is no longer an anonymous profession.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video on July 27, 2010 as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2-disc DVD, as well as being available on single disc DVD, On Demand and for Download.

Romano took a few minutes to offer her perspective on the voices of Batman: Under the Red Hood. Here’s what she had to say:

QUESTION: Let’s take the cast one member at a time. What made Bruce Greenwood right for the role of Batman in this particular film?

ANDREA ROMANO: One of the coolest finds of this past year for me was Bruce. I’ve seen so much of his work over the years, and he can do so many things so convincingly. I knew I’d have to offer him a big role. Something with meat. And I knew he would really sink his teeth into the material and make it his own. I don’t need to tell you what a wonderful actor he is – but for this film, he gives a terrific, sensitive performance. This is the most tortured we’ve ever seen of Batman and, without overplaying it, Bruce really showed us a lot of the guilt and issues Batman has in his luggage. It’s an exhaustive, emotional piece, and he carried it perfectly.

QUESTION: How did Jensen Ackles perform in his maiden voyage in animation?

ANDREA ROMANO: When you get a first-timer in the booth, there are often risks involved, particularly in understanding the techniques involved in working with the microphone. Jensen picked it up so quickly and was so effective in this very difficult role. Red Hood is written as such an embittered, angry, verging-on-insane character, and it can so easily be overplayed. But Jensen found just the right level of energy and flair. I loved his acting. His quality was dead-on, and he really offers a perfect balance with Bruce (Greenwood).

As a director, you live the emotions with the actor. There’s one scene where Jensen has to let his emotions completely bubble to the surface. I had to work really hard to see my script through the tears that I was crying with him as he let his emotions come through.

QUESTION: Who better than Neil Patrick Harris to break up all the emotional drama of this film?

ANDREA ROMANO: Who doesn’t love Neil Patrick Harris? He’s charming, talented, friendly, and remembers everyone he works with. He can sing and dance, not that I need that talent for Red Hood (she laughs). And in this instance, he did the unthinkable – he came to record for us on his way to the airport as he was going to New York to host the Tony Awards. Nightwing really does give a comic balance to this intense story, and Neil brought that spunky, funny instinct to the character with his usual effortless performance. He’s completely believable whether he’s doing drama or comedy, and he really added to this film. If I could, I would use Neil on every single project I do.

QUESTION: Jason Isaacs is such a nice guy. Why’d you have to make him play a villain again?

ANDREA ROMANO: Jason Isaacs is a delight. And you’re right (she laughs) – nice guys sometimes make the best villains. I’ve worked with Jason several times, and he’s absolutely fantastic. For Ra’s, I needed something slightly exotic. He’s a great, unusual character, but we had to fight against him getting too cartoony – and I knew Jason had the chops. He’s also a wonderfully intelligent actor – during the recording session, he had so many ideas, and would so respectfully suggest them to Bruce (Timm) and I – and I honestly don’t know that there was one we didn’t use. He helped edit the copy, he added beats where we didn’t even see them, and really nuanced the performance.

QUESTION: The Joker has had some very memorable live-action and animated performances from some notable performers. How did John DiMaggio fit into that legacy?

ANDREA ROMANO: If I weren’t in love with my husband, it would be John. He’s such a versatile, talented voiceover actor. The Joker is such an intense character, and I knew I needed somebody with great range – and John was delighted to come in and play, and he gave it some beautiful new twists. Because he has such a deep gravely voice, and he’s good at comedy, and he’s a good actor, I knew John already had covered most of the points of the Joker. But I didn’t want a light, thin reedy voice, I wanted a voice with some mass to it. That’s John.

QUESTION: You’ve placed Vincent and Alex Martella as the Young and Younger Robin voices. Had you ever cast brothers in the same film?

ANDREA ROMANO: This is the first time I’ve ever cast brothers in the same film. I was familiar with Vincent’s work and had been looking for something for him, and this was a great, interesting opportunity because I needed to cast the younger version of this character at two different ages. Vincent has a younger brother named Alex, who has only just begun in the industry, but because siblings tend to have very similar qualities to their voices, it was kind of a no-brainer to cast his younger brother as his younger self. And they were terrific – Vincent was pure dynamite in his performance, and I actually think Alex learned from watching his older brother record before him.

What really surprised me was in their attention to detail. They had to set up this character’s life for another actor that they weren’t even going to act in the same room with, and I thought the transitions were seamless.

QUESTION: What set this cast apart from the first seven DC Universe films?

ANDREA ROMANO: Each one of these actors had something to bring to the party above and beyond what was required of them. They had questions, they had input, they had ideas and, because the piece is so adult, complex, intense and dark, they knew they weren’t coming in to play The Smurfs. In order to make sure they were in the right head space and had the right tone, they asked a lot of questions. And that’s always a good sign. When the actors are that involved with their characters and the story, that challenges Bruce (Timm) and I to truly think through everything even more thoroughly, and then it becomes a much more collaborative effort. I’m not above telling an actor how to read a line. But I’d prefer that the actor comes up with the idea himself and I’m able to just tweak things here and there. We all need a challenge, something that keeps us on our toes, and recording this film was one of those experiences. A very, very positive experience.

June 4, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, Interviews, Movies . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

John DiMaggio Talks The Joker

Here’s an official interview with famed voice actor John DiMaggio about his new roles as The Joker in DC’s next animated film.

John DiMaggio Undertakes a Villainous Icon as The Joker in “Batman: Under the Red Hood”

Known to adults as “Bender” in Futurama and tweens as “Dr. Drakken” in Kim Possible, John DiMaggio takes an iconic step forward as the voice of The Joker, the pivotal villain in the all-new DC Universe animated original movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood.

In the film, Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman, but without following the same ethical code. And when The Joker falls in the balance between the two forces of justice, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.

DiMaggio gets free reign to play the iconic villain amidst a stellar voice cast that includes Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) as the Caped Crusader, Supernatural star Jensen Ackles as Red Hood, and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Nightwing.

Best known for his near-100 episodes as “Bender,” DiMaggio has parlayed his deep, gravelly tones and versatile acting style into a major force on the voiceover scene for the past decade. DiMaggio’s credits include roles in Kim Possible, Samurai Jack, Teen Titans, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Duck Dodgers, Jackie Chan Adventures, The Penguins of Madagascar and Chowder.

Voiceover has so dominated his time that DiMaggio has virtually abandoned his on-camera career – despite past work as a regular cast member on Chicago Hope and a number of guest roles in TV series such as Becker, N.Y.P.D. Blue, Felicity, Bones, Without a Trace and My Name is Earl.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video on July 27, 2010 as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2-disc DVD, as well as being available on single disc DVD, On Demand and for Download. But before you race to Amazon to pre-order your copy, take a minute to get to know John DiMaggio.

QUESTION: What were your initial thoughts about assuming this iconic role?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I was shocked when I got the role, shocked when I came in to record, and shocked when I saw the finished product during ADR. I just wanted to honor the real true lunacy of the character. I didn’t want to make him campy, but I wanted to pay a little bit of tribute to the past Jokers – and yet keep it original at the same time. That’s walking a fine line, if there ever was one.

It was a little intimidating because it is such an iconic role. It’s an honor to get this job — and especially to play the Joker in this version because it’s so dark and twisted. I felt like I got a really wonderful opportunity.

QUESTION: Can you remember your early connections with the Batman mythology, and how any of the previous Joker actors might have influenced your performance in this role?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I think the thing that influenced me the most when I was young is the television show, which is really sad because there have been so many great comics and graphic novels and stories about the Dark Knight that I haven’t been able to delve into yet – and yet I know about them. I actually would’ve loved to see Cesar Romero take the role to its darkness. There was a bit of Cesar Romero in what I did, but it’s Cesar Romero if he was in A Clockwork Orange. I guess my naiveté in my approach kind of kept it clean. I wasn’t trying to do a Jack (Nicholson) or a Heath (Ledger). I respect all the folks that have come before me, and their take on the character. Mark Hamill is awesome, Heath Ledger was unbelievable, and Jack Nicholson – what can you say? But I wanted to do my own thing.

QUESTION: Was there any particular direction you wanted to take this Joker?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I wanted to cover what I saw on the paper, and I wanted to ensure Andrea (Romano, casting/dialogue director) got exactly what she wanted. Usually if the script is good enough, you know where your emotions should be, where your character lies. It should all be in the dialogue, and it certainly was.

QUESTION: How do you interpret the Joker’s mindset?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I think the Joker thinks of himself, quite literally, as a necessary evil. And when I say that, I mean he really feels there is a place for him, and that he somehow balances the chaos with the non-chaos. It’s a yin and yang thing. And it’s really not personal, it’s business. Although he can get personal and he enjoys it. That makes it that much more twisted.

QUESTION: You’ve certainly done more than your share of villains. Do you prefer to go to the dark side?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I love playing the villains. I’ll play anything, I don’t care. As long as its not tons of walla or gasping, I’m good. I hate the inhale.

QUESTION: When you were a kid, did you ever imagine you’d be voicing cartoons for a living?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: I was a class clown – I basically started acting when I was a kid. I wanted to play drums, but I couldn’t afford a drum set. It was easier to be in a play, so it just kind of happened. I walked into voiceover in New York in 1994. I was doing stand-up (comedy) at the time, and was looking to get out of it and into acting. An actor buddy of mine, Zak Orth, said it was a way to make a good living between acting gigs. I moved to LA, because there’s more animation here, and the rest is history. So yeah, thanks Zak – give me a ring.

QUESTION: Your primary focus is voiceovers these days. Do you have any inclination to do more live-action acting or stand-up comedy?

JOHN DIMAGGIO: On-camera acting is fun, but I don’t miss it. Voiceovers are quicker, and you get to work with such amazing, talented people – it’s a blast to play in the studio with these actors and writers and directors. With (on-camera) acting, there so much more waiting around, and my patience has run thin. Plus it beats the hell out of slinging jokes six nights a week at a Chuckle Hut in East Bumbleblard.

May 25, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, Interviews, Movies . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Next DC Art Book

I’m a big fan of coffee table books focused on comic book art, but due to their expense, my collection will never be as impressive as I’d like. However, I do have 2 DC-centric books, in the pages of DC Comics Covergirls (focused on the history of DC’s female characters) and Rough Justice (all about painter Alex Ross). According to DC’s blog, next up (after next month’s book on Adam Hughes, see the cover below) is this whopper of a project, and I want one. Here’s the official details.

DC Comics has joined forces with TASCHEN, the book publisher known for its eye for quality, modern design aesthetic and high-end art books spotlighting every aspect of culture: from art and movies to lifestyle and comics, to produce an ultra-comprehensive, extra large book so impressive, even super heroes may have trouble lifting it.

Clocking in at nearly 15 pounds and with over 650 pages (all details are still to be confirmed), 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking features more than 1,500 images — including covers, interiors, original illustrations, photos, film stills and collectibles — using the latest digital reproduction technology to bring you the characters, stories and the creators that brought them to life as they’ve never been seen before.

And the man behind the story, telling the tales? None other than Paul Levitz, former DC Comics Publisher and upcoming LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and ADVENTURE COMICS writer. Paul’s in-depth essays trace the history of DC Comics, from its pulpy beginnings to the modern era.

The book also features massive fold-out timelines and an in-depth appendix that includes bios on artists, writers, editors, publishers and actors — what more do you need to know before this gets an automatic spot on your wish list? I was sold before I even started writing this here blog post.

May 18, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Batman: Odyssey Preview

Bleeding Cool has the scoop on two pages from legendary artist Neal Adam’s Batman: Odyssey mini-series. The first ish (of apparently the first of two 6 ish series) launches on July 7, with Adams as writer and artist. DC’s official blog also have the cover to the 2nd issue up. Now with Batman waving a gun, swimming to the ocean depths with Aquaman and apparently becoming bulletproof, this could be one dangerously audacious series. It’ll sure look good though.

May 17, 2010
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Batman: Under the Red Hood Trailer and Pics

They keep cranking them out, but they keep getting better. Thanks DC! Details below about July’s animated film based on the resurrection of Jason Todd, the second Robin.

GOTHAM CITY MEETS A NEW VIGILANTE WITH A MYSTERIOUS, VIOLENT TWIST IN

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD STELLAR VOICE CAST FEATURES BRUCE GREENWOOD, JENSEN ACKLES & NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IN

ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO ON JULY 27, 2010

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY AND 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD INCLUDE DC SHOWCASE SHORT, JONAH HEX

Batman confronts new enemies, old foes and painful memories when a powerful vigilante with a penchant for violence comes to Gotham City in the intense graphic-novel-come-to-life Batman: Under the Red Hood, the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming July 27, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2 disc DVD for $29.99 (SRP) and $24.98 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

The stellar voice cast has Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek) donning the famed cowl as the voice of Batman. Supernatural star Jensen Ackles is Red Hood, and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) voices Nightwing. John DiMaggio (Futurama) and Jason Issacs (the Harry Potterfilms) round out the main cast as The Joker and Ra’s Al Ghul, respectively.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is scripted by award-winning comics writer Judd Winick and based on his popular 2005 comics storyline and subsequent comics graphic novel of the same name. Animation guru Bruce Timm returns as executive producer, as he has for all eight DC Universe animated original movies. Director is Brandon Vietti, who served as co-director of Superman Doomsday and was responsible for the first one-third of that film, including the fatal battle between the two title characters.

In Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman, but without following the same ethical code. Killing is an option. And when The Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.

Fans will be treated to an incredible package of DC Universe storytelling as the Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the second animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series – which features the popular DC Comics character, Jonah Hex. The short is scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale and stars the voices of Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

Batman: Under the Red Hood – 2 Disc Special Edition DVD will have more than two hours of fascinating bonus features, including:

  • Featurette – Robin’s Story – It was decided it was time to add a fresh face into the story mix, which turned out to be Dick Grayson, aka Robin. This is the story of Dick Grayson and how he transformed into Robin, with Batman as his father-figure role model.
  • Extended Sneak Peek at the next DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movie.
  • Widescreen (1.78:1)
  • Two title-themed episodes from of Warner Bros. Animation’s 20-year history of Batman television series, hand-picked by animation legend Bruce Timm.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Special Edition Blu-Ray will have more than three hours of bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD as well as:

  • Featurette: Death in the House of Batman – The story of how DC Comics heard the fans’ cry that the new Robin was not going to fit the cape, and how the Boy Wonder was scheduled to die.
  • Two additional bonus Batman-themed episodes personally selected by Bruce Timm
  • Digital copy

“Batman: Under the Red Hood is another terrific entry in the groundbreaking series of DC Universe animated movies, a shining representation of the adult storytelling that comics-turned-to-film has to offer, and further evidence of the combined creative power within the collaboration of DC Entertainment, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

“Judd Winick’s and Doug Mahnke’s story of a Robin gone wrong introduced Batman’s most personal enemy to date.  It’s unbelievably cool to see it brought to life like this,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.

“With each exciting new chapter of the DC UNIVERSE films, fans have come to expect more – and Batman: Under the Red Hood delivers with an action-packed tale of mystery and emotional struggle brought to animated life by an outstanding filmmaking crew and voiced by the all-star talents of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, Neil Patrick Harris and John Dimaggio,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brand Marketing.

“In his feature length solo directorial debut, Brandon Vietti has brought this dark, psychological thriller to the screen with all the action and emotion of a great Batman story,” said Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Animation.”

April 28, 2010
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Brightest Day Pics

Blackest Night #8 came out this week, concluding Geoff Johns’ grand scheme involving a bunch of Green (and other coloured) Lanterns and a multitude of risen corpses. The next part in the epic is the much more hopeful Brightest Day which kicks off with the #0 ish on April 14 and is then followed by fortnightly issues in May and June. Below is the gatefold from Blackest Night #8 from artist Ivan Reis, showing the newly ressurected heroes, as well as two house ads for the new series.

April 3, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Abin Sur Cast

The Green Lantern cast is expanding. According to Empire Online, New Zealander Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett from the Star Wars prequels) is playing Abin Sur, the alien who crashes on Earth and passes his ring to test pilot Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds). Taika Waititi (apparently also known as Taika Cohen) who starred in and directed comedy fave Eagle vs Shark is playing Jordan’s best pal (assumedly that’d be mechanic  Thomas Kalmaku, from the comics).

Filling out the main cast is Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) as Sinestro, Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) as Carol Ferris and Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond. It started filming today, in New Orleans and is directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale).

Green Lantern opens June 17 next year. With Marc Guggenheim (Flash) and Michael Green (Superman/Batman) as co-writers lending the film some solid comic book credibility, this could be the film to prove that Warner Bros. know how to make a good film based on a DC Comics character who doesn’t have pointy ears and an annoyingly gruff voice.

March 15, 2010
Categories: Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

President Deathstroke Speaks

Thanks to Warner Bros. for their interview with actor Bruce Davison, who plays President Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke in Feb 23’s animated film, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Having one of the meanest hombres in the DC Universe as President in an alternate earth is an awesome move.

VETERAN ACTOR BRUCE DAVISON MAKES ANIMATION VOICEOVER DEBUT IN JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS

Bruce Davison is no stranger to political office – at least in a fictional situation. He’s played an ambassador, senator, congressman and judge, but Davison steps up in class – in his first voiceover for animation – as President Wilson in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation.

In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a “good” Lex Luthor arrives from an alternate universe to recruit the Justice League to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters with virtually identical super powers to the Justice League. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and puts the balance of all existence in peril. Davison’s President Wilson is caught in the middle of the battle, attempting to find a balance between leading the human citizens of the parallel Earth and not being crushed by the powerful Crime Syndicate.

Davison’s credits stretch through film and television to the tune of 160 different movies and series roles, catching the world’s attention in 1971 as the title character in the benchmark rat-attack thriller Willard. He has since been a regular on primetime series, covering the gamut from The Waltons, Murder She Wrote and thirtysomething to Seinfeld, Lost, Close to Home and Knight Rider. Davison’s film career has featured memorable and critically acclaimed roles in X-Men and X2, Six Degrees of Separation, Short Cuts, Grace of My Heart and Longtime Companion, the latter performance garnering an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and top honors from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. Though he has recorded numerous books-on-tape, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths represents Davison’s first foray into the animated world.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League). Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer, and Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors. The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, as well as single disc DVD, and On Demand and Download.

During his recording session, Davison had a few minutes to discuss his inaugural animated role, his personal history with super heroes, an early adoration for EC Comics, and his ascent up the fictional political ladder. We’ll let his words take it from here …

QUESTION: What’s it like being one of two characters without super powers in an all-super hero movie?

BRUCE DAVISON: Well, it’s par for the course. In X-Men, I played Senator Kelly and, as my son likes to say, I didn’t really have any powers – I just melted. It’s tough when your action figure can’t stand up. I had to stick it in a glass of water because it didn’t have any feet, just this sort of drippy stuff off the bottom (he laughs). So I’m used to not having any real strength powers. But President Wilson is a pretty macho guy, which is great.

QUESTION: And you’ve got a nice progression here. Marvel makes you a senator, DC makes you President …

BRUCE DAVISON: Yes, I AM the President (he laughs). And I actually have feet in this one, plus an eye-patch. So I’m definitely moving up in the super hero world.

QUESTION: How did you enjoy your maiden voyage into animation voiceovers?

BRUCE DAVISON: I’ve done books-on-tape, including a Stephen King book and a few other things. But it’s really interesting to be a character that will then be created as opposed to trying to fit in. I’ve spent a lifetime voicing over (looping) myself in films over the years. But it’s a lot easier to just create something and then let the animators put it together. Oh, and it’s just a blast doing the recording – it’s like being six years old again.

QUESTION: Were you picturing the character in your head while recording, or just focusing on conveying certain emotions?

BRUCE DAVISON: Well, I always try to look at my characters as being better than I am. That’s one of the reasons I guess I became an actor – because you get to create a persona that’s bigger or better or more interesting than your own. I sort of found President Wilson to be like Dale Dye, the guy that does all the military shows on History Channel. The guy who gets in the trenches. He’s been there, done that. So, I’d better shape up.

QUESTION: Did super heroes play a role in your youth?

BRUCE DAVISON: I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the neighborhood. We lived outside of Philadelphia in Drexel Hill, and I would be Flash Gordon and my friend was Dr. Zarkov – and we’d get beat up by the Catholic kids, who were the clay people, on the way home from school. And then we’d have auditions for Dale Arden. So that was sort of my childhood fantasy.

QUESTION: Do you remember any first experiences with Superman or Batman?

BRUCE DAVISON: Oh, yeah – George Reeves working with “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” – you know, in the ’50s when there were just three channels on the TV, and you watched the Indian on the Test Pattern until nine when things started coming on. I did have a cape and I did jump off my stairs – and survived (laugh). I really loved running around the hill, trying to do the whole “Truth, Justice and the American Way” thing (hums the theme song). I’d try to take off just like he did, and end up sliding on my face down the hill. But that was always off camera for me and I figured they didn’t see that part, just the great take off (laughs).

QUESTION: How did comic books influence your upbringing?

BRUCE DAVISON: I was a major EC Comic freak. I just loved them all. “Tales Of The Crypt,” “Weird Science” … all of the older stuff. I just really loved the artwork – Wally Wood and all of those great artists. But they scared the bejesus out of me as a kid. I remember one very vivid comic in which a baseball player would spike people, sliding into everybody, so they cut him all up and played baseball with his head and used his legs as the bats. I think they used his trunk as home plate. That really scared me (he laughs). It was a really interesting time. They used to run articles in the comics about how people in Congress were trying to make it a Commie plot to ban EC. I found that really interesting – that was really the dawning of my first understanding of politics and censorship.

QUESTION: Why are superheroes important for us?

BRUCE DAVISON: I think it gives us a sense of idealism and strength that we don’t have but we wish we did. It’s like, why do we create religion? Because we need super heroes to take care of us, to live up to.

QUESTION: You’ve done so many different things. What do people most often recognize you for?

BRUCE DAVISON: Well, if they’re my age, probably Willard, because that was an impressionable movie when you’re young. The younger people know me from X-Men. And then if you’re 12, it’s Knight Rider. It’s as though every few years something comes along and then I’m sort of remembered for that. But people don’t really know that I can do anything else until the next time.

QUESTION: Did you learn anything from your first animation voiceover experience?

BRUCE DAVISON: I learned it’s a lot of fun. It really is. And you just have to sort of wing it with the other actors. You do have to work within the iambic pentameter of the technical world of the medium. You can’t pop things and you can’t get too close to the microphone and you can’t get too breathy. You really have to sort of create a character vocally within a framework of technology. So you can’t step out of it in order to do something that maybe you would do as an actor on film or on stage. When you’re on stage, even a whisper, you have to reach very far away. In film, you can be much more intimate. But just using your voice, you have to create something that’s somewhere in the middle so that it paints a picture and yet it’s not intimate enough to get lost.

For more information, images and updates, please visit the film’s official website at www.JUSTICELEAGUECRISIS.com.

January 7, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, Interviews, New To Comics? . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

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