PETER WELLER’S BATMAN VOICE ISN’T QUITE WORKING FOR ME
I should preface this complaint by saying that, by all accounts, I’m happy to live in a world where an animated adaptation of one of the greatest graphic novels of all-time is a thing that actually exists. However, like many of you who’ve read The Dark Knight Returns, I imagine the older, gristled Batman with an intimidating voice that sounds like he gargles with with glass and razor blades. This new clip from Part 1 of the movie, which will be relased on Blu-Ray on the 25th, gives us a Dark Knight Detective that sounds very different:
On paper, casting veteran badass Peter Weller seemed like a great idea, but his delivery doesn’t seem to fit the imagery at all. The Batman of The Dark Knight Returns is pissed-off and brutal, and Weller’s performance doesn’t convey those qualities. It comes across as flat,when it should be gravelly and full of rage and bile. Perhaps the creative team at DC was going for a more cold, emotionless Batman?
To be fair, Weller’s voiceover work on the film shouldn’t be fully judged until both parts of the film are released and we can witness his complete performance of the character. There may be some nuance he adds over the course of the story that goes against expectations and turns out to be something special, so we’ll just have wait and see. I think they missed a perfect opportunity to expand on the brilliant Dark Knight Returns segment on Batman: The Animated Series back in the 90′s, though. That episode featured Michael Ironsides as the TDKR Batman, and he absolutely nailed it.
So, what do you think of Peter Weller as The Dark Knight? Who would you have cast?
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