The cast and crew of Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment's Justice League: Throne of Atlantis gathered for a New York Comic Con panel a short time ago to discuss the 2015 animated picture, as well as other tidbits. The film, an adaption of Geoff Johns' recent crossover of the same name, acts as a sequel to this year's Justice League: War, which infamously excluded Aquaman. Producer James Tucker said there was a reason for this, suggested by Johns himself. "He was omitted so it could lead to this. This story is Aquaman's origin. If we had adapted War [with Aquaman], we would have lost the ability to tell a story that totally featured Aquaman." As well as adding Matt Lanter as the fan-favourite Atalantian, the movie retains several of the same cast members as its predecessor. "There absolutely was an intent to bring back as many cast members as we could," explained longtime casting and voice director Andrea Romano. "It doesn't always happen. We wanted Shemar [Moore] to return as Cyborg. I think it was for three months we tried to get him. His schedule was so crazy, we couldn't get him for this movie. So we hired another actor. And he did a fine job. The animation came back eight, nine, 10 months later, and the agent reached out and said -- 'Shemar's available again.'" As the film's creative team "wanted the continuity," Cyborg's dialogue was re-recorded Moore and the unnamed actor was "heartbreakingly" recast, but Romano reassured that she'll find work with him in the future.
As this line of continuity is based on the recent DC reboot, character designer Phil Bourassa said they "did use the New 52 look as a springboard," for the design of Aquaman. "It's not an overly complex design, so it lends itself to the medium of animation," he clarified. Tucker said the intent of the film is to take advantage of the character's name recognition but to use him as far more than a punchline, something I'm sure will come as a relief to many comic book fans. "A lot of people know him who don't read comics. We're taking advantage of that knowledge and showing them who Aquaman really is." He also revealed the original cut of Throne of Atlantis scored an R-rating: "I won't say why, but it wasn't for violence." Interesting. Though it's a welcome change to see Aquaman front and centre, one fan asked Tucker whether we'll see a movie featuring the 'Bat-family', with a range of Batman supporting characters. "I would love to do that," he said. "So if I love it, it will happen." They also hope that this line of continuity will allow WB Animation to branch out and create solo movies starring other members of the League. And speaking of continuity, this film, as with War, this will continue to tease inter-connectivity. "The end of this movie definitely teases the next movie," Tucker confirmed. Two clips were also aired for the crowd, including a scene described as featuring a "brutal bar fight" between Arthur Curry and some ne'er-do-weller's, and one with Aquaman and Mera fighting a horde of enemies. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis will be released in 2015 on Blu-Ray and DVD.