News
News on the Batman: Soul of the Dragon movie. In most cases a link will accompany each headline back to the original article.
News on the DCAU originates from animation and comic book related news sites, personal staff forums or comic book conventions. Fans beware, in some cases, false news does get spread among the Internet.
Movie News
June 10, 2020: Allegedly, one 2021 title is Batman: Soul of the Dragon and it will release in Spring 2021, helmed by Bruce Timm, and story involves: "In this new version of Batman, his Martial Arts training becomes the focus. The film will reportedly center around Batman, Bronze Tiger, Lady Shiva, and Richard Dragon as we learn they all share a common acquaintance. The Martial Arts Master that trained not only Batman but this set of rouges has been missing for a number of years and under mysterious circumstances. When a cursed relic resurfaces the mystery of their dead master re-opens and Batman and his former classmates face-off in the ultimate test of their Martial Arts kills to gain control of this dangerous relic." GWW Article
August 12, 2020: Batman: Soul of the Dragon is set in the 1970s and is an original story. Bruce Wayne faces a deadly menace from his past with the help of three former classmates: all world-renowed martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, and Lady Shiva. David Giuntoli voices Bruce Wayne/Batman, Mark Dacascos voices Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu voices Lady Shiva, Michael Jai White voices Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger, James Hong voices O-Sensei, and Josh Keaton voices Jeffrey Burr. Bruce Timm is executive producing, Sam Liu is director and producer, and Jeremy Adams is the screenwriter. It releases in early 2021. First still of Batman, Bronze Tiger, Lady Shiva, and Richard Dragon released. THR Article
August 23, 2020: Will be the first release of 2021. IGN Article
November 10, 2020: Reportedly releases on January 26, 2021. First look at 4K/Blu-ray/Digital limited edition gift set and Benjamin Turner figurine. Den of Geek instagram
November 17, 2020: 1:41 trailer released. Digital release is January 12, 2021. January 26 date confirmed. Logline included. Movie is rated R. Additional cast include Grey Griffin, Chris Cox, Erica Luttrell, Robin Atkin Downes, Patrick Seitz, Jamie Chung, and Eric Bauza. IGN Article
November 19, 2020: Press release confirms it will be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack (USA $39.99 SRP; Canada $44.98 SRP) and Blu-ray (USA $29.98 SRP; Canada $39.99 SRP) as well as on Digital. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie. The Blu-ray features a Blu-ray disc with the film in hi-definition and a digital version of the movie. Producers are Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau. Bruce Timm and Sam Register are Executive Producers. The movie is dedicated to the late Dennis O'Neil. Special features include "Batman - Raw Groove" which explored the early 1970s influences that inspired the movie, "Producer Jim Krieg's Far Out Highlights," A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie Justice Society: World War II, Look Backs on Superman: Red Son and Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, and From the DC Vault, Batman: The Animated Series' "Day of the Samurai" and "Night of the Ninja". On January 12, it is availble through Amazon, Apple TV app, FandangoNOW, Playstation, Vudu, Xbox, and others. Languages and subtitles are English, Spanish, and French. Runtime is 83 minutes. Rated R for "some violence.". WF Article
November 25, 2020: Still of Lady Shiva and Richard Dragon posted. Gary Miereanu Tweet
November 27, 2020: There will be a virtual panel on December 6 at 5 pm on CCXP's website featuring Kelly Hu, Mark Dacascos, Michael Jai White, Jeremy Adams and Bruce Timm. Terra Verso Article
December 6, 2020: A 70s story was always in the back of Bruce Timm's head. When he was a teenager, pop culture was martial arts movies like Bruce Lee and Blaxploitation like Shaft, Superfly, Jim Brown, Jim Kelly, and he wanted to do a mash up. A comic called Kung Fu Fighter that came out at the time was basically that. They decided early on not to do a straight up Batman movie and make it an ensemble piece and get to explore the others in the cast. Lady Shiva loses it when her sword is stolen. Richard Dragon's design was influenced by the cover of Dennis O'Neill's Kung Fu Fighters novel where he was depicted as Asian and more like Bruce Lee than the white man he became in the actual comics. The crew tried to be specific with fighting forms and poses for the characters. Jeremy Adams and Jim Krieg tried to hard to use a lot of 70s lingo. Timm added bits too like one of Ben Turner's line was 'I'm done!' and he expanded it to 'I'm done, baby!' as a nod to Richard Roundtree. They went through 20 composers and narrowed it to three. They didn't want the music to come off like a parody of the 70s. Joachim Horsley was chosen ultimately. Michael Jai White made sure Ben sounded like he was in the 70s and differentiate that from his modern take on Ben that he did on Arrow. The movie doesn't have much Batman and it was a conscious choice to see him more as Bruce Wayne. CCXP Day 3 Panel, 5:57:10-6:15:56 mark
December 10, 2020: Four stills of Bruce entering, O-Sensei, Lady Shiva, and Richard Dragon posted. Gary Miereanu Tweet
December 10, 2020: Sam Liu reveals he took a lot of visual cues and transitions from 70s television series "Kung Fu," starring the late David Carradine. Sam Liu Tweet
December 11, 2020: Chris Cox voices Rip Jagger, known as Judomaster in the comics. Comics Beat Article
December 18, 2020: Four stills of Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, Lady Shiva and Soultaker, and Bruce Wayne posted. Gary Miereanu Tweet
December 22, 2020: 2:08 clip "First Time" released. WBHE YouTube
December 27, 2020: Interview with Michael Jai White. He looked at Three the Hard Way, Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Jim Kelly for cultural touchstones and likens the movie to blaxploitation characters moving into a James Bond-ish kind of setting. He also hints the theme of "You come back and take care of your neighborhood; you give back" comes up for Ben. CBR Article
December 28, 2020: Excerpts from Bruce Timm, Sam Liu, and Jeremy Adams. Bruce Timm made an off the cuff pitch during a regular meeting, Jeremy Adams always wanted to do Enter the Dragon meets Batman and learned the good news from Jim Krieg, Bruce Timm rejected anything "disco," Sam Liu wanted to use Shaw Brothers SFX but Timm rejected the idea, the lead character designer was Aluir Amancio, Timm's art style was emulated to save time during production, and the Batman look was influenced by Cliff Chiang and Steve Rude after attempts to lean to Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Animation Magazine Article
December 29, 2020: Interview with Kelly Hu about voicing Lady Shiva again, recording remotely, and playing a character of few words. CBR Article
December 30, 2020: 0:48 clip "Soul Breaker" released. WBHE YouTube
December 30, 2020: Jamie Cheung voices Jade. Lady Shiva's sword was originally supposed to be the Soultaker but DC objected to Katana not being present. They explained there wasn't any room to add in Katana. DC persisted. Jeremy Adams looked up the Soultaker on the DC Wiki and learned it was one of two mystic swords forged at the same time but the other never did show up in the comics so take a cue from the Stormbringer and Mournblade from the Elric books, the Soulbreaker took the place of its sister sword, the Soultaker in the movie. DC still thought it would be really neat for Katana to appear but approved the change. AnimeSuperhero post
December 31, 2020: 1:09 clip of Lady Shiva and Rip Jagger fighting. CBR Article
December 31, 2020: 2:49 clip "Bruce Wayne Faces A Rocky Challenge" released. SyFy Wire YouTube
January 3, 2021: Interview with David Giuntoli. Giuntoli talks about going "full Batman," going back to a younger Bruce, Bruce having just broken up with a woman over his secrets, and being the "freshman" student. CBR Article
January 4, 2021: Interview with Mark Dacascos. Commends Jeremy Adams' writing, finding Richard Dragon's heart and moral compass, connecting with Richard, balancing light and dark, reliving the 70s and other projects. CBR Article
January 4, 2021: Comments from David Giuntoli and Bruce Wayne clip released. IGN Article
January 4, 2021: Interview with Sam Liu. Spoilerverse Article
January 5, 2021: Interview with Jeremy Adams. Flickering Myth Article
January 5, 2021: Comments from Michael Jai White and Ben Turner clip released. IGN YouTube
January 6, 2021: Comments from Kelly Hu and Lady Shiva clip released. IGN YouTube
January 6, 2021: Interview with Kelly Hu. CBM Article
January 6, 2021: Interview with Michael Jai White. CBM Article
January 6, 2021: 26 second clip "Ben Turner Attack" released. WBHE YouTube
January 7, 2021: Comments from Decascos and Richard Dragon clip released. IGN YouTube
January 7, 2021: Cast interviews with David Giuntoli, Kelly Hu, Michael Jai White, and Mark Decascos. Hall of Justice Podcast #215
January 8, 2021: Interview with Mark Decascos. Flickering Myth Article
January 9, 2021: Interview with David Giuntoli. Flickering Myth Article
January 10, 2021: Interview with Sam Liu. Animatics were being delivered while Liu and Bruce Timm were also editing final picture for Superman: Red Son. Ben Turner's martial arts leans towards a hard style like karate, Richard Dragon's is more fluid like Jeet June Do and Wushu, Lady Shiva is more weapons driven but also Wushu and bit inspired by Donnie Yen. There is a character that has a snake style. CBR Article
January 11, 2021: Interview with Jeremy Adams on choosing influences from the 70s/80s, the cast and characters, Kobra, and philosophy. CBR Article
January 12, 2021: 29 second clip "Shiva-Dragon Vs. Ninjas" released. WBHE YouTube
January 12, 2021: Interview with main cast. DC Blog Article
January 12, 2021: Interview with main cast and crew. Comics Beat Article
January 12, 2021: New still of Dragon, Shiva, Turner, and Batman released. Gary Miereanu Tweet
January 13, 2021: Ben Li storyboarded the whole assault on the island section. Sam Liu Tweet
January 13, 2021: There was a general note from the higher ups that Bruce needed more costume time but they didn't press too hard about it. Sam Liu Tweet
January 14, 2021: Aluir Amancio did the designs for "pretty much all" the major characters: Batman/Bruce, Ben Turner, Lady Shiva, Richard Dragon, O-Sensei, Jeffrey Burr, Kingsnake, Lady Eve, Schlangenfaust and Silver St. Cloud. Bruce Timm Anime Superhero post
January 14, 2021: Bill Sienkiewicz did the cover art. Gary Miereanu Tweet
January 15, 2021: Opening was set in the French Riviera. Jeremy Adams Tweet
January 18, 2021: Sam Liu reveals the crew was surprised the movie got an R rating because they took a lot of blood out. He notes "they" have "really been clamping down recently." Sam Liu Tweet
January 19, 2021: Elsa Gargarza storyboarded the Shiva lair and Nanda Parbat-one finger fight flashback scenes. Sam Liu Tweet
January 19, 2021: Jeff Wamester storyboarded the opening scene and the Nanda Parbat flashback that introduces O-Sensei's students. Sam Liu Tweet
January 19, 2021: Bruce Timm confirms Kobra Island was inspired by Khao Phing Kan island in Thailand, the location for Scaramanga's retreat in "The Man with the Golden Gun". Anime Superhero post
January 21, 2021: Dusty Abell posts 9 incidental's character designs. Dusty Abell instagram
January 21, 2021: Dusty Abell posts 9 incidental's character designs. Dusty Abell instagram
January 21, 2021: Dusty Abell posts 9 incidental's character designs. Dusty Abell instagram
January 21, 2021: Andres Velasco storyboarded the Ben Turner breaking up Kobra deal scene and David Maximo storyboarded Batman vs. Axe Gang scene. Sam Liu Tweet
January 21, 2021: Interview with Kelly Hu. ComicBook Article
January 23, 2021: Bruce Timm comments on the ending. While he broke the story with Jeremy Adams and Jim Krieg, they realized they needed to end the movie with the four heroes battling evil for all eternity. In the excitement of the moment, Timm suggested ending it with Batman looking right into the camera, saying, "Let's get it on" with a badass smirk. He instinctively made Bruce Lee's 'Come and get it' gesture. Adams and Krieg instantly recognized it and stated it had to be in the ending. Timm reluctantly agreed to use it one last time in a production he worked on. Anime Superhero post
January 24, 2021: Sam Liu reveals the original ending was just Batman closing the Gate on the others and fighting the demons by himself in the other dimension. He recalls suggesting all four fight together but he was against using the Bruce Lee gesture. Anime Superhero post
January 25, 2021: David Maximo storyboarded the scene of Richard Dragon walking up to Gotham Nights. Bruce Timm was on the fence but Sam Liu dug it. Anime Superhero post
January 26, 2021: TJ Collins designed the spirit animal auras at the end. Sam Liu Tweet
January 27, 2021: Interview with Michael Jai White. ComicBook Article
January 27, 2021: Elsa Garagarza storyboarded the two early main Shiva fight scenes. Sam Liu Tweet
February 5, 2021: Bruce Timm comments on the ending's inspirations. Two big inspirations for the ending was the ambiguous nature of the series finale of Angel, "Not Fade Away," wherein the protagonists face seemingly unbeatable odds then it cuts to black before the final epic battle even begins and the ending to the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie with a cocky and defiant line to the true Big Bad then a cut to black. Anime Superhero post
February 6, 2021: The movie was #1 for the top ten Blu-ray seller for the week ending 1/30/21, #1 for the top five home media sellers for the week ending 1/30/21, and #4 for top five UHD Blu-ray sellers for the week ending 1/30/21. Blu-ray Article
February 7, 2021: David Maximo storyboarded the car chase. Sam Liu Tweet
February 15, 2021: Interview with Sam Liu. POC Culture Article
February 18, 2021: Interview with Kelly Hu. SciFi Talk Tumblr
February 21, 2021: Interview with Sam Liu. Liu inserted a little 80s influence like Big Trouble in Little China. It is set in 1973 as far as Bruce Timm is concerned. The Sarah O'Connell Show YouTube, 1 hour 30 min mark
March 4, 2021: Interview with Jeremy Adams. Hall of Justice Podcast episode 223, 27:53 mark
March 12, 2021: Interview with Michael Jai White. SciFi Talk YouTube
December 20, 2021: Streams on HBO Max starting January 1, 2022. Spoiler TV Article
January 25, 2022: TJ Collins posts designs of beat up Bruce. TJ Collins Tweet
July 29, 2022: Jeff Wamester posts animatic of a storyboard he did of Jade Nguyen scene. Jeff Wamester Tweet
July 31, 2022: Jeff Wamester posts animatic of Richard Dragon's first fight scene. Jeff Wamester Tweet
June 26, 2023: Jeff Wamester posts animatic of Bruce climbing up cliff. Jeff Wamester Tweet
