Warner Bros. has just released the first official clip of its upcomingBatman: The Long Halloween, Part One. The hotly anticipated animated adaptation of the beloved comic series arrives on digital and Blu-ray on June 22.
FeaturingJensen Acklesas Bruce Wayne andAlastair Duncanas Alfred Pennyworth, the clip finds the two in an empty Wayne Manor on Halloween. The scene represents a kind of calm before the storm, where Bruce and Alfred can quibble about security and how Gotham City has changed. It’s a quiet, ruminative scene, concerned more with their relationship than superhero bombast.
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That deliberate pacing is very much in line withJeff LoebandTim Sale’s 1996 comics series, which built its central mystery over the course of a year. More importantly, the darker tone of the original series is translated beautifully, even as it injects some levity in Alfred’s gentle ribbing. “Quite absurd,” indeed.
Even within this quieter prologue to the story, there’s plenty of hints of what is to come. Bruce’s attitudes about Gotham’s “fallen” nature certainly speak to his efforts and suspicions as his investigation wears on, but fans might be most intrigued by Alfred’s mention of Selina Kyle (voiced by the lateNaya Riverain one of her final roles). Alfred and Bruce are the only characters in this scene, but pointing at the wider world around them is a great way of building anticipation.
The rest of the cast includesJosh Duhamelas Harvey Dent andBilly Burkeas James Gordon, who join Batman’s investigation. Their search brings them in contact with most of Gotham’s criminal underbelly, including Carmine Falcone (Titus Welliver), the Joker (Troy Baker), Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore), and Calendar Man (David Dastmalchian).Amy Landecker,Julie Nathanson,Jack Quaid,Frances Callier,Greg Chun,Gary Leroi Gray, andJim Pirrialso star.
Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Onewill be released on digital and Blu-ray on June 22, withPart Twoto follow digitally on July 27 and on Blu-ray on August 10. Check out the clip below.
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