Batman: Assault on Arkham

Batman: Assault on Arkham is a 2014 American direct-to-video animated superhero film that is the 21st film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Loosely based on the Batman: Arkham video game franchise, the film was directed by Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding, produced by James Tucker, and written by Heath Corson. The story focuses primarily on the Suicide Squad, particularly Batman villains Deadshot and Harley Quinn with Batman himself in a supporting role. In the film, the Suicide Squad, consisting of six criminals, are dispatched by Amanda Waller to break into Arkham Asylum, where they must contend with the asylum's inmates and Batman as they attempt to complete their mission to reclaim information stolen by the Riddler.

It was first screened at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2014, and it was released digitally on July 29 and on physical media on August 12.

Plot

Batman rescues the Riddler from a black ops assassination ordered by A.R.G.U.S.'s director Amanda Waller and returns him to

Production

Development

In 2009, video game developer Rocksteady Studios launched the beginning of their Batman: Arkham series with Batman: Arkham Asylum. With a total of four main entries, the series reached critical acclaim and success. Near the end of development of Batman: Arkham Origins, Warner Bros. Animation approached Heath Corson to write a story focusing on the Suicide Squad set within the Batman Arkhamverse. Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding were brought in to director and James Tucker to produce. Upon reading the script, Oliva stated that "...it was very different than what I was used to, because I started prepping for this film, I thought to myself 'Well you know what, if I directed this a little differently [sic] like what if I directed this like a Guy Ritchie film.'" The film would be directed with a similar style to a Poliziotteschi Italian mob film. For the team, Corson knew that he wanted Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn, because she knew the in-and-outs of Arkham. He described the relationship between Deadshot and Boomerang as "...Ocean's Eleven, but at every turn Brad Pitt tried to kill George Clooney."

Pre-production

In the casting process, some actors were taken from their Batman: Arkham roles while others were not. Kevin Conroy, the voice actor of Batman in Batman: The Animated Series, most of the Batman: Arkham games, and many other DC properties was brought on to voice the character. Neal McDonough was brought on the play Deadshot instead of Chris Cox who voices Deadshot in the Arkham games, who instead voices Commissioner Jim Gordon. Hynden Walch reprises her role as Harley Quinn from The Batman. Arleen Sorkin, who played Harley Quinn in Batman: Arkham Asylum, nor Tara Strong who voiced the character in Batman: Arkham City, were brought in for the film. Matthew Gray Gubler voices the Riddler instead of Wally Wingert from the series and Troy Baker voices the Joker instead of Mark Hamill. Baker reprises his role from Arkham Origins CCH Pounder reprises her role as Amanda Waller from Batman: Arkham Origins and Martin Jarvis reprised his role as Alfred Pennyworth from the Arkhamverse. Greg Ellis was brought in to voice Captain Boomerang, Giancarlo Esposito to voice Black Spider, John DiMaggio as King Shark, and Jennifer Hale as Killer Frost. Nolan North reprises his role as the Penguin from the Arkham games, and additionally voices KGBeast. Christian Lanz voices Scarecrow, replacing Dino Andrade from Arkham Asylum, as well as Victor Zsasz, replacing Danny Jacobs from Asylum City.

For the soundtrack, Robert J. Kral was brought in to compose. In a press release, Oliva said "We usually do the operatic epic music that we've all become accustomed to in the live action and animated comic book films for the last twenty five years.... James Tucker, my producer, was very supportive of the idea of doing a more contemporary take on the superhero music and when Rob sent us his first pass of the score, we were tremendously pleased."

Production

When handling the look of Arkham Asylum, the artists mainly took inspiration from the way it was depicted in Batman: Arkham Asylum, while also aiming to increase the scary factor the game held. The team also aimed to add a foreboding and haunting nature to the depiction and sounds. The voice actors were recorded at Salami Studios in North Hollywood, California.

director	Jay Oliva Ethan Spaulding
producer	James Tucker
writer	Heath Corson
based on	Characters appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment
starring	Kevin Conroy Neal McDonough Hynden Walch Matthew Gray Gubler
music	Robert J. Kral
editing	Christopher D. Lozinski
distributor	Warner Home Video
runtime	76 minutes
country	United States
language	English
production companies	Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment MOI Animation (Animation services)

Batman: Assault on Arkham

Plot

Voice cast

Production

Development

Pre-production

Production

Soundtrack

Track list

Reception

Critical reception

Sales

Continuity with the video game series

External links

References