La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM composed by Robert J. Kral (SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY, DUCK DODGERS) on CD August 26, 2014. This limited edition CD (1500 units) will contain 4 exclusive tracks not available elsewhere.
“BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM marks a departure from what we normally do from a music standpoint,” said director Jay Olivia. “We usually do the operatic epic music that we’ve all become accustomed to in the live action and animated comic book films for the last twenty five years…. James Tucker, my producer, was very supportive of the idea of doing a more contemporary take on the superhero music and when Rob sent us his first pass of the score, we were tremendously pleased.”
BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM is a direct-to-video animated superhero that is part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The film is based on the universe of the BATMAN: ARKHAM video game franchise, and is a direct sequel to BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS. Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding direct, with a script by Heath Corson and James Tucker producing. The film was screened at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International on July 25, 2014, and was released digitally on July 29 and on physical media on August 12.
In the universe of BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM, the government teams up a group of supervillains with the code name Suicide Squad and forces them to break into Arkham Asylum to bring back top secret information the Riddler has stolen, and Batman soon becomes involved. Things go from bad to worse when one of the Squad (Harley Quinn) frees the Joker, who has the means to not only blow up the asylum, but most of Gotham City as well.
“In terms of influence, for this movie most of the approach I knew would be different, with influences coming from Guy Ritchie movies or even OCEAN’S 11 in places,” explains Kral. “Jay and I definitely wanted some funk grooves. We wanted the flavor of setting up the story to feel like a heist movie but set in the Batman world.”
Robert Joseph Kral, born 5 July 1967, is an Australian film and television composer. He scored the TV series, ANGEL, and the spin-off of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER for most of the entire series. He also composed the scores for the TV series MIRACLES for ABC / Touchstone, DUCK DODGERS for Warner Bros. Animation, THE INSIDE for Fox Television, Lionsgate motion picture THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT and the Lionsgate / Sci Fi series, THE LOST ROOM. His animated film scores include SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY, GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT, SCOOBY- DOO! LEGEND OF THE PHANTOSAUR and SUPERMAN vs. THE ELITE. He scored the animated TV series, SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED. In 2005, Kral won an Annie Award for Best Music in an Animated Television Production, for his work on DUCK DODGERS.
“Rob was able to transition from scene to scene fluidly all the while changing the tone and mood without blinking,” described Olivia. “Arkham would not be the film it is without Rob’s immense contribution and translation of my crazy ideas and I feel that amongst all of the crazy fight scenes, insulting banter, and double crosses. Rob was able to find the heart.”
