In the past, Batman has joined forces with plenty of unlikely characters in the interest of protecting Gotham City from those who wish to bring the crime-ridden metropolis to its knees. Now, it looks as if The Dark Knight will be doing it again when DC's next original animated film BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN arrives on Ultra HD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, Deluxe Gift Set Blu-Ray, Digital and DVD on August 29, 2017.
As per the official press release for the film:
In BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN, Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue (a.k.a. The Floronic Man) embark on an ecological quest to save the planet – and, unfortunately, eliminate most of humankind along the way. To save humanity, Batman and Nightwing are forced to enlist Harley Quinn to catch Poison Ivy, Harley’s BFF and frequent partner-in-crime. But Batman’s patience is put to the test by the unpredictable and untrustworthy Harley during the twists and turns the reluctant companions face during their bumpy road trip. The result is a thrill ride of action, adventure and comedy no Batman fan has seen before.
The latest DC animated film features a stellar voice cast led by Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) reprising his role as the Dark Knight, alongside Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) making her debut as the irrepressible Harley Quinn. Loren Lester, the voice of Robin in Batman: The Animated Series, returns as Nightwing. Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) provide the voices of the villainous duo Poison Ivy & Jason Woodrue/The Floronic Man, respectively.
Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke) directed from an original story by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) with a teleplay written by Timm & Jim Krieg (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox). Co-Producer is Alan Burnett (The Batman). Executive Producers are Sam Register and Bruce Timm. Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan are Executive Producers.
Here's the sleek-looking box art for the film:
BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN boasts enhanced content including multiple featurettes and sneak peeks into what is next for the DC Universe.
Here's what you can expect in regard to the Enhanced Content of the Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset, Blu-ray and Digital releases of the film:
The Harley Effect (Featurette): Harley Quinn, has a deep history with the fans of the DC Universe. This featurette traces her humble roots from her creators, to those that portray her at Comic book conventions. She is a symbol of strength and beloved by many.
Loren Lester: In His Own Voice (Featurette): This documentary examines actor Loren Lester’s legacy within Batman The Animated Series, Dick Grayson’s character, and the popularity that surrounds Lester’s interpretation of the Boy Wonder.
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie: A behind-the-scenes look at the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies, featuring thoughts from the talented filmmakers and voice cast.
From the DC Vault – Batman: The Animated Series – “Harley and Ivy” and “Harley’s Holiday”
Unfortunately, the DVD edition of the film is only set to include A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Original Movie: A behind-the-scenes look at the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Original Movies, featuring thoughts from the talented filmmakers and voice cast.
Personally, I'm on the fence with this one, despite Harley Quinn being one of my all-time favorite DC-related characters. The trailer (shown in the player above) strikes me as a bizarre showcase for this upcoming animation, even with my being excited about THE BIG BANG THEORY's Melissa Rauch lending her voice to the role of Ms. Quinn. I'll undoubtedly see it, as I make it a point to view all of DC's animated content, though I'm hoping that this is a "don't judge the film by its trailer" situation. Also, everyone loves an ornery Batman, as I do find that "God, help us" line is pretty hilarious.
BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN is set for a August 29, 2017 release.