The first trailer for the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s highly regarded graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns has gone online. For those unfamiliar, the story takes place a decade after Bruce Wayne gave up being Batman and entered retirement. The return of Harvey “Two-Face” Dent and a gang of criminals known as The Mutants force Wayne to don the suit once again, and he’s joined by a young girl taking on the persona of Robin in his quest.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 features Peter Weller as the voice of Batman, joined by David Selby as Comissioner Gordon, Ariel Winter as Robin, Wade Williams as Two-Face, and Michael McKean as Dr. Bartholomew Wolper. Judging by the trailer, it looks like director Jay Oliva has brought the goods, and fans of Miller’s story should be quite pleased. Hit the jump to watch for yourself. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 will be released on Blu-ray on September 25th.
Trailer via MTV.
Here’s a synopsis for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1:
…it’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.
The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new…and old.
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I’ve got to say, that looks awesome. Very faithful.
Initially a bit disappointed that it didn’t look MOORE like Miller’s art, but as I watched it I started to dig it.
In the trailer, it says “The Dark Night Returns.” Proofread, my nigga.
It looks more interesting than TDKR. At least Batman is in this one, the entire time.
agreed
If Satan agrees with you you’re opinion is already invalid
SATAN and DES, may I wish you nothing but joy and happiness in this lifetime and the next.
You are the only two who comment accurately on this stuff.
The sheep really need learn and stop bleating. But alas their small minds get confused by the pseudo-intellectual wank that Nolan spews forth and think he is the second coming when in fact he is a rather mediocre director who got lucky with his casting of the Joker.
Oh, and Inception was shit as well…
TDKR sucked, Nolan gave up on that film you can tell by the qaulity.
This is the film RISES should have been.
Nah, not really.
YES! Too bad they couldn’t get Michael Ironside to voice Batman like he did in the Legends of the Dark Knight episode of The Animated Series, but this guy sounds pretty cool.
This guy? His name is Murphy!
He’s Robocop, so yes, he’s pretty cool!
They spelled it, “The Dark Night Returns.”
Don’t suppose that bodes well.
Ooop…I see Mars noticed that too. Nice catch, mate.
Peter Weller is the wrong choice to voice Batman. Get Kevin Conroy or don’t bother.
This isn’t Batman Beyond. Even on the episode of Batman: The Animated Series called “Legends of the Dark Knight” that adapted a segment of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Kevin Conroy didn’t voice this version of Batman. When it’s a distinctively different version of Batman, Bruce Timm will get someone else to voice that version to differentiate it. You can hear Kevin Conroy in 109 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, The Batman/Superman Movie, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 52 episodes of Batman Beyond, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Batman: Vengeance video game, 52 episodes of Justice League, the Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu video game, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, 39 episodes of Justice League Unlimited, Batman: Gotham Knight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game, the DC Universe Online video game, the Batman: Arkham City video game and Justice League: Doom.
Robocop doesn’t really fit as the voice of Batman.
Why the hell didn’t they hire Kevin Conroy?
Because this is a distinctively different version of Batman. Bruce Timm didn’t have Kevin Conroy voice the Dark Knight Returns Batman in the “Legends of the Dark Knight” episode of Batman: The Animated Series, so I didn’t expect Conroy to voice him in the movie. When they are distinctively different versions that do not fit in with the Timmverse continuity of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond, etc., Bruce Timm will cast different people to voice these other Parallel Earths versions. Peter Weller ‘s voice suits Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Universe Batman. As Bruce Timm said about Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, “the decision was made that we should really do everything in our power to separate it from the TV continuity as possible. I love Kevin Conroy. I love George Newbern. They’re terrific actors and it would have been easier, frankly, to cast them in this movie. But again, for the sake of branding, we decided we needed to go with other actors to play those parts to further separate this from the TV continuity.”
Peter Weller ‘s voice suits Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Universe Batman. Bruce Timm didn’t have Kevin Conroy voice the Dark Knight Returns Batman in the “Legends of the Dark Knight” episode of Batman: The Animated Series, so I didn’t expect Conroy to voice him in the movie. When they are distinctively different versions that do not fit in with the Timmverse continuity of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond, etc., Bruce Timm will cast different people to voice these other Parallel Earths versions. As Bruce Timm said about Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, “the decision was made that we should really do everything in our power to separate it from the TV continuity as possible. I love Kevin Conroy. I love George Newbern. They’re terrific actors and it would have been easier, frankly, to cast them in this movie. But again, for the sake of branding, we decided we needed to go with other actors to play those parts to further separate this from the TV continuity.”
I hope this is close to the comic books because dc always go off the original stor like in death of superman. That was a shitty movie. I was so excited because I just finished the comic book. Then, DC messed up.
Death of Superman simplified a long and ambitious story. But Batman Year One was a fairly straight translation of the comic book. This looks like they’re going for a straight translation.
Kevin Conroy, or no Batman.
For me Conroy basically is the Batman I grew up with and he’s definitely my favorite, still he’s done it so many times that I’m willing to hear someone else take a crack at it. I enjoyed Diedrich Baker’s take in the Brave and the Bold show, but i don’t know if Weller is right for the part.
Looks great! Been a long time since I read the graphic novel, but visually looks spot on. 2 gripes I have though, Clint Eastwood woulda been great as ageing Batmans voice. And that Gang leaders voice is horrific!
Looks like an expansion of the “Legends of the Dark Knight” episode from the new batman adventures.
Looks like an expansion of the Legends of the Dark Knight episode from the new batman adventures.
Asian animators+spell check=Dark Night
They should have kept the same voice actors as Batman:Year One and made it a Frank Miller Animated Trilogy.
Nice. I always love this Batman’s voice. Wish Peter Weller voice was used in the movies and the games too. Seems just right.
Death of Superman simplified a long and ambitious story. But Batman Year One was a fairly straight translation of the comic book. This looks like they\’re going for a straight translation.
Death of Superman simplified a long and ambitious story. But Batman Year One was a fairly straight translation of the comic book. This looks like they\\\’re going for a straight translation.
Maybe it’s just me….but this looks friggin terrible.