Nerd Up!

Award-winning actor Anthony LaPaglia returns to his villainous roots as the voice of Lex Luthor in All-Star Superman, the highly anticipated 10th entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies coming February 22, 2011 from DC Entertainment / Warner Bros. Animation.

LaPaglia is known far and wide for his lead role on the CBS drama Without A Trace, but his fame goes well beyond those 160 episodes over seven seasons on the primetime series. LaPaglia’s career highlights include an Emmy Award as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Simon on Frasier, a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series/Drama for Without a Trace, and the 1998 Tony Award for Best Actor (Play) for the revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge.” He has also been honored with two AFI Awards as Best Lead Actor in the films Balibo (2009) and Lantana (2001).

In All-Star Superman, the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) and, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.

LaPaglia’s career in television and film has already spanned a quarter of a century, featuring roles on TV series from Magnum P.I. and Trapper John, M.D. to Murder One and CSI; films like So I Married An Axe Murderer and Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown; and voicing animated characters for Happy Feet and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. He’s had the chance to play a variety of real-life characters ranging from gangsters Frank Nitti and Lucky Luciano to Cuban leader Fidel Castro and college basketball coach Jim “Jimmy V” Valvano.

What were the challenges of creating Lex Luthor as an animated voice?

Anthony Lapaglia: You have to understand the medium that you’re in. As opposed to (on-camera) acting with another individual where it requires listening in order for you to respond, here you’re having to create the question the other person would ask you in your head and then respond to it. It’s a much more difficult process because there’s a line between it being real and it being animated. There’s a slightly different tonal quality to the way you say things, or in the way you have to make it bigger sometimes than you would naturally do in order to sell it. But not having the visual in front of you – you’re kind of shooting in the dark a lot.

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All-Star Superman Blu-Ray

All-Star Superman, the next in the excellent line of DC Universe Animated Original Movies, will be coming your way on February 21, 2011!

Warner Home Video has released early info on this PG-13 DVD/Blu-ray, including the package art and a vague list of bonus features which include the usual featurette, bonus episodes, commentary and first-look at the next DCU animated feature. Trailer after the jump!
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Nerd Up! is giving away five (5) copies of the new DC Universe film “Batman/Superman: Apocalypse” on Blu-Ray!!

Entering the contest is simple, comment on this post, OR follow us on twitter OR email us! On Oct. 22 we’ll randomly select 5 winners.

“Superman/Batman: Apocalypse”, is out now on DVD and Blu-ray

Tim Daly, the fan’s choice as the quintessential voice of the Man of Steel from his days portraying the title character for the landmark Superman: The Animated Series, once again supplies those All-American tones in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. The ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies arrives Tuesday, September 28 from Warner Home Video.

Daly was the voice behind the world’s ultimate super hero for 52 episodes of Superman: The Animated Series and several animated movies, all the while starring in one primetime television series after another – from eight seasons on Wings to memorable roles on HBO’s The Sopranos and From The Earth To The Moon to his current ABC hit, Private Practice. The Emmy nominated actor made his feature film debut in Barry Levinson’s 1982 classic Diner.

What did you find unique and/or fresh about this latest Superman-Batman vehicle?

TIM DALY: What’s interesting about the relationships in this film is that Superman and Batman are really on the same page. They are united and they only give each other a very modest amount of grief, whereas at other times they’ve been a little more at each other’s throats, and more dubious about the other one’s methods.  And Kara is, perhaps, Superman’s last surviving relative. So he feels very protective of her, and sort of glad to have someone who has had or is about to have a similar experience as he’s had coming to a different planet.  So it’s kind of touching, really. He’s very paternal towards her. He really wants her to do well and to stick around.

It’s nice to see his powers used in connection with something personal. He’s not saving the planet, he’s not saving Metropolis. He’s not saving Lois. He’s saving a blood relative. So it’s that kind of deeply personal feeling. I do enjoy that in the script.
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Summer Glau knows her audience. Whether as River Tam in Joss Whedon’s cult classic series and follow-up film, Firefly and Serenity, or as the indestructible android-from-the-future Cameron in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Glau has cornered the market on playing attractive, demure young females with the controlled homicidal power to destroy an opposing legion of trained warriors.

So it was only natural that as her first-ever animated voiceover role, Glau would fit neatly into the role of an uber-powered Kryptonian who falls under the spell of one of Superman’s greatest foes. Glau finds the perfect mix of youthful curiosity, teen angst and alien-turned-Earth-girl aggression as the voice of Kara, cousin of Superman (and ultimately destined to become Supergirl) in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies arriving today, September 28 from Warner Home Video.

Glau’s career has been populated with frequent visits to the fanboy realm, adding regular roles on The 4400 and Dollhouse to her featured gigs on Firefly/Serenity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The professionally trained ballerina had a seven-episode run on The Unit, and will appear in the upcoming NBC series, The Cape, as well as in the film. Knights of Badassdom. Below is an interview conducted with Ms. Glau on her upcoming voice-over role in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse!

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