Release from Warner Bros. Animation

Screenwriter Stan Berkowitz guides another classic DC Comics graphic novel to animated glory with the September 29 Warner Home Video release of SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES.

Berkowitz brought Darwyn Cooke’s landmark JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER from pages to screen in 2008, and this year he’s converted the words of Jeph Loeb into a summer popcorn-style blockbuster with the crafting of the script for SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES.

Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation will present the all-new SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES in a Blu-Ray Hi-Def edition, a special edition 2-disc DVD, and a single disc DVD. Warner Home Video will distribute the action-packed movie, which will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download on Sept. 29.

In SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES, United States President Lex Luthor uses the oncoming trajectory of a Kryptonite asteroid to frame Superman and declare a $1 billion bounty on the heads of the Man of Steel and his “partner in crime,” Batman. Heroes and villains alike launch a relentless pursuit of Superman and Batman, who must unite -- and recruit help -- to stave off the action-packed onslaught, stop the asteroid, and uncover Luthor’s devious plot to take command of far more than North America.

Berkowitz has been actively writing for 30 years, focusing his efforts on animated properties for the past dozen years. His animated credits range from SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to JUSTICE LEAGUE, THE BATMAN and LEGION OF SUPER HEROES, with stops on shows like STATIC SHOCK, BATMAN BEYOND and SPIDER-MAN along the way. Prior to moving into the animated realm, Berkowitz garnered credits writing episodes of T.J. HOOKER and the latter-day versions of DRAGNET and ADAM 12.

Berkowitz pushed the keyboard aside to discuss the differences between his film and Loeb’s initial take on the tale, the importance of great voice actors and a fine director, reaching into the DC vault for his childhood memories, the little things Alan Burnett does to make a big impact, and the ideal writing environment.

QUESTION:
Why was this story right for you?

STAN BERKOWITZ:
I love the political aspect of it. In the comic book that Jeph Loeb wrote, it was assumed that everyone knew the backstory to how Luthor got elected President. But we needed the movie to show an audience, who might not be familiar with the comics, exactly what would have to happen for Luthor to be elected. I sort of envisioned Luthor ascending to the Presidency somewhere around 2012. I didn't quite predict the catastrophe we'd be seeing in 2008. But I figured that something bad would happen, and then Democrats would be elected in 2008, they wouldn’t be able to solve the problem and, in 2012, a tough, Ross Perot-style third party bid would be the one who'd be elected.

It was kind of fun for me to envision the political atmosphere that would have to take place in order for that to happen. And I also had a wonderful time going with Jeph's depiction of Luthor's descent into insanity -- always keeping in mind that Clancy Brown would be enacting the dialogue. It was just great to write that.

QUESTION:
SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBIC ENEMIES follows JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER as your second DC Universe film adaptation of a classic DC Comics graphic novel/com series. Are there specific challenges to adapting a well-known story?

STAN BERKOWITZ:
Each adaptation is different, and presents different challenges. In NEW FRONTIER, the challenge was compressing all the material into a coherent 75-minute story. In PUBLIC ENEMIES, the challenge was making the thematic concerns concrete because the comic author had the luxury of a narrator to talk about the themes. And when we did the screenplay, we had to show the themes in action, having things happen to illustrate those themes.