As I mentioned, Batman: Arkham Origins takes place on Christmas Eve during Batman’s second year of action, years before the previous two games. Mob boss Black Mask has offered a fortune for Batman’s head, and top assassins and supervillains come to Gotham to cash in on the kill. Batman has to outsmart the bad guys, figure out why Black Mask wants him dead, and prove that he’s a hero… not just a masked vigilante.

Game Informer also released the first screenshots from the game, and I suspect Warner Bros. will be releasing even more very soon.

SOURCE: Game Informer #241 (screenshots via Superhero Hype, Arkhamverse)

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Update, 03/27/13: Fans attending WonderCon this Saturday, March 30 have the opportunity to become part of the documentary. From 10:30am-Noon, the documentary crew will be filming in and around the DC Booth at the Anaheim Convention Center — seeking video and interviews with fans attired as their favorite DC Comics’ villain. So dress your best.

BURBANK, CA (March 26, 2013) – The Joker, Bane, Deathstroke, Darkseid and Lex Luthor — the scariest and most menacing villains in DC Comics’ universe — take center stage in a brand new full-length documentary from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) and DC Entertainment (DCE). The joint announcement was made today by WBHE and DCE.

Christopher Lee, who has played the villain more times than almost any other actor, will provide his unique voice as narrator. His roles in more than 200 films include star turns as Dracula, the Mummy and Frankenstein’s monster in Hammer horror classics, Count Dooku in Star Wars, and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit films.

In this new documentary film, the malevolent, sometimes charismatic figures from DC Comics’ hallowed rogues’ gallery will be explored in depth, featuring interviews with the famed creators, storytellers and those who have crafted the personalities and profiles of many of the most notorious villains in comic book history.

Production begins March 30, to coincide with WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center March 29-31.

Noted Geoff Johns, best-selling author and DCE’s Chief Creative Officer, “DC Comics is known for many things, but chief among them is the compelling, diverse and legendary society of super-villains who populate its universe. From the monstrous Solomon Grundy to the brutal Black Adam to the charismatic Sinestro, there is no single greater collection of villainy in all of fiction. These villains are hugely popular comic book characters in their own right and, quite honestly, many are often times more popular than some of our iconic super heroes.”

Jeff Baker, WBHE’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog, added “The DC brand is enjoying a huge resurgence thanks to the entire leadership team at DC Entertainment which is driving opportunities not only for new theatrical properties, but for brand extensions as well. This new documentary will reinforce this evolving strategy and leverage DC assets across the entire studio landscape.”

Johns also reiterated that this year’s initiative will be a turning point for DCE. “It’s time we deconstruct these complex and sinister antagonists and celebrate the role they play as the engine and energy of some of the greatest storytelling in comics. 2013 is the Year of the Villain at DC Comics.”

On Saturday, March 30th, fans attending WonderCon are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite DC Comics’ villain for an opportunity to be featured in the documentary Fans can join DCE at WonderCon at booth 801 with filming to take place Saturday from 10:30am – Noon. To find out more about where and what time to meet in the WonderCon DC Entertainment booth, keep checking the DC Comics Facebook (Facebook.com/DCComics) and Twitter sites (@DCComics).

Participation in upcoming ‘cons’ (Comic-Con International: San Diego and New York Comic Con) is anticipated, with a full release scheduled for later in the year. ­­­­­­

SOURCE: Yahoo! Movies

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DC’s official blog The Source was cool enough to send me some preview images of tomorrow’s JLA #1 to share with everybody. An official press release came with the email as well with Geoff Johns and David Finch’s own insights on the upcoming series. I’ve already read JLA #1 and you can read my review of it here at Batman News tomorrow morning. Or if you’re a bit of a night owl, I suppose you can catch it sometime after midnight.

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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 was just released last week, but the ball is already rolling for Part 2. Warner Bros. released the first still photo today, and announced that they’ll be showing off footage from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 at New York Comic Con on Saturday, October 13 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the IGN Theater. Warner Bros. will also be screening a documentary titled The Batmobile on Friday, October 12 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the IGN Theater. Check out the full press release after the break for more details.

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Warner Bros. issued the following press release earlier today, in regards to upcoming The Dark Knight Rises premieres in Mexico and Japan:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Warner Bros. Pictures says it has canceled appearances by the cast and filmmakers of the movie “The Dark Knight Rises” in Mexico and Japan after a shooter killed 12 people and injured at least 50 Friday in a Colorado theater during a midnight premiere of the newest Batman movie.

The studio says actors Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway and Joseph Gordon Levitt will no longer hold press or red carpet events on Monday at Mexico City’s National Auditorium.

Premiere events in Paris were also canceled Friday.

The studio said it would continue with screenings for special guests and promotion winners so as not to disappoint fans.

Meanwhile, Christian Bale and Gary Oldman have both released statements on the terrible shooting that took place in Colorado yesterday:

Christian Bale

Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.

Gary Oldman

My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families of this horrific act.

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Check out the full press release after the break, and head on over to Kaspersky Lab’s The Dark Knight Rises page for more info.

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The Dark Knight Rises fans who love comic books are in for a treat on July 19th! Here’s the press release from DC:

DC Entertainment and comic book retailers across North America are declaring Thursday, July 19 “The Dark Knight Rises” Day to celebrate the arrival of this summer’s most anticipated film opening in theaters and IMAX ® on Friday, July 20. Fans who visit their local comic book retailer on July 19 will receive a free, special edition comic book featuring several exclusive previews of current and upcoming Batman comic books and graphic novels. More than 500,000 copies of the free Batmancomic book will be handed out that day on a first-come, first-served basis.

The free Batman: Earth One Special Preview Edition comic book features the first chapter of the highly anticipated graphic novel Batman Earth One written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank, as well as a preview of Batman Vol. 1 The Court of Owls, the New York Times #1 best-selling graphic novel collection of the hit series written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo.

“The arrival of The Dark Knight Rises in theaters is a seminal moment for comic book readers and moviegoers; what better way to mark the occasion than with a free Batman comic book that rewards a broad range of fans and taps into the unprecedented excitement surrounding this film,” stated DC Entertainment Vice President of Marketing, John Cunningham.

Fans can find a comic book retailer in their area by visiting Comic Shop Locator.

Check out the cover of the Batman: Earth One Special Preview Edition after the break.

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Last week a special The Dark Knight Rises edition of the Nokia Lumia 900 was announced for release in the UK. It’s available for pre-order now and should ship around June 15th. If you already own a Lumia device, there’s a new app available loaded with content from Christopher Nolan’s finale Batman movie. Check out the press release for more info:

Nokia and Warner Bros. have teamed up for an exclusive partnership bringing together Nokia Lumia smartphones and The Dark Knight Rises. The partnership kicks off today in the US with the launch of The Dark Knight Rises (TDKR) mobile app – exclusive to Nokia Lumia devices. Through the app fans will have access to film trailers, along with behind-the-scenes video footage and exclusive TDKR wallpapers and audio tones.

The app also features an immersive TDKR game ‘Claim Gotham City’ that has people choose sides – Batman or Bane – and claim and defend places through real-life Foursquare check-ins. Users will be rewarded with TDKR exclusive content for claiming places for their side and can play solo or with others.

Additional app highlights include:

• A countdown to the film’s US release on July 20th and theatre locator using Nokia Maps.
• Film Info & Social Buzz: In addition to background on the film and cast bios, fans will be able to track all of the live social buzz related to the film on Twitter.

[nggtags gallery=nokia900tdkr]

VIEW MORE PHOTOS IN THE GALLERY

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As part of Warner Bros.’ partnership with Mountain Dew, fans got to vote on the race car design for NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Today, the winning design was unveiled. Check it out!

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 26, 2012 — Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s popular No. 88 Chevrolet went “dark” today thanks to fans of The Dark Knight Rises and Mountain Dew® (DEW). Following a week and a half of voting at DEWCrew.com, Earnhardt revealed which “Dark Knight”-inspired paint scheme will be featured on the hood of his No. 88 Chevrolet in Michigan next month. In addition to the Bat Shield on the hood, the redesign features Batman and Bane, Gotham City’s newest villain, on either side of the car. The unveiling continues to drive anticipation for Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises, before the film’s opening day, July 20.

“DEW and ‘Dark Knight’ fans have spoken, and it’s pretty cool that the paint scheme they picked is the one I helped create,” remarked Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. “Now that the winning design has been selected, I can’t wait to see how fans will react to the car on the track in Michigan.”

Members of the DEW Crew were given the option of four different paint schemes to vote on, with each capturing a different element featured in the third and final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The winning design was revealed by Earnhardt and select DEW Crew members at the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest in Concord, N.C., and will race for the first time in Michigan on June 15.

“We aren’t totally shocked that the DEW Crew chose the scheme with the two lead characters as the winning Mountain Dew ‘Dark Knight’-inspired design for Dale’s car,” said Brett O’Brien, Vice President of Marketing for Mountain Dew. “I think we speak for fans everywhere when we say, aside from the Tumbler, we can’t think of a cooler set of wheels.”

Mountain Dew will be bringing fans more unique Dark Knight-inspired experiences next month with a new limited-time-only flavor, Mtn Dew Dark Berry, inspired by the film, and special 16-oz cans of DEW that feature a bat symbol that transforms to the distinctive green color of DEW when chilled. The limited-time offerings will hit shelves in mid-June.

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