If you haven't seen this clip circling yet, check out this little Comic-Con surprise prior to the "Spider-Man" panel, then watch Andrew Garfield, aka the new Spider-Man, get choked up at the honor of inheriting the webbed mantle. --Ellen
You may know Nathan Fillion best as the star of ABC's Castle, or Captain Mal from the canceled-too-soon series Firefly, or as Dr. Horrible. Maybe even from his days on Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place.
But over the Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend in 2010, Fillion played the role of Hal Jordan for Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie arriving today on Blu-ray, DVD, and Instant Video. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights weaves six legendary stories of the Green Lantern Corps’ rich mythology around preparations for an attack by an ancient enemy. As the battle approaches, Hal Jordan mentors new recruit Arisia in the history of the Green Lantern Corps, telling tales of Avra, Kilowog, Abin Sur, Laira and Mogo. In the end, Arisia must rise to the occasion to help Hal, Sinestro and the entire Green Lantern Corps save the universe from the destructive forces of Krona.
The ever-genuine Fillion spent some time following his initial recording session to discuss comic book justice, the perils of space travel, his love of comic books and the origin story behind his famous Green Lantern t-shirt.
QUESTION: Among the superhero role play games of your childhood, did you ever pretend you were the Green Lantern?
NATHAN FILLION: As a child, when you're pretending you're different super heroes, Green Lantern was the easiest because all you needed to light the fire in the imagination was the ring. Superman, you need a cape; Spiderman, you need a full face mask. That wasn’t tough to come by in a winter town like where I’m from, but they’re just too hot to wear in the summer. So to be Green Lantern, all you needed to do is suck a lifesaver down to the right size, and to make sure it's a lime one – slip it on your finger, and you were good.
QUESTION: What is it about Green Lantern that most appeals to you?
NATHAN FILLION: As a kid, what I liked about Green Lantern was that he could do anything – anything you could think of. It's like “Wow, all I need is a giant mallet, or a catapult circa 1200s,” and suddenly he had it. I just thought that would be pretty cool to have anything you could kind of imagine. Imagination was always a big thing for me.
QUESTION: You fit comfortably into animated super hero roles. Why do you think you keep getting chosen to play these comic book legends?
NATHAN FILLION: I will say that I've been very fortunate. I can't tell you why people are willing to offer me the opportunity, but I can say how it pleases me because as a kid collecting comic books, I had a great time with the way it kind of lights the fire in the imagination. I always thought I had an overdeveloped sense of justice. Now looking back on my comic book days, my world kind of was formed around comic book justice. I think I have a very strong sense of comic book justice. Maybe that has something to do with how you take on a role. I mean, I'm steeped in the history of these characters. I know it and I love it.
QUESTION: Castle is a runaway hit. You’re a cover boy for national magazines with great regularity. There’s never been greater demand for Nathan Fillion. How do you stay humble through all this adoration?
NATHAN FILLION: I'll tell you there sure is nothing like being an actor and having something to do every day. Get up 5:00 a.m. – I’ve got someplace to go and I’ve got a place I need to be. I’ve got stuff I gotta do. I’ve got stories I need to tell. This career that I've chosen, I'm employed gainfully in it – so I’m living the dream every day. That's a good feeling. It does good things for how you feel about your choices. There was a period of time, I'll say it was 1998 approximately, where I didn't work for nearly a year. I was really questioning my judgment. What have I done? I've made a colossal error in judgment. I'm paying my rent on credit. What am I gonna do? It's a much, much nicer feeling to know that you're doing something -- that you're playing some music that people want to hear. So I'm gonna play these notes – you tell me if you like them and we'll keep playing if you keep liking them. That's a good feeling. It's nice to walk down the street and have someone stop and politely say “I love your show.” That’s always great. As opposed to doing plays, where there’s immediate feedback, you don’t get that so much in television. So it’s really nice to hear. It doesn’t get old.
QUESTION: You’re on the Castle set at least five days a week, upwards of 14 hours each day. Given all that work, what makes you take time – on a Sunday of a holiday weekend – to record the voice of an animated superhero?
NATHAN FILLION: I take the time to (voice characters in DCU films) exactly for the reason that it's fun. I get a call saying “Hey, how would you like to come on down to record Green Lantern?” And I’m asking back, “Can we squeeze it in on a Sunday because that's pretty much my only day off?” I want to make it work because I love doing it. More than that, I love being part of this lore. These are great characters – you’ve got Green Lantern, you have Superman, you have Batman, you have the Flash, all these wonderful pieces of American pop culture. And now I've got a little piece. I can say, “Oh yeah, I was Green Lantern for a DVD movie.” Not a lot of people can say that. “Oh, Steve Trevor? Funny you should mention him.” (he laughs) It may sound silly, but it means something to me.
QUESTION: You have been seen – on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, walking around Comic-Con on a Saturday, at your initial Green Lantern recording session – wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt. Did you own that shirt before being cast as Hal Jordan for Green Lantern: Emerald Knights?
NATHAN FILLION: Debbie Zoller is the head of my makeup department on Castle. She saw that fan-made Green Lantern trailer and thought the t-shirt would be an appropriate Christmas present. And I wholeheartedly agree with her. I’ve been known to wear a few superhero shirts … and where better than a Green Lantern recording session to wear it today? So thank you Debbie – I told you it would come in handy someday!
On June 7, fans can experience professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper’s acting chops in his very first voiceover role for animation as the barbaric Bolphunga in Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.
Piper’s character – Bolphunga the Unrelenting – is the central antagonist in the episodic segment entitled “Mogo Doesn’t Socialize.” Based on the 1985 story created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the story centers on Bolphunga’s search for Mogo, the largest Green Lantern, in hopes of engaging the famed warrior in a battle worthy of the villain. The role serves as a perfect vehicle to showcase Piper’s strength and wonderful sense of humor.
QUESTION: Green Lantern: Emerald Knights was your first-ever voiceover for animation. How was the experience?
RODDY PIPER: That was about as much fun as I could ever hope to have. You can really lose yourself in an animated role. There’s so much freedom, so much room for creativity. It’s a blast.
QUESTION: Professional wrestling gave you plenty of experience being both the villain and the hero. How does the public perceive you today?
RODDY PIPER: I guess a lot of folks have grown up with me and, in an awkward way, for people who really have seen the good sides of me, I’m like a father figure. It’s remarkable – every place I go, there’s somebody that has an inspiring tale to tell. At one of my shows, there was a policeman named Paul who had been awarded a Congressional citation for saving someone’s life. He came up and gave me his citation. He said that when he was a little boy, he had troubles – but he would watch me and that’s where he found inspiration and direction. So when he goes into a tough situation, he relates to (my actions), and he says it saved his life. The profession that I took upon is a lawless, tough piece of work, and so many of my friends are dead now. So in my one-man show, I tell the folks about people that they grew up with, people that they may have related to in different ways. My profession is very renegade. But as crazy as it seems, it’s as real as it gets.
QUESTION: What’s your approach to performing these one-man shows?
RODDY PIPER: I was with Burt Reynolds at his house in Jupiter (FL) and he said to me, “The one thing I try to convey as actors is that we don’t get enough ‘Atta Boys.’ So I try to make them leave with an ‘Atta Boy.’ And that really sticks with me. Encouragement is an essential.
QUESTION: You seem like a natural for animation. What’s your attraction to playing an animated character?
RODDY PIPER: I like the fact that I can go away and lose myself so I don’t have to live in the world of courage that everyone else does. I like creating, it’s what I do, and acting allows me to stretch all those different muscles in all kinds of ways. That’s pretty cool.
QUESTION: There are those that would claim wrestling is acting. What are the key differences in those two performances?
RODDY PIPER: Wrestling and acting couldn’t be anymore different in terms of what it takes to entertain. Wrestling is explosion, acting is implosion. One really screws up the other. That’s why Hogan sucks. If I came out on camera like I do in Madison Square Garden, it would look crazy. Clint Eastwood just shakes his head and raises his eye and it works. But when you’ve got 96,000 people at Wrestlemania, I need to get through to the back row. Fighting is not internal, but it can be very spiritual. Everything acting is internal. One of my problems in making the transition is pulling back, but I’m working on it.
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video on Blu-ray, DVD, and Instant Video June 7.
When we hear the term “fool,” it's often the classic image of the jester that comes to mind, from the brightly dressed tunic and jingle bell-tipped, floppy hat to the tights and pointy shoes. The fool and the jester have a long honored tradition in theater and, more recently, in cinema. The fool is occasionally, though rarely, the star of the show, but is more often relegated to sidekick status. These funny men (and women) can be found across all genres, but their presence is often most noticeable in serious fare. They get away with pointing out sensitive truths in humanity and … ah, forget about all that. They make us laugh and that's why we love 'em! So, in honor of April Fool's Day, here are a few of our favorite modern day fools.
Jim Carrey has tackled some dramatic roles over the course of his varied career, but the flexibly-faced funny man is best remembered for his comedic roles. The two that stand out the most in our minds are Ace Ventura (from the film of the same name) and Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber.
The Hangover gives new meaning to the phrase what happens in Vegas … while all four characters have their funny moment in the hot desert sun, they many times seem to exist purely to play straight man to Zach Galifianakis' Alan Garner. His fashion sense--or lack thereof--sets him apart from everyone, much in the way the jesters and fools of old used brightly colored costumes to identify themselves among the royal court.
Steve Martin has tackled many a foolish role but it's Freddy Benson, one of a pair of con men in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels that sticks in our minds. While his reluctant partner in crime, Lawrence Jamieson (played by Michael Caine) is the suave one with all the moves, Freddy is crass, loud … and perfect to play the part of the patch-wearing Ruprecht as the two men scam their way through the wealthy women of the French Mediterranean.
Playing foolish and funny is what Eddie Murphy is all about, but he most fully imbues the fool as the voice of Donkey in Shrek. Like a king's jester, Donkey pushes Shrek in a manner that only a fool would have been allowed to get away with. Yet in many ways he helps the ogre discovery his humanity, the way a jester might have kept his king humble.
It's hard to pick just one stellar performance where Will Ferrell plays the fool, but the one character who most closely resembles the fool is his turn as Buddy in Elf. He may not have donned the floppy jester hat, but Buddy Jingle Bell Rocks a motley-colored costume and pointy-toe shoes like no one else can! Through in James Caan as the grouchy “king” who learns to see the Christmas spirit again, and you've got all the markings of a classic tale.
Like many other comedians of his time, Rob Corddry plays the supporting role of fool more often than not. Though he does more closely resemble the part of the fool in Children's Hospital, his role as Lou Dorchen in Hot Tub Time Machine made audiences really sit up and pay attention.
Finding Nemo might only have been the heart-wrenching tale of a father searching for his missing son (and yes, we know they're animated clown fish), and too intense for children, were it not for the comic timings of the short-term memory challenged Dory, voiced by Ellen Degeneres. She kept the mood light as she led Marin (voiced by Albert Brooks) through the waters of Australia, along the way, teaching him it's okay to let your children grow up and have some fun.
The Goonies were, in and of themselves, a motely crew, but it was Chunk (played by Jeff Cohen) who took on the role of fool. Chunk's stomach always took precedence over any and all situations, even when hiding from a murderous family of treasure hunters. It may have been over a love of chocolate that Chunk bonded with Lotney "Sloth" Fratelli--a misunderstood fool in his own family—but they showed us it's often the fool who has the heart of gold.
From the moment Michael Richards slid through Jerry Seinfeld's door as Cosmo Kramer, he established himself as the fool of the foursome. His outlandish outfits, cloud of wiry hair, and over-the-top comments only further established his place in the long-running sitcom Seinfeld.
Having made her rounds in Hollywood as a go-to funny lady, it's Jennifer Coolidge's place in Christopher
Guest stable of actors, who makes us laugh the loudest, especially her turn as Sherri Ann Cabot in Best in Show. The ditzy trophy wife, with a love of poodles--and their trainer--made us fall in love with her, too.
No April Fool's Day is complete without acknowledging some notable tricksters, here are three of our favorites:
The sweets-loving, appropriately named Trickster (Richard Speight Jr.) from Supernatural gets great enjoyment playing sometimes harmless (though usually not) pranks on humans, especially Sam and Dean Winchester.
While the omnipotent being Q (John Delancie) traveled across the univere, visiting Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager, it was Captain Picard who seemed to hold a special place in Q's heart … or where it would be if he had one.
Robin Williams sang it right when he claimed “you ain't never had a friend like me.” Aladdin learned that if you're going to have a wise-cracking genie in your life, it's best if he's on your side. While the genie didn't set out to cause problems, sometimes getting everything you wish for isn't all it's supposed to be.
The joke on us is that we can't include all of the funniest fools of today in one list. So, who are your favorites? --Jill Corddry
Award-winning actor Anthony LaPaglia returns to his villainous roots as the voice of Lex Luthor in All-Star Superman, the highly anticipated 10th entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies coming February 22, 2011 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video.
LaPaglia is known far and wide for his lead role on the CBS drama Without a Trace, but his fame goes well beyond those 160 episodes over seven seasons on the primetime series. LaPaglia's career highlights include an Emmy Award as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Simon on Frasier, a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series/Drama for Without a Trace, and the 1998 Tony Award for Best Actor (Play) for the revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. He has also been honored with two AFI Awards as Best Lead Actor in the films Balibo (2009) and Lantana (2001).
LaPaglia takes the villainous lead in an All-Star Superman cast that includes James Denton (Desperate Housewives) as Superman, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) as Lois Lane, seven-time Emmy® Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Perry White, Golden Globe® winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) as Jimmy Olsen, and Linda Cardellini (ER) as Nasty. It's available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Video On Demand in the DC Comics Store.
Here's a few questions the actor/goalie fielded in an interview following his recording session as Lex Luthor for All-Star Superman ...
QUESTION: What were the challenges of creating Lex Luthor as an animated voice?
ANTHONY LAPAGLIA: You have to understand the medium that you're in. As opposed to [on-camera] acting with another individual where it requires listening in order for you to respond, here you're having to create the question the other person would ask you in your head and then respond to it. It's a much more difficult process because there's a line between it being real and it being animated. There's a slightly different tonal quality to the way you say things, or in the way you have to make it bigger sometimes than you would naturally do in order to sell it. But not having the visual in front of you--you're kind of shooting in the dark a lot.
QUESTION: Did you enjoy this incarnation of Lex Luthor?
ANTHONY LAPAGLIA: Yeah, I did actually. I found it surprising that Lex Luthor was getting a bit spiritual [laughs]. I guess it's kind of like a sign of the times where he's trying to get in touch with the inner Lex. [laughs]
Continue reading "Q&A with Anthony LaPaglia: "All-Star Superman"" »
Sure, getting fit and eating better are great New Year's resolutions. But this year, why not focus on resolutions that will be easy to keep? That's right: this year, let's resolve to get caught up--or catch up our good friends--on the top buzzed-about films and TV series. You don't have premium cable? Overlooked some of the little gems on screens large and small? 2011 will be the year to set all that right:
1. Dexter -- Michael C. Hall is spellbinding as the serial killer with a conscience in Showtime's series, one of the best-written dramas in recent memory. If you don't have premium cable, don't sweat it--Dexter is great to catch up on via disc, when you can watch several episodes in a row. Each season has topped the previous, and it's best to start at the beginning of Season One. Watch for great (and dastardly) guest appearances by the likes of Jimmy Smits and John Lithgow. It's the most fun you'll have being super-creeped out.
2. The Kids Are All Right -- Lisa Cholodenko's little gem got great critical reviews but only so-so box office. But now that awards season is in full swing, more people are taking notice, and rightly so. Annette Bening, who hasn't graced movie screens in a long while, and Julianne Moore are terrific in this portrait of a family that's different, but full of love, and fully functional. (Follow it with The Who's The Kids Are Alright just for the name symmetry--and for another definition of "all right.")
3. Breaking Bad -- Don Draper and Mad Men's retro hipness have been in AMC's spotlight--rightly--this year. But AMC has been cranking out some other seriously great series, including Breaking Bad and the zombie-fest The Walking Dead. In Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston is outstanding as a desperate middle-aged dad whose life is crumbling around him, so he takes up dealing meth to earn money. It's a harsher, more real and human version of Showtime's Weeds, and Cranston is a knockout.
4. The Stieg Larsson Trilogy Films -- Everyone spent most of 2010 reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. And Hollywood has naturally gotten its mitts on rights to remake the original Swedish films. But don't wait to see if the U.S. versions can possibly measure up; take your time with the moody, eloquent originals and immerse yourself in the spooky calm of the Swedish countryside--and deep mysteries solvable only by the fiercest heroine in recent memory.
5. Big Love--The HBO series about modern-day polygamists has been compuslively watchable--but now its producers have announced this coming season will be its last. So get caught up on the goings-on in Sandy, Utah, with Bill Hendrickson (the excellent Bill Paxton) and his many merry mates.
6. Friday Night Lights--A critical favorite, Friday Night Lights still struggles in its viewership, and every season in the last few has threatened to be its last. Don't let this little gem about Texas high school football--and the lives that surround it--get away from you this year.
7. Biggest Loser: Power Walk--OK, so you would like to get in shape in 2011? You can do that, too, with some help from your favorite TV pals. The new Biggest Loser workout, Power Walk, is approachable and doable for every fitness level. No expensive equipment to buy, just that great feeling that if the motivated folks on the TV series can do it, so can you.
Happy New Year!
--A.T. Hurley
Summer Glau knows her audience. Whether as River Tam in Joss Whedon's cult classic series and follow-up film, Firefly and Serenity, or as the indestructible android-from-the-future Cameron in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Glau has cornered the market on playing attractive, demure young females with the controlled homicidal power to destroy an opposing legion of trained warriors. So it was only natural that as her first-ever animated voiceover role, Glau would fit neatly into the role of an uber-powered Kryptonian who falls under the spell of one of Superman's greatest foes. Glau finds the perfect mix of youthful curiosity, teen angst, and alien-turned-Earth-girl aggression as the voice of Kara, cousin of Superman (and ultimately destined to become Supergirl), in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies available now.
Glau's career has been populated with frequent visits to the fanboy realm, adding regular roles on The 4400 and Dollhouse to her featured gigs on Firefly/Serenity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The professionally trained ballerina had a seven-episode run on The Unit, and will appear in the upcoming NBC series The Cape, as well as in the film Knights of Badassdom.
From Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video, and based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse 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). It's available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Video On Demand in the DC Comics Store.
Following her recording session, Glau freely discussed a number of subjects--from the acting strengths of the Whedon alumni association to her consistent on-set nerves to a strong desire to land more adult roles. Here's how that conversation went ...
QUESTION: Was it easy to find a way to relate to Kara?
SUMMER GLAU: Kara was a really comfortable fit for me because she's sort of a girl coming into her own. A girl becoming a woman and finding out who she is, and so I felt like there were moments when it reminded me of River because she is so powerful, but also young and naive and a little bit lost. She has this underlying strength that comes from out of nowhere.
QUESTION: What's special about voicing Supergirl?
SUMMER GLAU: I think everything about being Supergirl is special. When I saw the graphics for her, I thought "I don't think I'm ever gonna look that good again," so I'm going to soak it up and enjoy it. I feel like animated characters always have longer calves than they have thighs. They have these tiny little thighs and these big, wonderful calves and then these big hips, and this tiny little waist. I feel like it'd be hard to keep your balance, but it looks good. Plus I loved this script, and I loved the character. Who wouldn't love to be Supergirl? So I had a great time.
Continue reading "Q&A with Summer Glau: "Superman/Batman Apocalypse"" »
Tim Daly, the fans' choice as the quintessential voice of the Man of Steel from his days portraying the title character for the landmark Superman: The Animated Series, once again supplies those All-American tones in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies available now.
Daly was the voice behind the world's ultimate super hero for 52 episodes of Superman: The Animated Series and several animated movies, all the while starring in one primetime television series after another--from eight seasons on Wings to memorable roles on HBO's The Sopranos and From the Earth to the Moon to his current ABC hit, Private Practice. The Emmy nominated actor made his feature film debut in Barry Levinson's 1982 classic Diner.
Daly joins forces with Batman voice Kevin Conroy to lead a Superman/Batman: Apocalypse cast that boasts Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid, and sci-fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)), and multi-Emmy winner Ed Asner (Up) as Granny Goodness.
From Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video, and based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse 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). It's available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Video On Demand in the DC Comics Store.
Daly joined the festivities at the World Premiere of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse in Los Angeles on September 21 at The Paley Center for Media. The Metropolis, er, New York City-born actor offered his thoughts on a number of subjects--ranging from the Superman/Batman dynamic and the importance of a great villain to his love of farming--in a playful interview. And here's what he had to say ...
QUESTION: What did you find unique and/or fresh about this latest Superman-Batman vehicle?
TIM DALY: What's interesting about the relationships in this film is that Superman and Batman are really on the same page. They are united and they only give each other a very modest amount of grief, whereas at other times they've been a little more at each other's throats, and more dubious about the other one's methods. And Kara is, perhaps, Superman's last surviving relative. So he feels very protective of her, and sort of glad to have someone who has had or is about to have a similar experience as he's had coming to a different planet. So it's kind of touching, really. He's very paternal towards her. He really wants her to do well and to stick around.
It's nice to see his powers used in connection with something personal. He's not saving the planet, he's not saving Metropolis. He's not saving Lois. He's saving a blood relative. So it's that kind of deeply personal feeling. I do enjoy that in the script.
QUESTION: If Batman is a loner, how would you classify Superman?
TIM DALY: I think Superman's a loner. Without a doubt. I think he recognizes that he has this responsibility, because of the power that he has, and that he has to bear it by himself. And to make sure that he is using it for good and not for evil. He has to keep in check his human emotions, though he's not really a human--because those are the things about living on Earth that can get us in trouble. Greed, power, love--all those things that take us off the tracks. In this script, Kara asks him if he's ever regretted having his power, and he has a one word answer: no. We actually spent quite a bit of time trying to find the right level of "no" to play, because I don't think Superman is 100 percent sure about that answer. Or he hasn't always been. He's been through a lot, finding out how different he was from everyone else, and having to essentially live a double life.
Continue reading "Q&A with Tim Daly: "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse"" »
Summer Glau, a fan favorite from sci-fi series Firefly and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, introduces a sneak peek at the new animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, in which she provides the voice of Supergirl. It's available September 28. See more in our DC Comics store. --David
That loud sound you hear in the distance is the echo of fanboys cheering the return of Kevin Conroy to his benchmark role as the voice of the Dark Knight for the highly anticipated Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming September 28, 2010.
Conroy, the voice behind the title character of the landmark Batman: The Animated Series, set a standard that has yet to be contested over the past 20 years. Conroy had already been seen on soap operas and television series like Dynasty and Tour of Duty when he aced his first audition for an animated voiceover role in 1991--for Batman: The Animated Series. It was a casting decision that sounds as good today as it did back then.
Conway helps lead a Superman/Batman: Apocalypse cast that includes fan favorite Tim Daly (Private Practice) as Superman, as well as Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid, sci-fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and multi-Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Granny Goodness.
From Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video, and based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse 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). It's available as a Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and on Blu-Ray (both with an Amazon-exclusive litho cel), as well as single-disc DVD and Video On Demand, all available in the DC Comics Store.
Conroy will speak quite a bit during pre-premiere interviews and a post-premiere panel discussion on September 23. But for those fans who can't attend the sold-out event, here's some thoughts the actor offered after a recent recording session.
QUESTION: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse features a foe powerful enough to require more than just one super hero to step to the plate. Can you speak to the importance of a great villain?
KEVIN CONROY: Well, the major villain is Darkseid, and he is very apocalyptic. You know, it's in the title [laughs]. The bigger the villain, the greater the conflict--so as Darkseid is this epic-sized villain, it gives a lot of dynamic for Batman and Superman to work off, and creates that much more drama. Which means lots of action. And, of course, Batman saves the world ... as usual. What would you expect? [laughs]
QUESTION: Do you have a preference for the type of story that goes with Batman?
KEVIN CONROY: What makes Batman interesting to audiences isn't just the fact of the personal drama, or the darkness of his having a secret identity, or his avenging his parents' death. All of that personal drama makes him appealing to people. But I think of all the super heroes, what sets him apart is that he's the only one that doesn't have any superpowers. He is the great detective. So in every story, it always comes down to his using his wits. I think everyone relates to that and loves that about him. I really admire that aspect of his character--I wish I was wittier. That's why I think audiences get into him so much, and that character trait is very important to this story.
QUESTION: Batman is a basically a loner. What are your thoughts about his lone wolf approach, and how that works in a "buddy" adventure like the Superman/Batman films?
KEVIN CONROY: Batman's isolation and his singularity, his inability to really let other people into his personal world, is really essential to the character. It's part of what audiences expect. Even in a series like Justice League, where he was one of seven super heroes, Batman was always the odd man out. The others would go off as a group to do something--you know, they might go have pizza--and Batman was always the guy left back in the cave.
So in these Superman stories, I think it's the closest Batman gets to having a brother, a kindred spirit. Superman understands Batman. He understands his need to be alone and his isolation. He's probably the only one of all the super heroes who can balance Batman in terms of wit and power, so they're a very good balance for each other.
QUESTION: How does Batman see Superman?
KEVIN CONROY: I think Batman thinks of Superman as the Dudley Do-Right of super heroes. He admires his strength and his character, but he also he thinks he's incredibly naïve and very unsophisticated about the world. Remember, Batman is also Bruce Wayne, so he's very urbane. He's very versed in the way of the world. And Superman is Clark Kent, and he's such a goof [laughs]. So it's almost all about the alter-ego--the darkness of Batman's Bruce Wayne is balanced out by the sunny demeanor of Superman's Clark Kent. That's where I think the distinction is. Batman just thinks that Superman is kind of a very, very naïve guy who always sees the goodness in everybody. And Batman tends to see the darkness.
QUESTION: You attended Comic-Con International in San Diego last year for the first time in six years. How did that experience impact you?
KEVIN CONROY: The experience with the fans always re-energizes me for Batman. I've always been really into meeting and interacting with the fans. I understand why a lot of actors don't like to do that because it can be very invasive of your private life. But I'm just so appreciative because I figure I wouldn't have a job if it wasn't for them. Also, my background is the theatre, and the fun of doing theatre is the interaction with the audience, the feedback you get every night. You just don't get that in Hollywood. You don't get that with television or film, and you certainly don't get it working in animation. So the only place you get it is to go to places like the Cons.
Plus, you get funny perks. I went to a Starbucks in downtown San Diego, and they said, "Oh, Mr. Conroy, you don't pay for coffee today." [laughs] I thought, well, that hasn't happened in a long time.
QUESTION: Away from the Cons, how often are you recognized?
KEVIN CONROY: It happens in some unusual places. A number of years ago, I was in the Hollywood Post Office parking lot. I left everything in the car, because I was just going straight to the mail drop with the envelope. This guy, who was sitting on the curb, obviously homeless, says to me "Hey, buddy, have you got a quarter?" And I said, "I'm so sorry. I literally don't. I have nothing." He said, "You're Kevin Conroy!" I got really nervous--you just assume that your job is anonymous working on animation, so I asked him how he knew that and he said, "Oh, everybody knows who's Batman." I said, "No, believe me, everyone doesn't know who's Batman." He said, "Oh, please--please--please--please do the voice." He said, "Just say it ... I am vengeance." He knew the lines. I said, "I am vengeance." He said, "Oh, my God. Batman's here! Batman's here!" He said, "Say it: I am the night." I said, "I am the night." He said, "Go! Go! Finish! Finish!" And I said "I am Batman!" So the two of us are there screaming "I am Batman!" in the parking lot, and he started clapping and clapping, yelling "I can't believe I have Batman in the parking lot."
He went on to explain to me that all television monitors at the Circuit City on Hollywood Blvd. showed Batman every day, and he would stand outside and watch the show. So I said, "Wait, just a second," and I went running back to the car for some cash. He said, "Oh, I can't take Batman's money." I told him he was going to take Batman's money so he wouldn't tell anyone that Batman is cheap [laughs]. That whole scene was wild, though--the last place you'd expect for someone to recognize a voice actor is in the parking lot of the post office.
QUESTION: You're a classically trained actor and a graduate of Juilliard. Did you receive any instruction at Julliard that prepared you for voiceover work?
KEVIN CONROY: At that time, Juilliard was the new hot place to go if you wanted to be an actor, My classmates were people like Robin Williams, Kelsey Grammer, Frannie Conroy. We were all kids. Robin and I were roommates for two years, stealing food from each other when the other wasn't looking. We were starving students.
Robin was brilliant at the one thing that is perhaps what best prepared me for what I do now, voicework. There was a famous teacher named Pierre LeFevre who ran the mask program at Juilliard. French masks conceal just the upper part of the face. This is classical French theatre, and it's all part of a very classical education. You put on these masks and they completely neutralize who you are. You become a different person. You can't use the expressions on your face--you can only use your body and your voice. Robin lived in those mask classes--he would put on these masks and just become these unbelievable characters. Pierre practically adopted Robin. There was some really inspired stuff going on. The point is that in that class, all you could use was your voice. It really made you focus on that--especially on characterization in your voice.
QUESTION: Did you have any clue that would lead you somewhere?
KEVIN CONROY: It's like that old expression--life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. I made all these plans to be a classical actor, and you can't make a living in the theatre anymore. There are no more classical actors. Everyone who survives in the theatre does it by doing TV and film ... or voice work.
I had no idea that this is what I would end up doing, but it certainly prepared me for it. I get that question a lot from people. How do you get into this business? How do I get into voice work? And I always say, "Well, you go to Juilliard for four years ..." [laughs] That's the thing--everyone's route is unique.
QUESTION: Did you have much voiceover success before Batman?
KEVIN CONROY: Actually, I started doing voice work in the early '80s, and the very first voice job I did was the first commercial I auditioned for. Remember Paco Rabanne cologne? The hook line was "What is remembered is up to you." That was me. And over the next couple years, it paid me $25,000 for those few words. It paid for a lot of theatre acting.
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