Image Source: IGN
‘Justice League Dark’ is just around the corner, and so far it looks like it’s going to be a great introduction of this supernatural team into the DC Animated Movie Universe!
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that within the full roster of “DC Universe Animated Original Movies”, this movie takes place in the continuity of the “DC Animated Movie Universe”: the same continuity of stories like ‘Justice League: War’ and ‘Batman: Bad Blood’.
What’s It About
‘Justice League Dark’ was first revealed in June of 2016, with an official sneak peek given during the limited screening of ‘Batman: The Killing Joke.’ This film will introduce the Justice League Dark: a team that was first introduced back in 2011 to take on the more “supernatural” missions that the Justice League isn’t exactly equipped to handle. The team roster has varied in the comics since it’s origin, but originally it focused on John Constantine, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Shade, The Changing Man, and Zatanna. This film; however, will feature John Constantine, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Etrigan the Demon, and Black Orchid.
Here’s the official plot synopsis and more details from Warner Bros Home Entertainment:
“To battle unparalleled supernatural forces, Batman must combine efforts with a new team of heroes – led by occult specialist John Constantine – in the next DC Universe Original Movie, Justice League Dark.
When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet. Enter Justice League Dark, reluctantly led by the Hellblazer himself, John Constantine. Like Batman, Constantine is a cunning, often cynical loner who is the best at his chosen profession – but quickly realizes the sinister forces plaguing the planet will require help from other supernatural alliances. Forming a new “league” with sorceress Zatanna, otherworldly Deadman, and Jason Blood and his powerful alter ego Etrigan the Demon, this team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth’s supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege – before it’s too late for all of mankind.”
(Source – DC Home Entertainment)
What Can You Expect
For starters, this is an “R” rated film, so you can certainly expect some graphic violence and intense language. The “R” rating for this film is seemingly fitting for a story based in the occult, so if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted, superhero flick to watch with your kids – ‘Justice League Dark’ probably isn’t the best choice.
While you can definitely expect to see some intense, supernatural action in this film, it won’t be all somber “doom and gloom” – as characters like Deadman and Constantine often bring comic relief to sometimes larger-than-life scenarios. It also appears that most of the Justice League will have relatively small roles, except for Batman who, as the synopsis suggests, will take a major role in working directly with the Justice League Dark. Check out this recent clip to see some more insight into the setup of the film:
From that clip alone, it’s pretty obvious that the paranormal element of the threat is beyond the Justice League’s capabilities, which creates the need for the Justice League Dark to be assembled. (Side note: It’s awesome seeing John Stewart as the “fill-in” Green Lantern for Hal Jordan, and I hope he gets a decent amount of screen time!)
One last thing to note: the Justice League Dark is historically a more reluctant team. So it’s safe to assume there will be plenty of friction between the main characters, and there may have to be some key incentive into officially making them a team.
‘Justice League Dark’ will be available on Blu-ray/DVD on February 7, 2017, and Digital HD on January 24, 2017.
What are your thoughts on ‘Justice League Dark’? Is there anything you’d love to see in this introduction of the team? Let us know in the comments!
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