Batman Unburied sees the Dark Knight return to the audio format, and the latest casting announcement from DC FanDome has completed the podcast's full cast. Batman Unburied is not to be confused with another Batman podcast that is being produced concurrently: Batman: The Audio Adventures. The latter will release exclusively on HBO Max and will strike a more comedic tone, while updates on Batman Unburied promise a podcast that will take a darker look at the hero.
In 2020, Warner Bros. signed an expansive deal with Spotify to bring many of their intellectual properties to the podcast format, including the DC superheroes. For a long time, DC remained tight-lipped about which characters would be the initial focus, but it is perhaps no surprise that Batman Unburied represents the first outing from this deal. Once again, DC is following in Marvel’s footsteps as they had success with a scripted Wolverine podcast back in 2018 and have further plans to pursue to format.
Rather than casting Bruce Wayne as a billionaire playboy, Batman Unburied will reimagine him as a forensic pathologist working in Gotham Hospital, seeking justice with his day job as well as in his nighttime excursions. While The Batman seeks to tell a "Year One" story while skipping over Bruce Wayne's origin story, Batman Unburied will instead tell a new and different version of the famous character's beginnings. When a serial killer, The Harvester, begins to fill the hospital with his victims, the dual character of Bruce Wayne will come to the fore as he must face his own demons, donning the Batsuit to save the city. Here’s everyone associated with the project so far.
Batman Unburied will star Winston Duke in the titular role. One of many actors set to take on the cowl in upcoming projects, Duke appeared in Jordan Peele’s Us. However, he made a name for himself in comic book adaptations before that when he rose to prominence portraying M’Baku, the leader of the Jabari in Black Panther, returning to the role for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He is expected to return to the role of the potentially villainous M'Baku for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Duke is also familiar with the mystery setting, as before appearing in Black Panther he had taken on TV roles in the crime dramas Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Major Crimes.
Where would Batman be without Alfred? Listeners of Batman Unburied won’t have to find out as Jason Isaacs has been announced for the role. Many will know Isaacs from his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, but his acting credits are extensive. He’s had experience in crime dramas before as he played the protagonist, Jackson Brody, in the adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories. Jason Isaacs is also often cast for voice acting, particularly for DC properties, having voiced Superman in Superman: Red Son and Lex Luthor in Justice League: Gods and Monsters. Outside of DC properties, Jason Isaacs voiced Commander Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The Harvester Bruce Wayne's antagonist for Batman Unburied and plays the role of a villainous cannibalistic serial killer. He'll be portrayed by Sam Witwer, who made a name for himself when he played Crashdown in the early-2000s Battlestar Galactica TV series. Witwer is no stranger to voice acting and after voicing the protagonist in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video games, went on to play the voice of Darth Maul in his animated Star Wars appearances. He has also previously appeared in DC adaptations as he played Ben Lockwood/Agent Liberty in the Supergirl TV series.
Related: Darth Maul Formed The Knights of Ren - Star Wars Theory Explained
Despite his death playing a significant part in Bruce Wayne's origin story, Thomas Wayne has made appearances in several adaptations of Batman's story, most often through dreams or visions from Scarecrow. Therefore, it is hard to say whether this casting of the character means that Batman's origin story will see drastic change or simply means his father will be heard in flashbacks and dreams. Lance Reddick has a well-established acting history and previously voiced DC characters like Ra's Al Ghul in Beware the Batman. Most recently he has been seen as Charon, the concierge of The Continental Hotel in the John Wick franchise and is set to play Albert Wesker in the upcoming Resident Evil TV series.
While regularly an important character, Martha Wayne often plays second fiddle to Thomas Wayne (aside from Batman Vs. Superman infamous Martha scene) with Bruce more concerned about living up to his father's expectations while simply feeling like he failed his mother. It will be interesting to see whether Batman Unburied changes that dynamic with Toks Olgundoye playing Martha Wayne. Olgundoye has done extensive voice acting, appearing as Countess Cleo as Carmen Sandiego, and Cat Grant in The Death and Return of Superman. She has recently played Terri Grint in Big Shot and Professor Fiona Ryan in The Rookie.
Seemingly an entirely new character to DC, Dr. Hunter is a psychiatrist in Batman: Unburied. Dr. Hunter is played by John Rhys-Davies. While John Rhys-Davies has had a storied career, he is probably best known for his role as Sallah in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, and as Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Another entirely new character appearing in Batman Unburied is Kell, a medical who assists Bruce Wayne in his role as a forensic pathologist during his day job. Kell will be played by Emmy Raver-Lampman who has done recent voice work as Milly Tillerman in Central Park, but is probably best known for her role as Allison Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy.
Related: Why Reginald Chose Umbrellas For The Academy's Symbol
The casting announcement for this character came purely as "Barbara Gordon," making it unclear whether the series will see her assume her comics roles of either Batgirl or Oracle in Batman Unburied. The podcast has not cast a Commissioner Gordon, so it appears that Barbara might serve as an officer herself and provide a connection for Bruce to the police force. Gina Rodriguez is well known as Jane Villanueva in Jane the Virgin, but more recently voiced Carmen Sandiego in the TV series of the same name.
Renee Montoya is best known as a member of Birds of Prey, but first she was a member of the GCPD. In Batman Unburied she will be portrayed by Jessica Marie Garcia who played Jess in Betch and Rhonda Navarro in How To Get Away With Murder.
Detective Arnold Flass has appeared in several Batman adaptations before, including Batman Begins and Gotham. He was first introduced in "Batman: Year One" and is reliably a corrupt member of the GCPD. Jim Pirri has worked extensively as a voice actor and portrayed Angelo Bronte in Red Dead Redemption II and Sal Maroni in Batman: The Long Halloween.
Vicki Vale is a journalist that makes regular appearances in Batman adaptations, including being portrayed by Kim Basinger in Tim Burtons 1989 Batman. In Batman Unburied, she'll be played by Ashly Burch. Burch has become a rising star in voice acting since playing Aloy in Horizon: Zero Dawn and voiced the podcaster Danika Hart in Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Related: Batman Returns: Why Vicki Vale Wasn't In Tim Burton's Sequel
The very first name attached to Batman Unburied was one with a long history with DC: David S. Goyer as creator. Goyer penned Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, as well as many other DC adaptations, including the Constantine TV show. The series will be directed by Alex Kemp, with episodes written by Saladin Ahmed (Foundation), Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Rebecca Klingel (The Haunting of Hill House), and Graham Westerson (Stranger Things).
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3CzT3gv
0 Comments