Batman Live Worldwide Arena Tour

(June 15, 2011 – London, UK) – Today, the UK media was offered an advanced behind-the-scenes preview of the visually stunning live production, Batman Live world arena tour in London, as Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Entertainment and Nick Grace of Water Lane Productions Ltd. unveiled key creative elements from the show, with a first look at the start of rehearsals. The extravagant Gotham City production, based on DC Comics characters and stories, has taken over a giant warehouse in West London as the temporary home for the set of Batman Live, where the 43-strong cast (made up of talented actors, performers and acrobats) rehearse the spectacular arena show. An impressive custom-made stage, 100-ft bat-shaped LCD video wall and 3D Gotham City set have all been designed especially for the show. Creative Director Anthony Van Laast said, "It is so exciting to see Batman Live develop from an initial idea through to a full scale show. We are in rehearsals now and seeing all the elements of the production come together – automation, programming for the flying sequences, acting calls, acrobatic training, fight choreography, music composition. This is the thrilling point in the pre-production when all the creative team gets to see their ideas brought to life by our exceptional performing company." “The world of Batman will be brought to the audience in a larger-than-life setting through this live stage show that will captivate fans and enthrall audiences of all ages,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Acrobats suspended in the air, fighting henchmen and stunning scenery are all part of the Batman Live experience. Also unveiled today, is the eye-popping Batmobile. The aerodynamic, beautifully crafted brand new Batmobile has been designed especially for the show by legendary racing car designer, Professor Gordon Murray, known for designing race cars for some of the most successful teams in the world for Formula One racing, as well as the famous McLaren F1 road car. Professor Gordon Murray, CEO and Technical Director of Gordon Murray Designs, said of his company's involvement, "We at Gordon Murray Designs are proud to have designed the Batmobile for the Batman Live show. We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to apply advanced materials and concepts to create a truly unique take on one of the world’s most iconic vehicles.” Batman Live will tour arenas for the first time ever across the UK and Europe, beginning in summer 2011, and arriving in North America in August 2012. Opening in Manchester on 19 July 2011 and visiting Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Dublin and Belfast, tickets for Batman Live are on sale now. Batman Live is a live-action, super-heroic spectacle of unprecedented scale that is every bit as human, touching, and inspiring as it is spectacular. About Warner Bros. Consumer Products: Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. About DC Entertainment: DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Comics is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. About Gordon Murray: Gordon Murray has designed racing cars for some of the most successful teams in the world, including Brabham Formula One Team and McLaren Racing, and has an impressive 50 Grand Prix wins to his name. His first design at McLaren Cars, the F1 Road Car, is still regarded as the world’s best engineered automobile. A racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race on its first attempt in 1995. McLaren Cars then completed several other successful projects culminating with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme. ###