You could argue that it’s the one that started it all. Batman: Year One was the start of an incredible run for DC animated movies from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The retelling of the classic Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli still stands up as one of the best of the 30+ films that would follow. Now you can relive it in stunning 4K Ultra HD.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced a fully remastered release of the film as a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-Ray/Digital Combo Pack. Along with some of the amazing special features from the original release, this will include a new Reinventing Gordon featurette and a look at some of the other recently released animated movies from DC. Here’s a look at what you’ll get:
Featurette – Reinventing Gordon (New) – An examination of the history of James Gordon through comics, animation, and feature films.
Featurette – Conversations with DC Comics – The Batman creative team at DC discusses the personal influence of Batman: Year One on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors, and artists of Batman lore, focusing on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.
Audio Commentary – Featuring co-producer Alan Burnett, co-director Sam Liu, DC creative director Mike Carlin and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano.
Featurette – Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots – “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman’s life. Frank Miller’s next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary spotlights the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.
DC Showcase – Catwoman (2011 Animated Short) – The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Eliza Dushku reprises her Batman: Year One role as the voice of Catwoman. The short is directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One) from a script by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series).
DC Universe Movies Flashbacks
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One
Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two
If you’re not familiar with the story, here’s a quick synopsis: “The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed Super Hero. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham City.”
The cast includes Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Trumbo, Your Honor) and Gotham star Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.) as Lieutenant James Gordon and Bruce Wayne/Batman, respectively. You’ll also hear Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Katee Sackhoff (The Mandalorian, Battlestar Galactica) as Detective Sarah Essen, and the late Alex Rocco (The Godfather) as crime lord Carmine Falcone. Additional voices/characters include the late Jon Polito as Commissioner Loeb, Jeff Bennett as Alfred, Grey Griffin as Barbara Gordon & Vicki Vale, Robin Atkin Downes as Harvey Dent, Keith Ferguson as Jefferson Skeevers, Fred Tatasciore as Detective Flass, Stephen Root as Brendon, Liliana Mumy as Holly and Nick Jameson as Merkel. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Voltron: Legendary Defender) and Sam Liu (Batman: Soul of the Dragon, Superman: Red Son) co-directed Batman: Year One with the script coming from Academy Award® nominee Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist, Disney’s Tarzan). Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series), Sam Register, Michael Uslan and the late Benjamin Melniker served as executive producers.
What better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a modern day classic? Batman: Year One Commemorative Edition will be released on November 9th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment