Justice League: War Launches New Line of Connected OVAs

In this Comic Book Resources interview, DC animated movie producer James Tucker discussed how Justice League: War (the original-to-home-video DCU cartoon movie out today) will be the first in a series of connected original video animated films. He says,

“This will definitely be the first salvo in doing new movies that are in continuity with each other. Our next movie’s going to be Son of Batman, and that Batman will be the same Batman that you see in Justice League: War. Basically, we’ll have two concurrent series of Justice League movies and Batman movies, and they’ll be in continuity with each other. So it’s kind of world-building.”

That likely explains the recasting, with new voices for the major superheroes. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment would want talent that understood the continuing implications of the job, although voice director Andrea Romano said “I wanted to fit the best actors to the roles…. I pretty much look at almost each one of these as an individual film.”

Tucker went on to explain that they’re aiming for three movies a year, two in the same universe as War and one stand-alone (which this year will be Batman: Assault on Arkham). A likely followup next year is teased at the end of Justice League: War, with shots of Ocean Master, a foe of Aquaman’s.

It’s unfortunate but understandable that so much attention is being placed on the two major WB superhero franchises, the Justice League and Batman. They’re the ones that have shown longevity and appeal to mass audiences. There are so many great DC characters that could carry movies and TV, though, if they had the right stories and cast, and I fear that this means a lack of risk-taking for a while. Perhaps that’s necessary, until Warner gets the unquestioned success they need and as they ramp up to the Superman/Batman film in 2016.