“Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics” New Feature-Length Documentary from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Debuts on Blu-ray October 25
(July 17, 2013 – San Diego, CA) – On October 25, the ultimate rogue’s gallery takes center stage when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases the new full-length documentary “Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics.”
Christopher Lee, who has played the villain more times than almost any other actor, will provide his unique voice as narrator. The villains’ infamous tales will be told by directors Richard Donner (“Superman”), Guillermo del Toro (“Pacific Rim”) and Zack Snyder (“Man of Steel”) as well as Geoff Johns (best-selling author and DCE’s Chief Creative Officer) and other storytellers, creators and those who have crafted the personalities and profiles of the most nefarious baddies in DC Comics history.
"I am delighted to be participating in this documentary which really gets to the heart of what villains are,” notes Lee. “Even though I’ve played the hero more times than the bad guy (few know this!), people remember me for the latter, perhaps because villains are more interesting and more complex. But they’re still people. Tony Hopkins was right when he said, ‘I don’t play villains, I play people.’ Each of these characters has a different personality and their reasons for being or becoming evil are not the same."
"The villain is not always born that way; it’s society and events in that person (or creature’s) life that influences their mind. Sometimes good or bad can be a state of mind and depends on what side you’re on. And you can be very cruel or charming, amusing or dangerous. But one of the most important things to get over to the audience is that some of these people are doing things they can’t really help."
Christopher Lee’s roles in more than 200 films include star turns in several Hammer Horror Classics as Frankenstein’s monster in “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), Count Dracula in “Dracula” (1958) and the Mummy in “The Mummy” (1959). Most recently known as Saruman in “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012) and upcoming film “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (2013).
"The Joker! Black Adam! Lex Luthor! Sinestro! DC Comics has the best Super-Villains in the world — and in ‘Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics,’ creators in film, television, animation, video games and comic books talk about why and how they've helped build them into worldwide favorites," stated DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.
“Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics” explores the thin line between right and wrong, the nature of evil and how super-villains can reflect society’s dark side as well as our own personal fears. It also attempts to uncover the reasons why comic book fans are so fascinated by the very characters they hope to see defeated.
The film focuses on DC Comics’ most terrifying villains, including The Joker, Lex Luthor, Bane, Black Adam, Black Manta, Catwoman, Darkseid, Deathstroke, Doomsday, General Zod, Sinestro, the Suicide Squad, and more.
Also included are interviews from over forty subjects, including: DC comic book writers, artists, executives, filmmakers, comic experts, critics, historians and celebrities.
“Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics” contains footage from DC Entertainment’s animated series, TV shows, video games and live action films, as well as spotlighting hundreds of covers, pages and panels created by DC Comic’s legendary artists.
Log onto http://www.dccomics.com/videos/sdcc-2013-necessary-evil-trailer-exclusiv... for a look at the film’s trailer.
About Comic-Con:
Thursday, July 18 during Comic-Con International in San Diego, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will present an exclusive cut of “Necessary Evil: Super-Villains Of DC Comics” and an accompanying panel slated for 7:00-8:00 pm in the 1,000-seat Room 6DE. That event will feature a first-look at the all-new documentary, followed by a panel discussion by film participants including Geoff Johns, Geoff Boucher (moderator), JM Kenny, Scott Devine, Andrea Romano, Kevin Shinick, Ed Boon and Andrea Letamendi, Ph.D. Additional panelists will be announced as confirmed. About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com. About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.###
Thursday, July 18 during Comic-Con International in San Diego, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will present an exclusive cut of “Necessary Evil: Super-Villains Of DC Comics” and an accompanying panel slated for 7:00-8:00 pm in the 1,000-seat Room 6DE. That event will feature a first-look at the all-new documentary, followed by a panel discussion by film participants including Geoff Johns, Geoff Boucher (moderator), JM Kenny, Scott Devine, Andrea Romano, Kevin Shinick, Ed Boon and Andrea Letamendi, Ph.D. Additional panelists will be announced as confirmed. About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com. About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.