Posted March 19, 2012 by Norby Ela in Movies/TV

DC Universe Presents ‘Superman VS. The Elite’

Press Release

The Man Of Steel comes face-to-face with powerful villains, daunting rivals and a society more interested in retribution than justice when a new, less-ethical breed of super hero arrives in Metropolis in Superman vs. The Elite, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives June 12, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD will include an UltraViolet™ Digital Copy.

Award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly has crafted a taut, thrilling screenplay, adapted from the original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?,” by Kelly and Doug Mahnke with Lee Bermejo. The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”

In the film, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical and decidedly non-lethal Man of Steel.

George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Versatile voice actor Robin Atkin Downes (Babylon 5, Justice League: Doom) steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.

The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: The Brave and the Bold). Sam Register (Young Justice, Teen Titans, Ben 10) and Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) are the executive producers. Alan Burnett is producer.

“Superman vs. The Elite adds to the rich legacy of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, spotlighting an important chapter in the annals of Man of Steel stories,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Bringing back George Newbern gives the film a nice touch of nostalgia for fans of the Justice League animated series, and Pauley Perrette gives Lois Lane altogether new dimensions with her performance.”

Superman vs. The Elite Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has 3 hours of exciting content, including:
• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• UltraViolet™ Digital Copy*
• Sneak Peak at Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
• Featurette – “The Elite Unbound: No Rules, No Mercy” – A short documentary focused upon The Elite, and their arc of character throughout the comics. Even the anti-heroes have their own struggles … and triumphs. It’s all highlighted in this compelling film that begins with the inspiration of The Authority, and how The Elite became the answer to that book, and a fresh approach for DC Comics in the post 9/11 world. It was an unexpected twist to the pages of Action Comics, and this documentary summarizes the true potency of these Elite.
• Featurette – “Superman and the Moral Debate” – There’s a prevailing thought about ending terrorism and ridding our Earth of the maladjusted once and for all – by fighting fire with fire! This is the story of The Elite, a band of fringe Superheroes who were compelled to eradicate the Earth of its scum, its tyranny and evil once and for all, not with words, but with raw unadulterated action, designed to kill their opponents. This is their controversial story.
• Creative team audio commentary
• Two bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series handpicked by producer Alan Burnett: Brave New Metropolis and Warrior Queen.
• Digital Comic — Action Comics #775 -”What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?”
• All-Star Superman revisited: sneak peak
• Batman/Superman: Public Enemies revisited: sneak peak
• Photo Gallery- The upcoming The Dark Knight Rises Theatrical Release
* Superman vs. The Elite UltraViolet Digital Copy is a limited time offer. Restrictions and limitations apply.
Go to ultraviolet.flixster .com/info for details.

About Warner Premiere:
Warner Premiere specializes in the development and production of both features and digital content for home entertainment platforms. Past projects include A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster and Batman: Year One, as well as the digital series Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Aim High. Warner Premiere is at the creative forefront in the made-for-home entertainment marketplace, producing properties that exemplify the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, ThunderCats and Young Justice, for Cartoon Network. WBA also produces series and additional original content for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block. In addition to TV programming, WBA produces theatrically released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters, rendered in stereoscopic 3D. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).