OFFICIAL WORD on BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER from WB Animation!

Hey folks, Harry here. I've seen a lot of really really angry talk backs and emails regarding BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER. I have seen people BLAMING Paul Dini and Bruce Timm... Blaming WB Animation... and the fact of the matter is, this is not a simple story. And getting people to go ON THE RECORD about it is next to impossible. I decided this time out to talk with Jean H MacCurdy, head of WB Animation. Now in the past, I've heard nothing but the nicest things about her from Paul Dini... and I figured this is where we should start to get the story told.

So I wrote down a whole ton of questions and emailed them to her, hoping to get to the bottom of what happened and how this all came to pass. Instead of writing out answers to each, she gave me a call... moments ago.

The first thing I asked her was if there had been additional edits made to RETURN OF THE JOKER after she and Dini had talked to me last time.

"I don't think so, but it is possible. What Paul saw was basically the final cut, but there might have been some changes. I can't really say for sure. If there were they were very minor tweaks and changes."

The next question was about who was responsible for the edits. Basically... WHO DO WE HANG?

"The edits were made as a Collaboration between us, Warner Video and Kids WB," MacCurdy said.

Next I asked about why they never took the film to the MPAA...

"Typically the MPAA doesn't do straight to videos, at least not in our experience. It is Just not policy. We'd rather be the keeper of our own flames if you know what I mean?"

Next I asked about the alleged 'falling out' between Paul Dini and WB Animation as was reported by www.Searth.net/wfnews...

"No falling out. We love Paul Dini Paul, Alan and Bruce have been integral to our success here.. No unhappiness between these people and WB Animation, we love them all. We hope that Paul has a long and happy life with us."

I also asked about the future of BATMAN BEYOND and KIDS WB to which Jean said:

"Batman Beyond is still doing well at Kids WB but they are always looking for new product and changes. You would need to talk to Donna over there to find out what their plans are." And I will be contacting her next!

NEXT was the big question. Will the original UNCUT version ever reach us in a non-bootleg fashion... Hopefully a nice deluxe DVD with new commentary and all the frills we fans would love...

"Definitely STILL a chance, we won't have an answer till after the first of the year. We already have meetings scheduled to discuss this issue with Warner Home Video and that hope is still very much alive. I really hope we can do something with the original version and we should know right after the first of the year one way or another."

Any chance I can get you to comment on an Animated JLA and the Cartoon Network?

And in the cutest little 'i ain't sayin nuttin' voice Jean said, "I'm not going to say anything, I can say that soon we should be making an announcement that'll make all of you very happy."

Well folks, that is the latest. SO... if I were you, and I had limited funds... I would probably only rent this BATMAN BEYOND RETURN OF THE JOKER (if you HAVE to see it) and save your money for next year when WARNER BROTHERS HOME VIDEO WILL SEE THE LIGHT AND RELEASE WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS! Already we are hearing reports of the blackmarket copy selling on the streets of New York, the spreading of it across the internet is rabid... BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE A NICE CLEAN PERFECT DVD WITH EXTRAS AND EVERYTHING.

Now a note for all you people. The version that is coming out soon is 70 minutes long. The original UNCUT version is 76 minutes long. The alleged miracle tapes of Canada... they are 70 minutes long. There are very few ORIGINAL copies of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER at the 76 minute cut that were sent to video stores and critics for examination and perusal. MOST of what you see on EBAY are illegal dubs of those copies with counterfeit boxes. BECAUSE of the fear that we will never see the uncut version... these copies are going for upwards of $150. THIS IS INSANE. Keep writing and calling Warner Home Video. Keep your letters going. Don't be gouged by opportunists trying to exploit the situation for their own profit.

Instead... if you must know all about this version... Check out the original screenplay by Paul Dini at THIS LOCATION! The script has scenes that Paul wanted that didn't even make it into the UNCUT version of the film. Also, it should be clarified that Paul never said he preferred the cut version, he only said it was OK. He still prefers the original cut.

And that my friends is that....