After the Warner Bros. animated feature Son of Batman enjoyed its world premiere at WonderCon 2014, it only makes sense that the next chapter in the saga would follow suit at this year’s event. Batman vs Robin will be released this week, but WonderCon 2015 attendees were given the opportunity to enjoy the film during a special premiere screening – and we were once again given the opportunity to chat with the cast and filmmakers.
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J.M. DeMatteis (screenwriter)
This film is loosely adapting the Court of Owls storyline from the comics, which has already become a very iconic story. Which elements were important to make sure they were included?
What you said about “loosely adapting” is the key, because we’re not doing a strict adaptation. In fact, we’re building an entirely different story out of it. By setting out not to do a strict adaptation, we were free to pick and choose from the mythology. The Court of Owls is a really cool concept – what can we do with that? There’s a few really great scenes in there that we decided to use for the movie, but we’re not bound by any of it. It became the foundation, and on that foundation we built a new story.
This seems like it’s a much more personal story than the past few films.
More than anything, it’s a Batman and Damian story. It’s the story of a guy as ill-equipped to be a father as anyone on earth, and a kid who’re really as ill-equipped to be a son as anybody on earth, trying and struggling not just to find each other – but to decide if they even want to find each other. It’s a wonderful little dance that these characters go through.
Sean Maher (Dick Grayson aka Nightwing)
This was your second time as Nightwing. Did you find it easy to slip back into the role?
Yes and no. Voice acting is still very new to me – this is only my second time doing it. The second movie was a little easier, because I kind of knew what to expect. When you first step in, you’re a little stiff and a little cold, and as it goes, you sort of find the character and the physicality and loosen up. And when we get to the end of the session, we go back and redo the beginning lines – because we’ve finally found the character, so we want to redo all the lines that sucked.
When you’re voicing a character that has so much history, do you feel any added pressure to make sure you do justice to the source material?
Well, certainly I want to do the character justice, but I also want to bring something new. So I can’t focus on recreating anything – I can only do it in the way that I’m going to interpret it. So in that regard, I kind of take the pressure off myself, and try to put a fresh take on it.
You’re obviously used to a certain kind of fandom, from your work on Firefly and Serenity. Do you feel like the fandom surrounding comic book properties is different in any way?
No, it’s all very similar. There’s just a lot of love and a lot of excitement, and a lot of gratitude and appreication for what we do. I feel so blessed to come to events like this. We’re all here for the same reason. We all love the work that we do, and people are responding to that. What could be better?
Andrea Romano (Casting and Voice Director)
Do you find that your job is a bit easier when you’re working with actors that have played these same roles in the past?
Yes, it is a little bit easier – but only a little. And then, of course, there are a ton of other characters that are new to this world, like anyone from the Court of Owls family. But I do love the fact that Kevin Conroy is in this piece as Thomas Waynes – that makes me really happy. Every piece has its challeneges, but this one was a little easier because I had three actors that had done these specific roles before. They already understood this world.
Speaking of some of the new talent, what went into the decision to cast Al Yankovic as The Dollmaker?
I love Al so much, and I’ve known him for many years. My husband actually drew his first album cover, so we’ve known him for decades. He’s worked for me on other stuff, but I’ve always looked for something that you wouldn’t naturally think of him for. Something so weird and creepy and scary and subtle, and yet bizarre and big at the same time. And he just chewed it up, he was so very good. I’m quite proud of that casting.
Stuart Allan (Damian Wayne aka Robin)
When we spoke last year, you sad that you played Damian as a mix between a bratty kid, and a bit of a lone wolf. What changes did you make to the character for this film?
Damien has lived with Batman for a few months now, so he’s become a little more empathetic as he’s learned about justice, not vengeance. He’s started to grow a bit of a better conscience, although of course, every kid goes through a moment in their life where they start to question who they are. and what they want to do in their life, and Damian has now reached that point. He’s approached by the Court of Owls, which is a lot like the League of Assassins from his upbringing, so that’s a little more appealing to him than Batman – but we’ll see which one he chooses.
Jason O’Mara (Bruce Wayne aka Batman)
This is your fourth time voicing Batman. I’ve got to imagine you’re getting pretty comfortable in the role.
It’s like tossing on an old shirt. [laughs] No, the thing is, I was hoping it would get easier, but it really doesn’t. This movie kind of pushes the boundaries of Batman’s character and goes deeper into his psyche and his relationship with Damian. So it wasn’t that easy, there’s a lot of emotion involved.
The thing about these Batman movies, as opposed to some of the others, this isn’t just Batman solving crimes and fighting supervillains. This is really about Batman’s relationship with his family, so that complicates every decision he makes, every choice. That part of it is very difficult, trying to convey the correct amount of emotion that’s appropriate for Batman, and appropriate for Bruce. It’s an interesting evolution for the character, but it’s never easy.
This movie almost seems like it’s more about Damian’s journey, rather than Batman’s.
Yeah, the big question is “what is going to become of Damian?” What is he going to choose? Is he going to become a hero vigilante, or will he bring Gotham to its knees? He’s capable of doing both, and I just think it’s a really compelling story, and something that really hasn’t been explored before.
Any chance that you’ll be back for a fifth outing as Batman?
It’s looking pretty good. They keep asking me back to do these, and I’d be a fool to say no. I just can’t believe that I get to play this iconic character. It’s really close to my heart, and I try to give a hundred percent whenever I come in to record. The whole thing has just been a thrill.
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Batman vs. Robin will be available on Blu-Ray, DVD and VOD beginning March 14.
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