Last month, we found out that Batman: Gotham by Gaslight would be the latest comic book to be turned into a DC universe animated movie. Now, we have our first look at the film courtesy of this eight-minute sneak peak that’s arrived online, after being featured on the Batman And Harley Quinn DVD/Blu-ray.
Written by Brian Augustyn with art by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, 1989’s Gotham By Gaslight is often credited as kickstarting the DC Elseworlds imprint, which produced out-of-continuity stories that gave familiar characters a fresh twist. Gaslight moves the Batman mythos to Victorian times and sees a steampunk-themed version of the Dark Knight hunt down Jack the Ripper, who’s travelled from London to Gotham.
The sneak peak gives us a glimpse at various snippets of the movie, and thankfully it looks to be one of the more visually-impressive DC animated efforts we’ve seen so far. Which isn’t surprising considering the strong artwork to be found in the comic. As discussed in the video, the shadowy colour scheme, full of deep, contrasting shades of blacks and greys, is one of Gaslight‘s unique selling points.
Interspersed with the footage of the movie, we get some interesting commentary from behind-the-scenes figures, including producer Bruce Timm, director Mike Carlin and writer James Krieg (who’s gone the extra effort and donned a Victorian gentleman’s suit for the occasion). Among other topics, they discuss Batman’s personality in the film and which familiar Gotham citizens will appear.
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight doesn’t currently have a release date set, nor has the cast been revealed (though fans with good ears might be able to work out the voice actors showcased in this sneak peak). As always, though, we’ll keep you posted when we get more updates.
In the meantime, you can check out Batman And Harley Quinn on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital HD now, and if you’re still on the fence about it, you’ll find our review here.