According to The Hollywood Reporter; Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment are currently in development of their latest animated film called Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Bringing back Batman: Animated Series creator Bruce Timm in as an executive producer and is set to be directed by Sam Liu, who has directed many of DC’s animated feature films including Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, The Death of Superman, and The Reign of Superman. Film will also be scripted by Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge writer Jeremy Adams.
The story is not an adaptation of any previous comics, movies or animated series but will be original and without continuity. The premise will be set in 1970’s and will show Batman teaming up with three other renowned martial artists to combat a deadly menace from their past. Batman will be working alongside Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva.
Richard Dragon also known as Richard Drakunovski, was created by Dennis O’Neil (writer) and Jim Berry (artist) in 1974. He was later rewritten in 2013 during the New 52 run and was known as Ricardo Diaz, Jr. Lady Shiva, also known as Sandra Woosan has been an ally and adversary of Batman’s in many iterations. She too was created Dennis O’Neil (writer) but was drawn by Ric Estrada (artist). Ben Turner is another ally and enemy to Batman at times, and goes under the name Bronze Tiger. Turner was also created by O’Neil and Berry and has already made his appearance in many of DC’s media in the show Arrow as well as the animated film Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.
While we won’t be seeing any previous voice talents to play Batman again, such as Kevin Conroy or Roger Craig Smith. We will be getting a new voice to take on the Dark Knight in David Giuntoli (Grimm). Alongside him we will be seeing the talents of Mark Dacascos (John Wick 3: Parabellum) as Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu (X2: X-Men United) as Lady Shiva, and Michael Jai White will return from his performance as Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger in the show Arrow. This film will be the 42nd installment in DC’s line of animated films and is set to be released sometime in 2021.
