WATCH: Trailer and cast arrive for Batman: The Long Halloween Part One

We finally have the trailer for the animated Batman: The Long Halloween Part I and, since it’s my favourite Batman tale, I can’t wait to see this.

And, while the trailer itself has left me a little cold – I really was hoping for something closer to the gorgeous art syle of Tim Sale but, as it’s set in the same universe as Superman: Man of Tomorrow (why DC needed a new animated universe, I will never know), we’re stuck with this super clean style.

However, while I’m not blown away by the trailer, the cast is pretty impressive.

Supernatural star Jensen Ackles will star as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Naya Rivera is Catwoman/Selina Kyle, Josh Duhamelis Harvey Dent with Billy Burke as James Gordon, Titus Welliver as Carmine Falcone, David Dastmalchian as Calendar Man and Troy Baker will voice Joker .

The story will see Batman working one case over 12 months as ever month a crime is committed, usually on holidays, and the link seems to lead back to Batman himself. If you think Hush is good, it’s the poor man’s version of this story and, take my advice, pick up the graphic novel (and it’s sequel Batman: Dark Victory and companion book Catwoman: When In Rome – you will not be disappointed) before this arrives.

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One will hit digital and Blu-ray this summer rated PG-13

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Inspired by the iconic mid-1990s DC story from Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One begins as a brutal murder on Halloween prompts Gotham’s young vigilante, the Batman, to form a pact with the city’s only two uncorrupt lawmen (Police Captain James Gordan and District Attorney Harvey Dent) in order to take down The Roman, head of the notorious and powerful Falcone Crime Family. But when more deaths occur on Thanksgiving and Christmas, it becomes clear that, instead of ordinary gang violence, they’re also dealing with a serial killer – the identity of whom, with each conflicting clue, grows harder to discern. Few cases have ever tested the wits of the World’s Greatest Detective like the mystery behind the Holiday Killer.

Lauded for his performance as Red Hood/Jason Todd in 2010’s Batman Under the Red Hood, Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, Smallville) returns to the DC Universe Movies as the title character of Batman/Bruce Wayne.

The late Naya Rivera (Glee), who passed away in 2020, gives one of her final performances as Catwoman/Selina Kyle. The all-star cast includes Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Las Vegas) as Harvey Dent, Billy Burke (Twilight, Revolution, Zoo) as James Gordon, Titus Welliver (Bosch, Deadwood, The Town) as Carmine Falcone, David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man, Dune, The Dark Knight) as Calendar Man, Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Batman: Arkham Knight) as Joker, Amy Landecker (Your Honor, Transparent) as Barbara Gordon, Julie Nathanson (Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay) as Gilda Dent, Jack Quaid (The Boys, The Hunger Games) as Alberto, Fred Tatasciore (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Solomon Grundy and Alastair Duncan (The Batman, Batman Unlimited franchise) as Alfred. Additional voices provided by Frances Callier, Greg Chun, Gary Leroi Gray and Jim Pirri.

Chris Palmer (Superman: Man of Tomorrow) directs Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One from a screenplay by Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen, Superman: Man of Tomorrow). Producers are Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) and Kimberly S. Moreau (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Butch Lukic (Justice Society: World War II, Superman: Man of Tomorrow) is Supervising Producer. Executive Producer is Michael Uslan. Sam Register is Executive Producer.