The return of Bruce Timm and several voice actors from Batman: The Animated Series makes Batman and Harley Quinn an exciting return to form for fans of the DC Animated Universe, but is the latest DC Universe Animated Original Movie actually in the same continuity as the beloved cartoon series?
Timm tells ComicBook.com at Comic-Con International: San Diego that it was always his intent for Batman and Harley Quinn to be part of the Batman: The Animated Series universe.
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“It’s kind of classic Harley,” Timm says. “Early on we decided we were going to set the movie in the classic, Batman: The Animated Series universe. That meant the character designs and bringing Kevin [Conroy] and Loren [Lester] back to play Batman and Nightwing.
“So it’s kind of the classic Harley. She’s kind of the wacky clown girl. When we meet her in the beginning of the story she’s actually kind of tried to put that behind her and she’s out of prison and she’s just trying to get on with her life and then Batman, of course, just has to pull her right back into the whole capes and cowls thing and then Wacky hijinks ensue.”
However, while Batman and Harley Quinn is definitely a spiritual successor to Batman: The Animated Series, whether it’s technically canon by letter of the law isn’t entirely clear, Timm admits.
“I don’t really know. I personally kind of think that it is, but I’m not actually in control of what’s in continuity and what isn’t because there’s been several other classic Batman animated-style movies that I didn’t have anything to do with, so technically they’re canon even though I didn’t have anything to do with them, so technically this could be continuity or it could just be head-canon. I don’t know.”
Spawned from an original story by animation icon Bruce Timm, Batman and Harley Quinn brings legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy back to his most famous role. 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.
Batman and Harley Quinn goes on sale on Aug. 29.
More Batman and Harley Quinn: Bruce Timm Open To Doing More Batman: The Animated Series Movies / First Look At Batman And Harley Quinn Movie / Batman And Harley Quinn Official Trailer Released / Batman And Harley Quinn Movie To Premiere At Comic-Con
