WONDERCON '07: DC UNIVERSE: SUPERHEROES GO DVD PANEL

[MattBrady]

Moderated by Dan Didio, the DC Universe: Super Heroes Go DVD panel opened Saturday evening at WonderCon with the introductions of the two other panelists who would be speaking with Didio: Bruce Timm and Gregory Noveck, Senior VP Creative Affiars of Warner Bros Animation.

The panel began with a short question and answer period with Didio, Timm and Noveck, which covered the various backgrounds of the panelists, as well as their respective jobs and how they became involved in the upcoming DC Comics direct to DVD films.

When asked about his approach to the DC characters in animation, Timm told Didio that the temptation is to say that WB animation “Marvelized” them, but that’s not quite true. Pointing out that Didio has done much the same in the comics, Timm said that he felt that the animated versions of the characters took them to a classic point, that, in some ways, was reminiscent of Marvel characters of the ‘60s and ‘70s. As he sees it now, Timm said, Marvel and DC are on a very even playing field in terms of their characters.

In describing the DVD projects, it was explained that the decision was made to make animated films that would appeal to an older demographic, not just the 6-10 year old age group that the original DC animated projects were aimed at – something that would appeal to teens and adults. “Basically, the same audience that buys DC Comics,” Tim said.

Didio pointed out that there’s an undeniable generational aspect of DC characters, and asked Timm and NOveck how they decided which versions of the characters to use in the projects.

Noveck admitted that many times, it comes down to personal opinions and tastest of the production team, but he does hear from fans all the time on which versions show be showing up.

Timm added that what they’re looking to do with the characters in the films is something like what they’d done in the animated television shows, that is, to distill the most iconic essence of each character into the movie format. Pointing out that with a potential Green Lantern project, the decision would be an easy one – they would use Hal Jordan, given that he was the classic version of the character for years, and has just returned to the forefront of the DC Universe. In the case of someone such as the Flash, Timm admitted, the decision would be a more difficult one, given the now four Flashes, which would open the possibilities of centering on one Flash, or showing all of them in one movie that spanned the generations. “Each character has their own specific challenges,” Timm said.

In terms of the connection between the WB Animation versions and DC Comics versions of the characters, Didio asked how much what the comics do in terms of relaunches and revamps influence their plans.

“A lot,” Noveck said, pointing to the new Atom character as an example, explaining that somewhere on their boards where they were considering a Ray Palmer Atom project or appearance, they’re not putting the new version of the character into the mix and taking the changes in recent months under consideration. Noveck added that the recent Green Lantern relaunch was very useful in capturing the essence of the character, as well as being able to provide artwork (from Ethan Van Sciver) that could be shown and discussed among the animators for possible use.

Hearing that the comics do influence the animated versions of the characters, Didio mused on the synergy between the two divisions of the larger company, noting that occasionally, they’ll take their cues from the animated versions. In this regard, Didio noted that Hawkgirl was brought into the forefront in the animated Justice League, which led DC to feature her more prominently as a character in the comics.

Sensing an opening, Didio asked, with all the back and forth between the versions, why Timm isn’t writing for DC. Timm said that they had the same conversation last year, and that as he said last year, he’s still too busy with his animated projects.

“Is there anything in particular you’d like to work on?” Didio asked.

“…We’ll talk,” Timm responded.

At this point, the panel showed the first of two clips from Superman: Doomsday - a segment from the supplemental material which will be included on the DVD that showed interview clips with Sander Schwartz (President of WB Animation), Director Brandon Vietti, Timm, writer Duane Capezzi and others.

In the clips, the individuals spoke about the difficulties and challenges of adapting the story into a film, with Timm noting that at its heart, it’s an action-packed violent story, which featured Superman being basically beaten to death.

After the clip, Timm said that with the DVD release coming on September 18th, Warner Bros Home Video will be treating it as they would a theatrical release that is debuting on DVD, noting that there will be loads of supplemental material included.

Anticipating the question, Timm said that no, the film will not be in continuity with the earlier Superman animated series or Justice League series. The following films: New Frontier and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract will be similarly disconnected from any and all previous animated versions of the characters, with each film designed to be a standalone project set in its own pocket universe. That change, Timm said, allowed them to be able to rethink the characters, as well as recast the voice actors.

Timm quickly added that the new voice casts in now suggest any dissatisfaction with the voice casts in any previous shows, but rather, Warner Bros was looking to do everything possible to set these films as their own entities and stories.

Playing devil’s advocate, Didio said that DC and Superman fans know how the story of the Superman/Doomsday fight ended, that is, with Superman’s death. “Does the film version end with Superman’s death?” he asked.

As an answer, Noveck said that the film honors the tone of the original material, but due to the size of the original story, which involved Superman’s death, the world without a Superman, and the return of the hero, it would have been impossible to include all aspects of the original. As a result, Noveck continued, Timm and Capezzi have added new elements and character elements to make it work as a 72-minute movie. The same approach will be taken on the other upcoming films as well.

Timm later noted that, in the original version, there were several existing subplots, including the red-haired Lex Luthor, the protoplasmic Supergirl, and others that were woven through the story and continued both before and after the Death of Superman. Those elements had to be removed, in order to make the movie a discreet story. DC, Timm added, is much more involved in terms of the storycrafting with this movie than they were for any animated series.

Considering the differences between the upcoming film and his work on half-hour animated series, Didio asked Timm to explain how the film will be different from a very large episode, to which Timm responded that the production team worked very hard to make the story feel like a PG-13 movie, adding in elements that would never have been permitted in animated series. “It’s nice to have that kind of freedom and at same time have responsibility of not gong overboard with it,” Timm said.

Going back to playing devil’s advocate, Didio asked why, of all the Superman stories open to them, why they chose this one, which focuses on the hero’s defeat and death.

As Noveck explained, that was the idea – to show this powerful and strong hero the challenge of his life, and see how he overcomes it.

“He’s going to be challenged right into the ground,” Timm added.

In response to Didio’s question of whether he volunteered or was recruited for the project, Timm admitted that he hadn’t necessarily been looking to tell any more Superman stories, but te idea of telling a new story with a new look and new cast aimed at an older demographic was too much of a temptation for him to pass up. After the first film, Timm said, he’ll be moving into more of an executive producer/advisory capacity on the other projects. Timm also added that he hopes the initial films will be so successful that they can expand the scope of possible projects beyond the obvious A-list heroes, and touch upon some of his favorites, such as Kamadi, Jonah Hex, and the New Gods.

The panel then opened up to a Q&A session. Highlights included:

Will the characters in the coming Teen Titans: The Judas Contract be more like the George Perez versions than the animated versions?

Timm: The script for that film is still being worked on, and they’re hoping it will be the third or fourth movie, but it won’t look like the cartoon versions of the Titans.

Noveck: The hope with all the films is that they will stick close to the spirit of the comic material, for example, the upcoming New Frontier film will look very close to Darwyn Cooke’s versions of the characters, something helped along by the fact that Cooke is storyboarding the film.

Will the four replacement Supermen appear in the film, specifically, Steel?

Noveck: One can always hope.

With The Judas Contract, how directly will the Deathstroke/Terra relationship be adapted?

Timm: We don’t know quite what we’re going to be able to get away with, but it will be part of the storyline. One of the larger challenges is that that element was done in the cartoon, so the trick will be to stick closer to the comic version of the story, and in that version, part of the story was that nasty subplot between Deathstroke and Terra. Although, she probably won’t be smoking in the film version.

If these films are successful, could audiences possibly see the Justice League: Worlds Collide project?

Timm: That may happen anyway, and if it does it won’t be under the same banner as these films. There will still be other DC animated projects coming out, in addition to these films. We’re talking about doing a second Teen Titans movie, Worlds Collide, and possibly more. We’re still figuring it all out.

Will we ever hear Kevin Conroy as Batman again?

Timm – You may. Initially, with these first couple, we’re going in different route, but I can see a time when Kevin might be appropriate for Batman.

Will we see new DC animated series?

Timm – Maybe someday. Right now, we’re too busy with the movies, but maybe someday.

Why not release these films theatrically?

Noveck: The direct to DVD releases is not to say that these films won’t go up on screen some day, but the original intent was to make the projects direct to video, make them for a specific audience, and pull these specific stories.

Will Lois and Clark be engaged in this one as they were in the comic version?

Timm – They’re…involved, and that’s as much as I’ll say. They’re definitely an item.

What characters would you like to approach some day in this format?

Timm – I really like characters like The Question, and Jonah Hex. I would love to do an animated Weird Western story; but realistically, don’t think there’s a big enough audience for it…yet. Also - New Gods – would like to get in there do wall to wall Kirby spectacular. Also, Kamandi, and Challengers of the Unknown.

Who is on the short list of characters for future films?

Timm: Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman.

Is there a fourth DVD currently planned after The Judas Contract?

Noveck: There are several candidates right now.

Timm: There are at least six projects we’re looking at.

The panel ended with a one minute clip of finished animation what was cut together by Timm earlier in the week. The brief sample showed many of the storyline’s iconic moments, such as Superman’s cape fluttering in the wind; Superman in his black Kryptonian battlesuit, the Superman memorial, as well as new elements, such as Luthor wielding a gauntlet with Kryptonite crystals on the knuckles. The clip ended with a medium shot of the ground in front of the Superman memorial for one beat, and then, Superman’s fist bursts through the ground.

Needless to say, the crowd erupted into applause afterwards.

[MurrayC]

With The Judas Contract, how directly will the Deathstroke/Terra relationship be adapted?

Timm: We don’t know quite what we’re going to be able to get away with, but it will be part of the storyline. One of the larger challenges is that that element was done in the cartoon, so the trick will be to stick closer to the comic version of the story, and in that version, part of the story was that nasty subplot between Deathstroke and Terra. Although, she probably won’t be smoking in the film version.

...why would DC be able to "get away with it" 20 years ago in a comic approved by the Comics Code Authority, but not now in an animated version that is supposed to be a basic translation?

Has Political Correctness gone too far?

[caats19]

SWEEEET!!! SOUNDS GREAT! and an aquaman movie??!! woot

[Guicho]

Timm added that what they’re looking to do with the characters in the films is something like what they’d done in the animated television shows, that is, to distill the most iconic essence of each character into the movie format. Pointing out that with a potential Green Lantern project, the decision would be an easy one – they would use Hal Jordan, given that he was the classic version of the character for years, and has just returned to the forefront of the DC Universe.

Yeah baby! That’s what we're talking about!

Noveck added that the recent Green Lantern relaunch was very useful in capturing the essence of the character, as well as being able to provide artwork (from Ethan Van Sciver) that could be shown and discussed among the animators for possible use

Please say this is all TRUE!

[SuperFobby]

looks like they really will have to make a number of changes to the story.

superman's fist bursting through the ground in front of his memorial? i guess that means the eradicator doesn't come and steal his body? but then, what's he doing in the kryptonian battlesuit?

i'm okay with phasing out red-headed "lex luthor II" and the matrix-not-yet-linda-danvers supergirl from the story, though. that stuff is just confusing to anyone who wasn't reading superman regularly in the 90's.

it would be nice if they had found a way to work in the funeral for a friend and reign of the supermen storylines, but at 72 minutes i'm not sure whether they will even nod to them. realistically, though, the doomsday battle leading up to the death issue shouldn't be more than 20 minutes in any movie, unless they go slow-motion and focus on the justice league getting its ass whooped.

[JacktheKnife]

Well they didn't mention one way or the other.

But I bet that the Justice League getting stomped by Doomsday won't be in this movie.

[ichorskeeter]

A Catwoman film is on the short list? With all the potential in the world that DARWYN COOKE might storyboard it?! Oh, hell yes. If I were to get that and a Timm New Gods, I'd flip.

[caats19]

i never understood where batman, green lantern wonder woman were during the death of supes, but o well. i got to see boosters head get slammed by a door. that's about when i fell in love with booster gold

[ElijahSnowFan]

totally looking forward to these -- while the Death of Superman isn't one of my all-time favorite storylines from DC, i have little doubt that it won't look great as a movie.

Judas Contract, i'm sure, will also be great, and Darwyn Cooke on the boards for New Frontier speaks for itself.

[Morrison]

I love the approach DC is taking with these movies and with their experience in animation, it should turn out pretty good. I wish Marvel would take a similar approach and spare us from anything else like Ultimate Avengers I and II

[Kolimar]

I have a big geeky smile right now.

[Kolimar]

More and more I can happily add to The Complete List of DC Comics Movies

[Clem]

I think it was a big mistake calling this thing Superman: Doomsday.

I mean sure he'll fight the big lug, but logic dictates that the fight comes first. So the main villain gets vanquished within 10 minutes?!?!

And Supes only came back when Mongul reared his head, which kinda veered into the whole "i blew up Coast City and sent Hal Jordan mad" territory.

I hope they represent the return a little better than the original. Didn't he just show up out of nowhere in his black duds and say "no worries, turns out i wasn't really dead, just kinda resting"

This is gonna be a toughie.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by caats19

i never understood where batman, green lantern wonder woman were during the death of supes,

Busy as all hell with their own superheroic lives. You don't see all the major heroes (or even all the minor ones) come running every single time one of them is in serious trouble. Superman is usually able to handle whatever comes his way and the League was there at the beginning. After their defeat, everything happens pretty fast. Fairly simple, really.

Originally Posted by caats19

but o well. i got to see boosters head get slammed by a door. that's about when i fell in love with booster gold

Heheheh

[EMeadow]

Originally Posted by MurrayC

...why would DC be able to "get away with it" 20 years ago in a comic approved by the Comics Code Authority, but not now in an animated version that is supposed to be a basic translation?

Has Political Correctness gone too far?

The comic then doesn't give off enough of a vibe that Terra at that time was under age. (She was what, 17 at the time?) Enough people could look at those sequences and go "She's 18, 19, doesn't matter we say she's LEGAL!")

The ages of the characters in the DVD may be more concrete therefore they can't go there do to how relationships like that are certainly viewed in society. The constant rash of teachers doing things with their students stories that have cropped up in all the years since would certainly speak to that.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Clem

I hope they represent the return a little better than the original. Didn't he just show up out of nowhere in his black duds and say "no worries, turns out i wasn't really dead, just kinda resting"

Nope. IIRC, he was shown way before that during the Reign waking up in his Fortress, taking the Kryptonian battlesuit because he was too weak, walking on the ocean floor all the way back to Metropolis, being fired upon by Luthor's submarine and only then emerging from the water at the end of the Reign in front of Steel, Superboy, Supergirl, etc.

[ColourMan]

I'm all over the Catwoman movie!!

[Shadowcards]

Originally Posted by JacktheKnife

Well they didn't mention one way or the other.

But I bet that the Justice League getting stomped by Doomsday won't be in this movie.

That would be a shame. It would help the story to show how tough Doomsday is if he takes out a handful of JLAers before making his way to the Man of Steel.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Clem

I think it was a big mistake calling this thing Superman: Doomsday.

I mean sure he'll fight the big lug, but logic dictates that the fight comes first. So the main villain gets vanquished within 10 minutes?!?!

Nah. First, the name sounds cool and ominous evoking the Apocalypse, death and all kinds of disasters and negative things. Second, it's a famous name that evokes the well-known story and character and their coolness. Third, the name was originally a reference to the unstoppable power of the monster making that particular day feel like it was "Doomsday" for everyone and particularly Superman. Essentially, everything the name of the movie should be and do.

[tof]

In this regard, Didio noted that Hawkgirl was brought into the forefront in the animated Justice League, which led DC to feature her more prominently as a character in the comics.

If you consider that both Question and Hawkwoman were killed I don't see how this reflect their success in JLU.
Codename != character

These DVD can't come fast enough for my taste

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Superman in his black Kryptonian battlesuit,

The Kryptonian battlesuit was purple, iirc. Superman's spandex regeneration matrix costume was black.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by tof

If you consider that both Question and Hawkwoman were killed I don't see how this reflect their success in JLU.

Hawkwoman and Hawkgirl are different characters.

[tof]

Originally Posted by Kolimar

Hawkwoman and Hawkgirl are different characters.

You know what I mean

[Batman]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

If these films are successful, could audiences possibly see the Justice League: Worlds Collide project?

Timm: That may happen anyway, and if it does it won’t be under the same banner as these films. There will still be other DC animated projects coming out, in addition to these films. We’re talking about doing a second Teen Titans movie, Worlds Collide, and possibly more. We’re still figuring it all out.

Can someone tell me what Worlds Collide is?

[hugo]

I too have the feeling that the Justice League won't be in this Doomsday movie. Or more exactly, the Justice League as it was in the original material : Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Maxima, ... Certainly not very "appealing" for the general audience, not the iconic Justice League they are used to...

Other arguments are that they don't have a lot of time to tell the story, and that they certainly want to make a Superman "Superman-focused story".

Nevertheless, his death can't just have an impact on Metropolis'citizens, and Doomsday must be shown as a real big threat. So if no heroes bite the dust before Supes arrives....

Concerning the Supergirl point, I wonder if there won't be any Supergirl at all or if they will replace her by the classic iconic cousin stuff ?

Since the man working on The Batman and the Superman Brainiac animated movie is involved in this adaptation, I prefer wait before express my joy... :?