The upcoming DC animated film Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham shares first-look images. Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is based on a 2001 miniseries by Mike Mignola, Richard Pace, and Troy Nixey that reimagines The Dark Knight's origin story. Set in the roaring 1920s of one of DC's Elseworlds, the story sees Bruce Wayne as an explorer who unwittingly unleashes a Lovecraftian evil, which he must combat after a twenty-year absence from Gotham. The voice cast includes David Giuntoli as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Patrick Fabian as Harvey Dent, John DiMaggio as James Gordon, Emily O'Brien as Talia al Ghul, Christopher Gorham as Oliver Queen, and David Dastmalchian as Grendon.Warner Bros. shared three images from Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, teasing the film's characters. While the first image gives audiences a glimpse of Batman's 1920s-style suit, the others see Talia al Ghul and Bruce Wayne with Harvey Dent and Oliver Queen. While the images don't give much away, viewers can see the influence of the time period and what to expect in another Elseworlds story akin to the previously released Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. Check out the Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham images below:
How DC's Animated Films Continue To Surpass Their Theatrical Releases
The DCU is in a state of flux as James Gunn and Peter Safran begin looking ahead to the future of their film slate. While some of DC's live-action films have seen stellar success, like 2017's Wonder Woman and 2018's Aquaman, there are various large-scale failures, like the critical panning of Wonder Woman 1984 and the turmoil surrounding Justice League. Over the last year, DC comics-based films have taken even more hits, with Warner Bros.' cancelation of Batgirl and the controversy surrounding Ezra Miller's The Flash, which is still on track for release. However, while DC's live-action films are in a state of reinvention, leaving their future uncertain, their animated movies have continued to impress fans.
Since 2007, DC has consistently released animated films based on some of its most prominent characters, like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. There are even numerous team-up films seeing the heroes come together as the Justice League and Teen Titans. And while some miss the mark, like 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke, which disappointed fans with unnecessary elements, DC's animated films have a track record of success among loyal viewers, with some even preferring them over their live-action counterparts. Batman: Under the Red Hood is consistently regarded as one of the best film adaptations of the character, holding an impressive 100% Fresh rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2013 film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox also holds the same rating with critics, bolstered by an impressive and emotional retelling of the comic book storyline.
Many viewers even argue that live-action films could benefit from lessons taught by the animated films, which tend to stick closer to the source material, giving audiences the interpretations they have already come to love. While the DC animated slate isn't perfect, their proven track record has seen continuous output for over a decade with no signs of stopping. Furthermore, with some audiences feeling as though superhero movies are dominating the box office, DC animation doesn't seem to be running into the same criticisms, instead appealing to the die-hard fans that are eager for each new release. DC looks to continue to offer fans more animated films starring their favorite superhero, with Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham set to release in 2023.
Source: Warner Bros.
