DC Comics' Greatest
Erica Durance stars as Lois Lane in CW's Smallville
Lois Lane (played by Erica Durance) makes her first appearance in season four, when she comes to Smallville investigating the supposed death of her cousin, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack). While investigating Chloe’s death with Clark Kent (Tom Welling), the pair uncover the truth that Chloe is still alive, but in witness protection until Lionel Luthor’s trial, and that Lionel (John Glover) knows the truth and has sent someone to kill her. Lois and Clark stop the would-be killer, allowing Chloe to testify against Lionel. Before Lois can leave Smallville, her father informs her that she failed to achieve all of her high school credits, and that he has enrolled her in Smallville High so that she can complete her twelfth grade year. Staying with the Kents, Lois attends Smallville High, where Chloe convinces her to become a reporter for the Torch, in an effort to help her earn some of the remaining credits. With Lex’s help, Clark manages to get Lois her remaining credits ahead of schedule so that she can attend Metropolis University, and vacate his bedroom. In season five, Jonathan Kent (John Schneider), who is running for the state senate, asks Lois to be his Chief of Staff after witnessing her take charge against his former Chief of Staff, when they publish stories that go against Jonathan’s values. Lois continues her duties under Martha Kent (Annette O'Toole), who is requested by the Governor to take Jonathan’s place, after he suffers a fatal heart attack.
In season six, Lois rediscovers an interest in journalism after she is almost struck by a barn door that falls out of the sky while she is having a morning jog. Her story is bought by the Inquisitor, a tabloid newspaper which also gives her a job as a reporter. She also begins a romantic relationship with billionaire Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley), who, unbeknown to her, masquerades at night as the vigilante Green Arrow. Queen’s "job" as Green Arrow often gets in the way of their relationship. Eventually, Lois deduces that Oliver is Green Arrow, setting up an elaborate scheme to prove it. Unfortunately, Clark and Oliver are wise to her plan and Clark dresses up as Green Arrow to throw Lois off Oliver’s trail. When Oliver is forced to leave Metropolis to track down all of Lex’s experimental facilities his relationship with Lois comes to an end. At the end of the sixth season, Lois discovers that Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) has been doing experimental research on army soldiers, one of which was her childhood friend. As a result, Lois begins looking into Lex’s LuthorCorp projects.
Dark Knight Team
The New Batman Adventures (often shortened TNBA) is the successor to the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Although being different names, Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures take place in the same universe, with TNBA set a few years after the original series. According to the book Batman Animated, series writer Paul Dini originally wanted the new show to be titled Batman: Gotham Knights, but it was rejected by the producers in favor of the name The New Batman Adventures. To better adhere with the prior DVD sets of the original series, the DVD release of this show is titled Batman: The Animated Series Volume 4 (from The New Batman Adventures)
Stories in this series tend to involve Batman's supporting cast, which include fellow crimefighters Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl, among others. The show also features guest stars such as Supergirl, Etrigan and The Creeper; characters who would later appear with Batman in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. The series takes place around the same time as Superman: The Animated Series.
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Superman. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Brandon Routh as Superman, as well as Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden and Parker Posey. Superman Returns is a loose continuation of Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). The film tells the story of Superman returning to Earth after several years of absence. He finds that Lois Lane has moved on with her life and Lex Luthor plotting a scheme that will destroy the United States.
After a series of unsuccessful projects to resurrect Superman on the screen, Bryan Singer was hired by Warner Bros. to direct and develop Superman Returns in July 2004. The majority of principal photography took place at Fox Studios Australia, Sydney, while the visual effects sequences were created by Sony Pictures Imageworks; filming ended in November 2005. Superman Returns was released with positive reviews, and grossed $391 million in worldwide box office totals. However, Warner Bros. was somewhat disappointed with the box office return and are now considering to "reintroduce" the Superman character in a future film.
Robin and Nightwing
The Batman animated series episode "Artifacts", set in the year 3027 with flashbacks to the year 2027. The flashback sequences feature Nightwing, voiced by Jerry O'Connell. Although Dick has been active for ten years as Nightwing, Batman and Oracle persist in calling him "Robin." Nightwing later appears in season 5 in the episode "The Metal Face of Comedy" in his original Nightwing costume. In this episode, he is Dick Grayson's video game character in an online role playing game.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role. The film follows Bruce Wayne/Batman (Bale), District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and Police Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and their struggles and journey in combating the new rising threat of a criminal who goes by the name of the "Joker" (Heath Ledger). His identity is left a mystery in the film, while Dent's transformation from heroic district attorney to disfigured killer Two-Face is presented entirely. Nolan's inspiration for the film was the Joker's comic book debut in 1940, and the 1996 series The Long Halloween, which retold Two-Face's origin. The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, as well as in several other locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Nolan used an IMAX camera to film some sequences, including the Joker's first appearance in the film.
On January 22, 2008, after he had completed filming The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger died from a toxic combination of prescription drugs, leading to intense attention from the press and moviegoing public.
