Trailer: DC’s Animated “Batman: The Long Halloween”

While the state of the DCEU is somewhat up in the air, especially given the somewhat split reaction to Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the one area of DC’s cinematic offerings that’s is continuing on is the animated division. Specifically, Warners and DC have released the trailer for part one of Batman: The Long Halloween, which is a two-film adaptation of one of the most acclaimed DC Comics storylines the publisher has ever done.

However, there is a bit of a snag, as this first look comes just as the second half has been confirmed to be getting an R-rating, while the first has a PG-13. This is a bit of an obstacle, as it is essentially blocking part of the audience that will get invested in the story. Even so, the expectations for this adaptation are high and many are excited to see this story properly told.

The film will follow Batman and Harvey Dent who are working together to stop a war between two mob families. There have been several assassinations amongst the families over the holiday season, and each family blames the other, but it might not be that simple. The movie presents a “whodunit” type of mystery that explains how Gotham became the crime-ridden city that it is famously portrayed as.

Jensen Ackles, who also previously voiced the Red Hood in a previous animated Batman feature, leads the cast as the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne, while Josh Duhamel backs him up as Harvey Dent. The pair are joined by Billy Burke as James Gordon, Titus Welliver as Carmine Falcone, David Dastmalchian as Calendar Man, Troy Baker as The Joker, Amy Landecker as Barbara Gordon, Julie Nathanson as Gilda Dent, Jack Quaid as Alberto Falcone, Fred Tatasciore as Solomon Grundy, Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth.

Notably, the cast also includes the late Naya Rivera as Catwoman, in what is one of her last media appearances. Part one of Batman: The Long Halloween is set to release sometime this summer with the second part coming in later the fall.