STACK June 2016 Issue 140

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08 JUNE 2016
EXTRAS NEWS
EXTRAS
I n more DC news, one of
the most acclaimed and
best-selling graphic novels
of all time is set to make its animated
debut. Batman:The Killing Joke was first
published in 1988, and is widely considered to be
the definitive origin story of The Joker. Writer Alan
Moore (V for Vendetta, Watchmen) wanted to
explore how 'one bad day' finally drove a failed
comedian over the edge, and turned him into
Gotham City's most feared supervillain. The Killing
Joke has been adapted as an animated feature,
but be warned, it's not family-friendly, with an
'adults only' rating expected for its August 2016
release. Headlining the voice cast will be Luke
Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. Hamill and actor
Kevin Conroy have a strong DC legacy as the
voices behind the Joker and Batman, respectively.
They've worked together on the Batman animated
series during the nineties, and also lent their vocal
talents to the popular Batman: Arkham video
game series, which made its debut in 2009. If
you're excited about Batman: The Killing Joke,
make sure you check out a sneak peek on the DVD
and Blu-ray of animation extravaganza Justice
League vs.TeenTitans, out now at JB Hi-Fi.
A ccording to The Hollywood Reporter,
the movie will also feature a number
of other female characters from the
DC Universe. The comic book giant has a
strong stable of female crimefighters and
villains – Wonder Woman, Quinn’s
Suicide Squad sidekick Katana, Batgirl,
Poison Ivy, Catwoman – and is targeting
the growing number of female fans
through series such DC SuperHero
Girls and Birds of Prey, which features
a team of superheroines originating
from Gotham City.
Details are being kept closely
under wraps, but THR says that
Margot Robbie is the main driver
behind the project, and is likely to
produce as well as star in the Harley
Quinn film.
In a comic book universe
crowded with male protagonists,
Harley Quinn will join Wonder Woman as
the only female comic characters with
standalone features in the works. Fans
HARLEY QUINN TO BUST OUT SOLO
Even though Suicide Squad is still a few months away,
Warner Bros. is apparently already looking at a spin-off
movie for anti-heroine Harley Quinn.
already got a taste of Gal Gadot as Wonder
Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn
of Justice, and will have to wait till
2017 to catch the Amazon warrior in
her own blockbuster movie.
And word from the Marvel camp
is that a spin-off movie for Scarlett
Johansson's Avenger, Black Widow, is
being considered.
Meanwhile, the Man of Steel's
cousin has been gaining lots of fans on
the small screen. From the makers
of The Flash and Arrow, Supergirl
features former Glee star Melissa
Benoist in the title role, and Season
One will be available on DVD on
July 27.
And make sure you mark July
20 on your calendar – that's when
Batman v Superman: Dawn of
Justice arrives on DVD and Blu-ray.
Margot Robbie, along with Will Smith
and the rest of the Suicide Squad will hit
cinemas August 4.
MARK HAMILL
BRINGS FORCE TO
JOKER ORIGIN STORY