Corona | Coming Attractions

Published in 1986, Frank Miller's graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns had a profound impact on the current pop culture take on The Batman. Released at a time when comic books weren't considered capable of rising above juvenile status, TDKR showed us a grim, stark future for a 55-year-old Bruce Wayne. Long since retired from being the Batman, Bruce decides to put on his cape and cowl again to battle a new breed of Gotham City criminal. That sets the stage for Batman's final confrontations with The Joker, Two-Face and a fight-to-the-death street brawl with none other than the Man of Steel, Superman.

Warner Bros. Animation had already announced plans to adapt Miller's The Dark Knight Returns into a direct-to-video animated movie. Today we learned who would provide the voices for some of the show's cast members.

Leading the cast will be Peter Weller (Robocop, Leviathan, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) in the role of the older Bruce Wayne/Batman. Ariel Winter (Modern Family) will be voicing Carrie Kelley, a.k.a. the new Robin who is a teenage girl. Wade Williams (Prison Break) will be Harvey "Two-Face" Dent; Michael McKean (This is Spinal Tap) will be Dr. Wolper, the psychiatrist who deems The Joker a reformed man and releases him from Arkham Asylum; and David Selby (the original Dark Shadows TV series) will voice an unnamed character (perhaps The Joker?)

Among the major characters missing in the cast list are the retired Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon; new GCPD Commissioner Yindel; the older Green Arrow; and Superman himself.

Perhaps the studio is keeping these voice actors hidden behind the curtain for the time being since they are making two Dark Knight Returns films, both a Part 1 and a Part 2. The first half of TDKR will be available in stores this fall while Part 2 arrives in early 2013.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is being directed by Jay Oliva, a storyboard artist for Zack Snyder's Man of Steel movie and the director for several scenes of the DC Animated movie Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. The screenplay was written by Bob Goodman (a writer for the SyFy series Warehouse 13.)