Bruce Timm Open To More Batman: The Animated Series Movies

DC Comics Animation has long been the frontrunner in the race against Marvel Animation – and Bruce Timm has lot to do do with that. As one of the minds behind Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated and the Justice League animated series, Timm helped set the tone for what the DC animated universe should be. His influence has lived on in series like Young Justice (which is being resurrected from cancellation for a new season), and the movies he’s done in the DC Universe – such as Batman: The Killing Joke and the upcoming Batman and Harley Quinn animated movie.

In Batman and Harley Quinn: “Batman and Nightwing are forced to team with the Joker’s sometimes-girlfriend Harley Quinn to stop a global threat brought about by Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man.”

The animated movie is done in the classic style of Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series uinverse, prompting the question: Does the DC Animation have even more B:TAS stories to tell?

The Bruce Timm Experience

While at San Diego Comic-Con, we here at Comicbook.com had a chance to speak with Bruce Timm, and asked him if Batman and Harley Quinn was carved out of the DNA from the Batman: The Animated Series universe, and if that universe is a well he would return to again in the future.

According to Timm:

“Technically, the basic idea of it is very similar to an episode that we actually did in the classic B:TAS series called “Harley Quinnade,” which was kind of ’48 Hours’ with Harley Quinn. So this is structurally kind of similar to that, but with Poison Ivy instead of The Joker and other different story elements to it. But the basic setup is the same; like I said, it’s like ’48 Hours’ but with supervillains, so that was the initial idea, and let’s hope it does really really well!” 

He later added, “I’m sure that if it does really really well, the home video people will say, ‘Yeah! let’s do some more in that classic style!” to which we say: Let’s hope so. 

Batman and Harley Quinn will be available on home video/digital release on August 15th. 

More DC Animation News

• 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

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 film features a 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 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, 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.

Spawned from an original story by animation icon Bruce Timm, Batman and Harley Quinn will be available in several popular formats as the first Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack ($44.98 SRP) release of a DC Universe Original Movie; Blu-ray Deluxe Giftset ($39.99 SRP), featuring an exclusive Harley Quinn figurine; Blu-ray Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP); DVD ($19.98 SRP); and Digital ($19.99 HD, $14.99 SD). The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray disc featuring the film; the Blu-ray Combo Pack features the film in hi-definition; and the DVD features the movie in standard definition. The Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Combo Pack include a digital version of the film.

Batman and Harley Quinn hits Digital HD on August 15 and Blu-ray and DVD on August 29.