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Michael Uslan on re-branding the Batman character and taking him from Caped Crusader to The Dark Knight
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Shifting gears now we're talking about that men you know I've never seen how he might not like this Michael with an excellent discipline discipline amusement.
-- -- So you're the one I'm the wind I met one person here tie -- that is that men.
UIV executive producer of the -- and franchise.
You're sorry I did my homework -- there's been -- seven films in the series centenary.
Grossing two point seven billion dollars worldwide.
Up there with the -- bond it's that fiftieth anniversary today.
Lord of the brain so this is a phenomenon.
Everybody but me has seen the Batman movie business Snowe congratulations thank you until about.
About me in this franchise had -- -- all become today.
Going back in the 1970s.
Yours truly -- to -- comic book geek growing up -- -- Who I had seen that in it's self financed and I actually -- -- -- and thousands of comic books dating back to 1930s.
And the night I saw the Batman TV -- come on the air I was -- eighth grade I was simultaneously thrilled and horrified by what I was saying.
Through the back -- was on TV the car was cool but I was horrified because -- knew the whole world was laughing at that and that's just killed me.
-- so it became my little loved me.
A life -- Show the really need -- -- founders really early into an important and I had shouldn't overlook the true that there was like -- dark serious creature of the night stocking criminals from the shadows.
Thanks so what is -- -- that -- He is dark.
He is a kid who's been traumatized and -- -- parents murdered before his eyes and that in that instant in the belief that one person can make a difference in the world.
He made a commitment to get the guy who did that get all the bad guys even if he had to walk through -- for the rest of his life in order to do it -- great story.
It seems to traverse not only borders -- cultures people can really relate to him.
Because he's one of the rear superheroes with no superpowers.
Is greatest -- is humanity and people love that.
Ruling that.
-- -- -- -- The brand changed over the years -- my -- for the brand is getting close to 75 years old.
Hello and in the 1960s.
As I mentioned he was -- -- -- -- pot -- funny -- enough fighting all of these -- criminals from.
Then you -- about that time they had cartoons like Batman beat Scooby Doo.
OK and then the brand had to be -- -- at the time my partner been known for and I bought the rights to -- from DC comics to make into movies.
The president -- DC comics was concerned for me he says Michael this brand is is dead is a no no idea and says nobody is -- -- happen anymore in 1979.
It's it's -- it went off appear on TV it's a dead brands did it affect the comic books were in -- being canceled.
And I I don't believe -- -- oh yeah oh absolutely.
And I sit -- -- if we do at this darkened seriously we can do a whole new way of looking at movies and doing things I say he's cities are you have to -- out of it that's it now.
And so six months later we acquired the rights of that band and then every nineteen sunny and 79 and then every single studio in Hollywood turned -- down.
They told me I was crazy that it was the worst idea they ever heard you can't -- dark superheroes you can't do serious comical at this time was there.
Dark superheroes always visit an album take this -- a novelty I Dick Donner Superman started out pretty seriously not -- pretty seriously.
Until we kind of got to metropolis and then it lightened up a lot of innocent and asked him.
-- -- -- -- -- But this is the first time anyone attempting to convince audiences that this guy could be real in Gotham city could be real and thanks to the genius initially -- Tim Burton.
And more recently the incredible genius Christopher Nolan who deserves all the credit all the accolades we have a franchise that has been invigorated.
And it is more popular than it ever has been before a worldwide basis it's been an incredible journey for Batman.
Is there -- -- after the Dark Knight rises there another one coming out.
Well everybody's gonna have to just say to you won't break any news here on the web still I don't think there's needs to be broken yet except to enjoy the Dark Knight rises stealing your partner on a 100% of those right.
We are involved with Warner Bros.
and DC comics then -- man and I think that it's going to be a very very long lasting franchise that the animation has been incredible.
Video games like -- asylum and -- from Citi have been amazing and very successful but most importantly the comic books are still pay creative wellspring.
And every Wednesday they're bringing fans back to the comic book -- to see what's gonna happen next -- Speaking of comic books.
Monmouth university in New Jersey.
There -- giving hope giving the world's first doctor it.
To you correct next Wednesday explain -- it's the world's first ever doctorate of comic books and I'm getting it.
So excited and that is breaking news pending regulations.
Then since what do you do it that.
Highlighted by about -- well forget to get a doctor complex yet how you're seeing on receipt of the minute I have earned on average she's.
I interpreted that as a student about their -- yeah.
Her story on -- -- Three years scholar -- of.
Well actually -- took the world's first accredited college course on comic books back in the seventies it.
So I started this whole process along time ago this is -- interesting and there's -- the stories and -- recently how a lot of universities are getting.
In trouble a little bit is -- teaching courses that I considered.
Would be like silly courses which some people would say the comic book course so what do you -- those naysayers -- -- -- we read my book the boy who loved that they're right yes.
Yes and -- details the story because comic books are legitimate American art form is indigenous to this country is to ask.
It is our modern day mythology the ancient gods of Greece -- and -- still exists only today they Wear spandex and tapes.
And if anyone doubts the educational value I can only say that the Greeks called and Hermes the Romans called the Mercury and I just com slash.
Still -- -- this I'm I'm I'm interested right now I'd never seen that and you might convince -- to actually.
Do -- for the first time if you care about unreal you media -- and and I don't -- it didn't really is you know -- and length feature and it they have 50% state and -- mind right and the other 50%.
Is MGM.
Which is IPL name later this year.
Conveniently.
Around the time of the twenty -- and -- -- -- it's it's an amazing coincidence.
And then when you see this stuff become movie then we like I send their about two point seven billion grossing worldwide doesn't -- -- -- From 1989 with the first that man all the way to the dark.
-- again you have to thank the directors.
The producers this studio executives stochastic crew have been incredible.
Talk to you to the directors like I need your knowledge you help them.
I have tried to play -- -- of my knowledge of comic books and that's -- Ever listen to me.
I'm kind of like the pied piper comic books in that regard we've been -- I think in 1979 ecology crazy.
They didn't know let's see those holiday -- after the -- and it's become I read that occurred ten.
Great -- went out there.
Had a passionate conviction.
You go ahead Michael thank you so much for coming on.
Author of the boy who loved that -- yourself.
Congratulations on your achievements things are appreciated and done Allentown my responsibilities which put so much from from beginning.
-- see Batman begins then the Dark Knight then the Dark Knight rises.
It's a trilogy by Chris promote -- -- at a -- it starts around.
Like both real floor and right up to today in -- Dark Knight rises still in the theaters you associate -- In fact the last two each rose one and billion dollars only one other film's sequel has done that.
The Paris or Caribbean -- man half amazing upside not what I also never so read Harry Potter book.
You're the one -- is listening.
Yeah I now believe -- we as we gotta get to the real economy gotta go you guys all know commodore great now because apparently on giveaways and something -- -- now.
Okay thank -- very good antenna and beautiful weekend and we'll see you right back here on.
