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 Eleven 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."
"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."
DC Animation presents Batman: Assault on Arkham is currently available digitally and will be available on physical media on August 12. The Batman: Assault on Arkham - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be available digitally and on CD from www.lalalandrecords.com on August 26, 2014.