Legacies must rise to unearthly challenges as the children of Batman and Superman are charged with saving their famous fathers - and the world - in Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons.
Warner Bros. Animation's first-ever all-CG animated, feature-length film begins as 11-year-old Jonathan Kent discovers he has superpowers, thrusting the half-Kryptonian into the complicated world of Super Heroes and Super-Villains - who are now under attack by a malevolent alien force known as Starro!
It’s a race against time as Jonathan must join forces with assassin-turned-Boy-Wonder Damian Wayne to rescue their fathers and save the planet by becoming the Super Sons they were destined to be!
Last week, we spoke with star Laura Bailey (Spider-Man, Marvel's Avengers, The Last of Us Part 2) to discuss her role as Lois Lane. The actress previously played The Daily Planet reporter in Injustice, but gets a lot more to sink her teeth into in Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons.
During our conversation, Laura talks about her approach to the iconic DC Comics character, what it's like playing Lois as a mom, and her experience working with husband Travis Willingham, who co-stars in the movie. We also learn how she approached the journalist in key scenes involving Lex Luthor and Starro.
We've already shared our interview with Robin actor Jack Griffo which you can check out here, and stay tuned as we still have conversations with Jack Dylan Grazer (Jonathan Kent), Travis Willingham (Superman), and Troy Baker (Batman).
This story is just as much about Lois’ relationship with her son as Superman’s. Was her proactive role in this movie a big part of what made you want to return as the character here?
Oh man, I love working with DC anytime I can. Travis and I have always been fans of Superman and Lois. We went as the characters for Halloween years ago [Laughs]. I love that it showcases her relationship with Jonathan and that she’s a fully capable, supportive mother. It really shows Lois being so strong and intelligent in her decisions.
You did play Lois in Injustice, of course, but did you find your approach to the character differed at all given how different Super Sons is to that project or was it a case of just slipping back into a familiar role?
It’s kind of like slipping into a familiar role, but with this one, I think the writing and the presentation of the characters were so fluid and felt so natural. It was very easy to…I know this sounds dumb, but to say the lines. It didn’t feel like we had to jump through any hoops to find the character. She was just right there, under the skin waiting to come out.
There have been so many iconic Lois Lanes over the years, but you’ve played your fair share of iconic characters too. Despite that, is there still a sense of pressure taking on a role like this one?
I think because I am such a fan that I put a pressure on myself with it. I know that the fandom for Lois and Clark is so huge, I just want to pay homage to then when playing these characters. I never want to just do it and not think about it.
This story really establishes Lois as a great reporter and a great mother. Which side of her did you find most satisfying to delve into here?
I had a blast diving into the mother side of Lois. We’ve seen her before in many different ways, but it’s not often we get to see her as a mother. I think it’s really cool that she presents something to the world, but can be something different with Jonathan. I love getting to see that side of it. The intimacy they have in those first moments when they’re bantering back and forth as she’s getting ready to leave the house…it was just so natural and so fun. As a recent mother myself, it was so easy to envision myself in those moments [Laughs].
The relationship with Jonathan is such a key part of this story, so did you spend a lot of time thinking about how Lois must feel seeing her son develop these powers, whether it be the danger that puts him in or the fact he shares this side of himself with his dad and not her?
Oh, sure. That terror of letting your child go out into the wild but also knowing they’re fully capable…I think that’s what makes Lois so wonderful in this. She’s doing her own thing, but has full faith Jonathan will be able to handle it. She puts the ball in his court and just goes with it.
Getting to work with your husband, Travis Willingham, on this project, were you able to record any dialogue together to bring some of your real-life chemistry into this Clark/Lois dynamic?
Oh man, I wish we could have! We still recorded one at a time, but in our own home booth which is…in our closet. I heard Travis in my head very easily knowing what he was going to do with the role, so I think there’s that mental ability to just know. Plus, Wes Gleason was the voice director and he is just phenomenal. He’s so good at creating honest performances, so I had full faith that, when it all came together, it was going to sound natural.
It must have just been a blast to go from Halloween costumes to playing Superman and Lois in the same movie…
[Laughs] Yeah, it was really great. What’s fun is that Troy Baker is one of our very best friends and him playing Batman was hilarious and wonderful. I know he and Travis raised a glass over the fact they were doing a movie together as these two characters.
This movie is so much lighter in tone than Injustice, but do you have a preference when it comes to the sort of DC projects you prefer starring in?
I like to jump back and forth. The dark things are nice and meaty and it’s fun to take a bit out of it, but you don’t want to live there by any means. Getting to do fun projects like this and still have those moments of chaos within when Lois shows a little bit of that villainous side…those are just such a blast to record.
Without getting too spoilery, you get that great scene later in the film with Lex Luthor. How much fun is it to have dialogue like that to sink you teeth into?
[Laughs] Right? Oh man, I was loving that session when we got to record those lines. A lot of times, you don’t get to see exactly what will happen. You know the breadth of the story, but sometimes, you don’t get to see the lines too far in advance. When we were going over the scene, I was just cackling. It was so much fun and I was amazed they kept everything they did because it is an edgy moment for Lois. Oh gosh, yeah, without spoiling anything…I loved it.
You get to play a Starro-controlled Lois as well; what sort of direction are you getting in the booth for a scene as unique and weird as that?
I think it was that creepy…one of the references they gave was mom in Coraline which is funny as I think that’s Teri Hatcher who also played Lois Lane. That kind of creepy off-moment that she has was such a blast. All of those reactions she’s having as she’s fighting, screaming, and is monstrous were really fun to record.
Now you’ve seen the movie, what do you think about this Super Sons concept and just how it came together with this brand-new animation style?
It’s so cool looking! I was so blown away when I watched it. The banter throughout the whole movie is so good and Jack and Jack are so talented and bounce off each other so well. I loved how it turned out.
You’ve died as Lois and you’ve now been a mother to a Super Son, but have you given any thought to where you’d like to take Lois’ story next in this incarnation?
Oh wow. Man, I would honestly just like to keep going down the road we’ve established here. It was great to do and I think there’s more to tell…
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons lands on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray and Digital on October 18, 2022.