Tag: yonas-kibreab

  • Movie Review: ‘Elio’

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Elio’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on June 20th is ‘Elio’ which is the latest animated adventure from Pixar.

    Directed by Adrian Molina (‘Coco’), Madeline Sharafian (‘Onward’) and Domee Shi (‘Turning Red’), the film features the voices of Yonas Kibreab (‘Sweet Tooth’), Zoe Saldaña (‘Avatar’), Remy Edgerly (‘Sing 2’), Brad Garrett (‘Everybody Loves Raymond’), Jameela Jamil (‘The Good Place’) and Brendan Hunt (‘Ted Lasso’).

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Inside Out 2’

    Initial Thoughts

    Yonas Kibreab in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    Yonas Kibreab in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    Have you ever looked up at the night sky and dreamed of life that exists on worlds beyond our own? That’s the basic concept that Pixar’s latest movie takes as the jumping off point for the story of a young man who feels he doesn’t fit in, and longs for extraterrestrials to whisk him away.

    ‘Elio’ finds the animation studio on solid form, but does it compete with the best that the company has to offer, especially in the wake of giant box office success with ‘Inside Out 2’?

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Elio,’ as with many animated movies, features a batch of writers, including all three directors plus Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones, Jesse Andrews and Hannah Friedman. Yet for all the worries you might have about scripting by committee, the film has a remarkable coherent feel –– again, not too shocking from Pixar.

    There are some conventions in place here –– Elio is an orphan (well, Pixar is an arm of Disney, after all!) and the lessons he learns are relatively basic, going from alienated loner to alien-aided more rounded individual. But as with any movie of this type, it’s how you get there. And this one certainly has an interesting, welcome journey.

    Several lovely touches make it all work well –– this is catnip for space enthusiasts, including nods to the Voyager space craft and clips of astronomer Carl Sagan talking about Earth reaching out to the stars. And one or two clever riffs on the likes of ‘Alien’ and other sci-fi classics.

    Ambassador Mira (far left), Ambassador Helix (third from left), Ambassador Questa (center), Ambassador Tegman (third from right) and Ambassador Turais (second from right). Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    Ambassador Mira (far left), Ambassador Helix (third from left), Ambassador Questa (center), Ambassador Tegman (third from right) and Ambassador Turais (second from right). Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    On the storytelling front, there are some familiar challenges for our young hero, who is looking for his place in the world (and the universe), and if the dynamic between Elio and young alien Glordon is using established ideas, but the interaction between the two is so watchable that you never mind that.

    On the directing side, Molina (who proved his mettle with ‘Coco’), Sharafian (making her directorial debut after years at Pixar) and Shi (who last brought us the inventive, funny ‘Turning Red’) make the most of their galactic canvas, presenting some wonderful visuals all brought to life to a suitably sweeping score by Rob Simonsen.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Zoe Saldaña in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Zoe Saldaña in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    As Elio, Yonas Kibreab carries the weight of the story, and he’s enthusiastic and full of life, coming across as a relatable kid with a big heart who is dealing with a lot in his world. Kibreab is able to handle all sides of the performance, including Elio’s excitement at meeting aliens and his worry when things aren’t going well.

    Zoe Saldaña, no stranger to galactic adventures in live-action, is soulful and determined as Elio’s Aunt Olga, introduced having to deal with the newly orphaned boy and the impact on her own life. While you initially suspect she’ll be effectively left behind once he is taken into space, some clever story ideas keep her rooted in the narrative.

    Remy Edgerly voices Glordan, a young alien creature that Elio befriends. Effectively a slug-like creature, he has his own family issues (indeed, the theme of expectation placed on young people sits heavily across the story, but is handled effectively), and makes for a great foil for our hero.

    Brad Garrett is a repeat Pixar voice by this point, and here he’s on good form as Lord Grigon, a warlike creature who threatens the “Communiverse” who initially bring Elio to their colorful world. But this being a Pixar movie, he’s more than that, and has some fine moments.

    (L to R) Ambassador Tegmen (voice of Matthias Schweighöfer), Ambassador Questa (voice of Jameela Jamil), Ambassador Helix (voice of Brandon Moon) and Ambassador Naos (voice of Atsuko Okatsuka) in 'Elio'. Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' opens in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Ambassador Tegmen (voice of Matthias Schweighöfer), Ambassador Questa (voice of Jameela Jamil), Ambassador Helix (voice of Brandon Moon) and Ambassador Naos (voice of Atsuko Okatsuka) in ‘Elio’. Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ opens in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    Around the main characters is a good collection of supporting voices, including the likes of Jameela Jamil, Brandon Moon and Matthias Schweighöfer as ambassadors of the Communiverse who bring their own comic value and emotional to the story.

    Shirley Henderson has a small role as Ooooo, a supercomputer who proves very helpful to both Elio and the narrative. She doesn’t get lots to do, but is memorable.

    Likewise Pixar veteran Bob Peterson –– who has voiced the likes of Dug in ‘Up’ and Mr. Ray in ‘Finding Nemo’ in addition to work as a director and story artist –– is excellent as a high-tech user manual who just wishes people would listen to him. Finally, credit to ‘Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt for making the small role of Gunther Melmac, an alien-obsessed tech genius who ends up being helpful to Elio and Olga, pop.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    Is ‘Elio’ going to trouble the top tier of Pixar output? Probably not, but it’s certainly no misfire from the studio.

    Heartstrings will be plucked, funny bones tickled and there are some inventive alien creatures. What more could you want from family entertainment?

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    What’s the story of ‘Elio’?

    Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Elio’?

    • Yonas Kibreab as Elio
    • Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solís
    • Remy Edgerly as Glordon
    • Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon
    • Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa
    • Young Dylan as Bryce
    • Jake Getman as Caleb
    • Brendan Hunt as Gunther Melmac
    • Shirley Henderson as Ooooo
    • Bob Peterson as Universal Users Manual
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Elio’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Elio’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Pixar Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Elio’ Exclusive Interview: Yonas Kibreab

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    Opening in theaters on June 20th is ‘Elio’, which is the new movie from Pixar Animation Studios and was directed by Madeline Sharafian (‘Inside Out 2‘), Domee Shi (‘Turning Red’), and Adrian Molina (‘Coco’).

    The film features voice work from Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña (‘Emilia Pérez’), Brad Garrett (‘Finding Dory’), Jameela Jamil (‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’), Shirley Henderson (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’), Matthias Schweighöfer (‘Army of the Dead’), Ana de la Reguera (‘The Forever Purge’), and introducing Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solis.

    Yonas Kibreab stars in Pixar's 'Elio'.
    Yonas Kibreab stars in Pixar’s ‘Elio’.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Elio’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking in-person with Yonas Kibreab about his work on ‘Elio’, his first reaction to the screenplay and the animation, working with Pixar, recording alone and with other actors, his favorite scene, and what he hopes kids take away from watching the movie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Kibreab, asl well as directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and producer Mary Alice Drumm.

    Yonas Kibreab in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    Yonas Kibreab in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

    Yonas Kibreab: Okay, so when I first got the full script, what tied me to this character of Elio was that he can relate to me in a lot of ways. I feel like he’s such a quirky kid. He doesn’t care about what people think, and he’s not afraid to be himself. I think that’s something that I must really channel, just like Elio. He’s taught me to always be myself, the best self I can be. When reading the script, the writers at Pixar did such an amazing job describing everything, although I couldn’t see the animation yet, I could picture everything in my mind. It turned out exactly what I imagined and more.

    MF: What was your first reaction to the animation and the way your character would look on screen?

    YK: I saw storyboards of it. He didn’t look the same. But he had a little bit longer hair. But other than that, he looked similar. I think when I saw the first animated footage was at D23 in 2023, when they first announced the movie. I think that was the first time I’ve seen him. It’s just so crazy to see somebody who you’re playing, especially in an original Pixar movie because I’ve watched Pixar movies since I was little, and I still do today.

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: What was your experience like working with Pixar?

    YK: It was great. When I got to go to the Pixar studio up in Emeryville, California, it was the most magical campus I’ve ever been to. I want to work there, and just being able to be in that same studio where Jamie Foxx and Tom Hanks were recording all these famous Pixar movies, was so surreal to me. Meeting all the very talented artists at Pixar, it was just so great to meet them.

    MF: Did you work with any of the other actors, or did you record your dialogue alone?

    YK: Yes, usually I am by myself, but I’ve been lucky enough to record with Remy Edgerly who plays Glordon. He’s such an amazing kid and it’s been great because usually, I worked on stuff with adults. Being able to also work on a voiceover animated movie where you don’t record with anybody, but to record for the first time with a kid, is so refreshing. It was so great to work with him and I’ve got to know him off-screen as well. We did press stuff in Disney World, and we got to go on rides together. It’s so cool. I feel like we should always experience that. That’s the one thing I wish I could change about the way movies are recorded, especially animated ones. Because I don’t know how they did it back then, but now, usually you’re recording by yourself, and I feel like it’s so important to play off the people you’re working with.

    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in 'Elio'. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s 'Elio' releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Is there a particular scene in the film that you were excited to see on the big screen for the first time?

    YK: Yes. I think I’m going to have to say the scene where Elio and Glordon are crawling in the lava tunnel. Glordon’s like, “Just get in my mouth.” And I’m like, “No, I don’t want to do that. I’m not fireproof.” That’s probably one of my favorite scenes also to record.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about the movie’s message and what do you hope young audiences take away from seeing the film?

    YK: I hope the first thing that they take away is just how amazing this movie is, but also just how important your friends and your family are. Friendship is very important, just like Elio and Glordon, and your friends are always going to be there for you, including your family members. Also, if you’re feeling alone, if you’re feeling like it’s hard to find friends and you’re going through grief, it’s all going to be okay, and you will find your people. Just stay positive.

    Editorial Note: Tessa Smith conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

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    What is the plot of ‘Elio’?

    Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Elio’?

    • Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solis
    • Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solis
    • Remy Edgerly as Glordon
    • Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon
    • Jameela Jamil as Questa
    • Shirley Henderson as OOOOO
    • Matthias Schweighöfer as Tegmen
    • Brandon Moon as Helix
    • Naomi Watanabe as Auva
    • Ana de la Reguera as Turais
    • Anissa Borrego as Mira
    'Elio' opens in theaters on June 20th.
    ‘Elio’ opens in theaters on June 20th.

    List of Pixar Movies:

    Buy Pixar Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Merry Little Batman’ Interview: Luke Wilson

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    Merry Little Batman,’ which stars Luke Wilson (‘Old School’) as the Dark Knight and was directed by Mike Roth (‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie’), premieres on Prime Video beginning December 8th.

    Luke Wilson stars in Prime Video's 'Merry Little Batman.'
    Luke Wilson stars in Prime Video’s ‘Merry Little Batman.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Luke Wilson about his work on ‘Merry Little Batman,’ playing the Dark Knight, his specific version of the character, his relationship to his son, Damian Wayne, and why this Batman has a beard.

    Luke Wilson stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    Luke Wilson stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Wilson and director Mike Roth.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Luke, you’re Batman! What was it like to voice the iconic character and what was your approach to playing this specific version of the Caped Crusader?

    Luke Wilson: Well, that’s what I was just going to say, is I’m a very different version of Batman. I mean, you can tell by just the title of the movie, ‘Little Batman,’ that it’s not going to be this kind of dark dystopian take on it like the most recent ‘The Batman,’ and then the Christian Bale versions, which were so good. But my approach to it was just thinking about friends I have that have smaller kids, and you watch them watch something, and they are very dialed in, in a way that I feel like even you and I as adults, with movies even that we like, we’re just kind of watching and happy. But you watch a little kid, and they’re not even blinking while they watch it. So, I was just trying to put a little energy and fun in my voice, which it’s not that kind of gruff voice. I was just trying to take a fun approach to it.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Merry Little Batman’ 

    Bruce and Damian Wayne in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    (L to R) Bruce and Damian Wayne in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about Bruce Wayne’s overprotective parenting skills and his relationship with his son, Damian Wayne?

    LW: I mean, I think my Bruce Wayne as a parent, he’s like a lot of parents, trying to be a good dad, but trying to also be the cool dad, while also having to be the disciplinarian at times. So, I think he’s kind of, at times seems like he can handle crime, he can handle villains, but sometimes with his own son, he can have his hands full and not quite know how to handle it. Like, the idea of I’m going off to fight crime, so I leave Damian behind at the Wayne Mansion, and I’ve left him with the special bracelet so that he can get in touch with me. I was just trying to do a fun version of it. He’s a little overprotective and bumbling at the same time.

    Damian and Bruce Wayne in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    (L to R) Damian and Bruce Wayne in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    MF: Finally, Batman has a beard in this movie, which could be very controversial with hardcore Batman fans. What is your opinion on the Bat-Beard?

    LW: I don’t want to say I didn’t get it, but it’s a choice. I certainly hope it wasn’t affected by me going in there for one of the recording sessions and being bearded. But I didn’t quite get the Bat-Beard, because when I first saw the preview, I thought, “Okay, Batman’s got a beard. He’s eventually going to shave this off, or maybe he’s undercover.” But that was a choice by the people that are above me in this process, so I don’t want to put my own job in jeopardy by questioning their artistic choices. I don’t know about the Bat-Beard, but maybe it could become a thing. It’s like I saw the progression from Adam West to Michael Keaton to getting darker with Christian Bale and then the most recent one with Robert Pattinson, so maybe it’s just the way things go.

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    What is the plot of ‘Merry Little Batman’?

    After Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) is left alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he transforms himself into “Little Batman” to safeguard his home and the rest of Gotham City from supervillains during the holiday season.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Merry Little Batman’?

    'Merry Little Batman' premieres on Prime Video December 8th.
    ‘Merry Little Batman’ premieres on Prime Video December 8th.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Merry Little Batman’:

    Buy Batman Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Merry Little Batman’

    'Merry Little Batman' premieres on Prime Video December 8th.
    ‘Merry Little Batman’ premieres on Prime Video December 8th.

    Premiering on Prime Video beginning December 8th is the new animated movie ‘Merry Little Batman,’ which stars Luke Wilson (‘Old School’) as the Dark Knight and was directed by Mike Roth (‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie’).

    Initial Thoughts

    'Merry Little Batman' premieres on Prime Video December 8th.
    ‘Merry Little Batman’ premieres on Prime Video December 8th.

    ‘Merry Little Batman’ is a cute and fun Christmas themed superhero story that places the Dark Knight’s parenting skills front and center and focuses on his relationship with his son and future Robin, Damian Wayne. While the animation is odd and messy, its punk-style and the rock n’ roll soundtrack fits the project well and meshes with Damian’s rebellious attitude. The movie falls into some holiday cliches but is otherwise a fun new take on the Caped Crusader.

    Story and Direction

    Luke Wilson stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    Luke Wilson stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    The movie begins on Christmas Eve in a new crime free Gotham where Bruce Wayne (Luke Wilson) and his butler Alfred (James Cromwell) are raising Bruce’s 8-year-old son, Damian Wayne. (Yonas Kibreab) With all the super-villains either retired or behind bars, Bruce has hung up the cape and cowl, and is now focusing on being a single dad. But Damian, who also goes by the name “Little Batman” desperately wants to be a superhero like his dad and secretly wishes crime would come back to Gotham. While Bruce does not think Damian is ready for that, he does give him a gift on Christmas Eve, which is his very own utility belt. However, the belt is absent of any of the cool Bat-Gadgets, and Damian is tired of his father treating him like a child.

    When a Justice League emergency calls Batman away on Christmas Eve, Damian is left behind with Alfred. But while Alfred runs out to grab hot coco, Damian ends up home alone when burglars attack Wayne Maynor. Damien attempts to protect his home, but soon loses his utility belt and goes on a journey throughout Gotham to retrieve his Christmas gift. However, Damian and Batman both soon realize that it was all a trap set by some of the Dark Knight’s most dangerous enemies to get Batman out of town and take advantage of Damian. Now, the future Robin must protect Gotham and save Christmas before it’s too late, and Bruce must learn to trust his young son.

    Director Mike Roth wisely keeps the focus on Damian and his journey while also commenting on Batman’s parenting skills and his relationship with his son. Roth’s use of punk and hip-hop music blends well with the unique animation, to create a fresh look at the Caped Crusader. Working off a strong script from screenwriters Morgan Evans, Jase Ricci, and Etan Cohen, Roth succeeds in creating an unusual, family friendly Christmas-themed Batman movie.

    Related Article: Every Cinematic Batman Appearance Ranked!

    Voice Performances

    David Hornsby star as Joker in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    David Hornsby star as Joker in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    Young actor Yonas Kibreab’s voice is perfect to play this specific version of Damian Wayne, who unlike the comics, was not trained by his grandfather (Ra’s al Ghul) to be an assassin. While there are references to his mother (Talia al Ghul), she does not seem to be part of Damian’s life, as Bruce and Alfred are raising him by themselves. So, this version of Damian is much more of a “normal” kid than the comic book version fans may be used to, and in that sense, Kibreab superbly captures the youth and excitement of this Damian.

    Luke Wilson brings his signature charm to the voice role of Batman, and in doing so, shows us a side of the Dark Knight we usually do not see: Batman as a father. This version of Batman is an overprotective parent, and while Wilson’s performance reinforces that idea, the actor never loses the recognizable elements of the character that has made him so popular over the years. James Cromwell lends his voice to an older and wiser Alfred Pennyworth, while Reid Scott plays a bumbling version of Commissioner Gordon.

    Brian George voices The Penguin and gives us a familiar interpretation of the character, while Dolph Adomian is clearly channeling Arnold Schwarzenegger from ‘Batman and Robin’ for his voice work. But it’s David Hornsby’s work as The Joker that really makes the character equally intimidating and fun. The Clown Prince of Crime’s masterplan is to convince Robin that he is really a super-villain, and the character almost succeeds, coming across as both creepy and hilarious.

    What Doesn’t Work?

    Yonas Kibreab as Damian Wayne in 'Merry Little Batman.'
    Yonas Kibreab as Damian Wayne in ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    The animation is purposely messy and avant-garde, not unlike ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ or ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’ While at times it can be jarring, the animation does have a punk youthfulness to it and mostly fits well with the story. Speaking of which, the story does skew very young and while this is a family movie, very young audiences will probably relate to it best.

    But the biggest problem with ‘Merry Little Batman’ for Batman purists will be the fact that this version of the character sports a beard. It makes sense, since this Bruce Wayne has been retired from crime fighting for years, the beard helps illustrate the passing of time and Batman’s retired status. But something just doesn’t look right about facial hair poking out of the iconic cowl, and it’s a choice by the filmmakers that just doesn’t work.

    Final Thoughts

    'Merry Little Batman.'
    ‘Merry Little Batman.’ Copyright: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Merry Little Batman and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC. All rights reserved.

    In the end, ‘Merry Little Batman’ features a fresh look at Batman as a dad, and a version of Damian Wayne seldomly seen. While the animation is purposely rough and the movie is intended for very young audiences, it still features enough holiday fun for the whole family and a different look at the Batman mythology.

    ‘Merry Little Batman’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Merry Little Batman’?

    After Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) is left alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he transforms himself into “Little Batman” to safeguard his home and the rest of Gotham City from supervillains during the holiday season.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Merry Little Batman’?

    • Yonas Kibreab as Damian Wayne / Little Batman
    • Luke Wilson as Bruce Wayne / Batman
    • James Cromwell as Alfred Pennyworth
    • David Hornsby as The Joker
    • Dolph Adomian as Mr. Freeze
    • Brian George as The Penguin
    • Theresa McLaughlin as Poison Ivy
    • Chris Sullivan as Bane
    • Cynthia McWilliams as Vicki Vale
    • Reid Scott as Comissioner Gordon
    'Merry Little Batman' premieres on Prime Video December 8th.
    ‘Merry Little Batman’ premieres on Prime Video December 8th.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Merry Little Batman’:

    Buy Batman Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Sweet Tooth’ Season 2: Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell

    Christian Convery as Gus in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    Christian Convery as Gus in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    Premiering on Netflix beginning April 27th is the second season of the popular series ‘Sweet Tooth,’ which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Jeff Lemire, and is executive produced by Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, and Amanda Burrell.

    What is the plot of ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2?

    Following the events of the first season of ‘Sweet Tooth,’ the second season involves begins as a deadly new wave of the Sick bears down, and Gus (Christian Convery) and a band of fellow hybrids are held prisoner by General Abbot (Neil Sandilands) and the Last Men. Looking to consolidate power by finding a cure, Abbot uses the children as fodder for the experiments of captive Dr. Aditya Singh (Adeel Akhtar), who’s racing to save his infected wife Rani (Aliza Vellani).

    To protect his friends, Gus agrees to help Dr. Singh, beginning a dark journey into his origins and his mother Birdie’s (Amy Seimetz) role in the events leading up to The Great Crumble. Outside the Preserve, Tommy Jepperd (Nonso Anozie) and Aimee Eden (Dania Ramirez) team up to break the hybrids free, a partnership that will be tested as Jepperd’s secrets come to light. As the revelations of the past threaten the possibility of redemption in the present, Gus and his new found family find themselves on a collision course with Abbot and the evil forces that look to wipe them out once and for all.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2?

    ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2 stars Christian Convery (‘Cocaine Bear’) as Gus, Nonso Anozie (‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’) as Jepperd, Adeel Akhtar (‘Enola Holmes 2’) as Dr. Singh, Stefania LaVie Owen (‘Krampus’) as Bear, Dania Ramirez (‘X-Men: The Last Stand’) as Aimee Eden, Aliza Vellani (‘Kim Possible’) as Rani Singh, Naledi Murray (‘The Undoing’) as Wendy, Neil Sandilands (‘News of the World’) as General Abbot, Marlon Williams (‘A Star is Born’) as Johnny Abbot, Amy Seimetz (‘No Sudden Move’) as Birdie, Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. (‘Obi-Wan Kenobi‘) as Teddy Turtle, and Yonas Kibreab as Finn Fox, with James Brolin (‘Westworld’) as the voice of the narrator.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with executive producers Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell about season 2 of ‘Sweet Tooth,’ what attracted them to the source material, world-building for the new season, parallels to the real-world, expanding General Abbot and Dr. Singh’s roles, working with the kids, Gus and Jepperd’s bond, and their ideas for season 3.

    Christian Convery as Gus in 'Sweet Tooth.'
    (L to R) Christian Convery as Gus in ‘Sweet Tooth.’ Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2021.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Susan, can you talk about what excited you about adapting the comic book into this series in the first place, and the challenges of expanding the universe for season 2?

    Susan Downey: Well, I think when we first got the graphic novel, we were sort of like, “What the heck is this? It’s so strange.” But when you dig into it and you understand what Jeff Lemire is trying to say and the allegory that’s there, you realize that there’s something really special and powerful in this storytelling. We really fell in love with Gus and obviously, the relationship with Jepp. I think if anything, it scared us a little bit. We knew that certainly with season one, we wanted to take all the great things that Jeff was trying to do, all of his intentions with these characters and the journey that they went on, but we wanted to make sure that we delivered it in a way that was a bit maybe more hopeful, not quite as dark as the source material. So we created this storybook dystopia, as we called it, a world of wonder with Gus as our guiding light of hope. I think that excited us because I’ve never seen anything like this. I haven’t seen a “Deer-Boy Show.” So that ticks a big box for us, which is okay, it doesn’t feel familiar. I think going into a second season though, we felt we had created this really strong foundation. Again, Gus and Jepp and their relationship as this center, as well as some of these other incredible first-season characters that joined a second season, that we actually could start creeping into a little bit of the darkness while still maintaining, again, that hope, that wonder and the beauty that we had created, but unearthing some of the darker themes and the stronger antagonists that are very focused in their goals. So it was really about expanding the world. It was introducing some new characters, and as you saw, it was expanding the world of the hybrids, which was so much fun. Again, a lot of the times we were looking at each other and going, “What are we doing here?” When my son saw the trailer, he’s like, “There’s an elephant boy?” The excitement was palpable. So I think we nailed it.

    Ruby Hall as Haley Mockingbird, Harvey Gui as Max Skunk, Aeon Scott as Anna Rabbit, Amie Donald as Maya Monkey, Cyan Scott as Hanna Rabbit, Christian Convery as Gus, Naledi Murray as Wendy, Christopher Cooper Jnr as Teddy Turtle, Erin Minchin as Jo Jo Raccoon, Apii Pukeiti as Junior Owl, Yonas Kibreab as Finn Fox in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    (L to R) Ruby Hall as Haley Mockingbird, Harvey Gui as Max Skunk, Aeon Scott as Anna Rabbit, Amie Donald as Maya Monkey, Cyan Scott as Hanna Rabbit, Christian Convery as Gus, Naledi Murray as Wendy, Christopher Cooper Jnr as Teddy Turtle, Erin Minchin as Jo Jo Raccoon, Apii Pukeiti as Junior Owl, Yonas Kibreab as Finn Fox in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Amanda, can you talk about bringing some of the separate storylines from the first season together for season 2, and expanding the world of ‘Sweet Tooth’ with more characters, locations, and flashbacks this season?

    Amanda Burrell: It’s so funny because in season one, you spend so much time building it and then trying to nail a tone or at least figure out what your show is in a lot of ways. I think because we evolved it from the graphic novel, I think we figured it out in season one, and then it just allowed us, “Okay, tonally, actually the hybrid stuff is really connecting. It’s really emotional. How do we build that and expand it?” So it felt we really understood clearly what we got in season one, and now we just get to really up it. Abbott was always going to Loom large. He’s big in the comic book. When we cast Neil, it was so fun in season one, to kind of almost keep him at bay until the audience was ready. I think the fact that we can just bring him out in all of his glory, and Neil just milked it and just was so ready for it. But also to have Singh in the mix in not only the same time space, but that whole alignment of it was just really exciting and we were always building towards it. So it felt like season one allowed us to build the excitement towards it and now we get to realize the potential of all of it. So we definitely blew it out. I feel we’re really proud of the season. We can’t believe how incredible all the hybrids are. So yeah, we’re pumped.

    Neil Sandilands as General Abbot in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    Neil Sandilands as General Abbot in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Susan, the series deals with a pandemic and obviously we are just coming out of a pandemic in the real-world now. Did the real-world pandemic at all change the way you depicted the pandemic in the show?

    SD: It’s interesting. Not entirely. This was based on a graphic novel that existed well before our pandemic, so our development of it was even before the pandemic. So I think more than anything, it’s just interesting that an audience can relate in a way that they maybe wouldn’t have had it not happened. I feel for us, more than anything, there’s just little details people are familiar with, taking temperatures, wearing masks, those kind of things. But our story takes place after, and it’s about the hope, the rebuild, the reset and what does the future offer. So, if it taps into something within all of us that we’ve experienced, it’s not looking to tap into whatever we’ve dealt with over the past few years. It’s looking to say, “Well, what are you going to do now moving forward? How are you going to change? Where are you going to take this opportunity and see that maybe there’s a different version of the future that’s been altered by this incredible event that happened?”

    Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd and Christian Convery as Gus in 'Sweet Tooth.'
    (L to R) Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd and Christian Convery as Gus in ‘Sweet Tooth.’ Photo: Kirsty Griffin.

    Related Article: Watch Interviews with the Cast & Creators of ‘Sweet Tooth’

    MF: Amanda, Gus and Jepperd are separated at the end of season one. Can you talk about the strong connection those two characters made in the first season, and the challenges of separating them for the beginning of season 2?

    AB: Well, it’s another interesting thing. We really took our time with it. Jepp, in the first episode, he really shows up at the very end and you realize this person’s going to be a force. Then the whole first season is really about this unlikely connection. We spent a lot of time talking about how long we could keep them apart in season two, honestly, because they are magic together. Our actors are so close to one another and have such a beautiful relationship and camaraderie. Nonso is just such a spiritual father figure for Christian. So we really knew we had to get them back together. But I think the other thing that’s interesting about kids growing up is they need their own space too to find their people, to find their connections. I think Wendy really provides that friendship that we as adults maybe don’t need to get in the mix of. So it’s almost like expanding the opportunity. But yeah, we were all like, “We got to get them back together.” I think it’s just such a beautiful moment when they see each other again and this deep love has not wavered.

    Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd and Christian Convery as Gus in 'Sweet Tooth.'
    (L to R) Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd and Christian Convery as Gus in ‘Sweet Tooth.’ Photo: Kirsty Griffin.

    MF: Susan, as a producer, can you talk about working with actors Christian Convery and Nonso Anozie and watching them create these characters and their unique friendship over these two seasons?

    SD: Well look, we were so fortunate in the casting process to get a young actor in Christian Convery who is just such magic on screen. We also loved the fact that he had a bunch of experience under his belt by the time he was working with us even first season because as you see, he is in so much of this. He was in so much of the first season, and so much of second season. So he is a seasoned pro who’s then just digging into this character. Obviously, with Jepp, we made some adjustments from the source material. Finding Nonso, again, was such a victory for us. But you don’t know until you put these two on screen together what that chemistry’s going to be. As Amanda said, they just fell in love with each other. They couldn’t be physically or visually more different, which is perfect, and what we’re going for. Again, the larger thematic exploration of finding family, creating your own family, it doesn’t matter what you look like or even what species you are, in our case, you can find that connection. These two really did find it both on screen and off. I think you can feel it as you’re watching it.

    Christian Convery as Gus, Naledi Murray as Wendy in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    (L to R) Christian Convery as Gus, Naledi Murray as Wendy in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2023.

    MF: You’ve also added several more young actors to the cast this season, who play the hybrids. Since child actors have limited time to work on set, and many of them are wearing elaborate costumes or make-up, can you talk as a producer about the challenges of working with such a large cast of young actors?

    SD: Well, this is when you really rely on your ADs to schedule things properly and to make sure that they know exactly when they need to break the kids, send them to school, all of that kind of stuff. Fortunately, we had these other very active storylines. They loom large because they are so incredible and fun and unique. But we were able to jump around and shoot other things, and get some of these other storylines, and they really formed a bond, this group of kids. That casting process was also a ton of fun because when we were looking at it and thinking about each of the different characters, it was like we couldn’t find the kid until we found him (or her). There was never, “Is it this one or this?” It was always like, boom, this is our kid, this kid’s magic. Once again, you’re rolling the dice. Are they going to get along? What are they going to be like? What are the parents going to be like? But we got incredibly fortunate with this group.

    Neil Sandilands as General Abbot in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    Neil Sandilands as General Abbot in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Amanda, we only saw Neil Sandilands as General Abbot briefly in the first season, but his role is greatly expanded for season 2. Can you talk about the decision to give him a larger role in the new season?

    AB: He’s such a lovely human too. It’s so funny how much he also revels in being kind of evil in that way. But honestly, he brought so much to it. I think once he embodied the role in season one, I think the writers were so deeply inspired by him. So it was easy to write for him. He revels in it so much. I think the same thing goes for all the hybrids, all of our cast, they set the table season one that the writers just loved writing towards them. I think his relationship with his brother is really illuminating this season too, which was really vital. I think we wanted to give him dimension. There’s a past, there’s a history, there’s a context for why people become who they are. I think the other thing with him is that you really believe that he has a philosophy that he’s committed to in order to understand the world. While that is taking him into incredibly dark places, we really wanted to make sure that audiences understood him because those are the best villains, the ones that you actually totally get what their point of view is. You don’t believe that the choices they’re making are the right ones, but you understand them, and you’ll see in the latter half of the season, you get to meet other villains of the world, which I think is also really interesting.

    Adeel Akhtar as Singh and Aliza Vellani as Rani in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    (L to R) Adeel Akhtar as Singh and Aliza Vellani as Rani in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Susan, can you talk about Dr. Singh and Rani’s relationship and how that really motivates his actions in season 2?

    SD: Again, this is one of those things where we took something that we learned in season one and let it inform a storyline for season two because originally, she wasn’t necessarily going to survive. But we fell so in love with her, and so in love with them and the true north that he needed through the course of this season to do the things and go to the lengths he went to. You had to believe and invest in that relationship because everything he’s doing obviously is driven to keep her alive. These two actors just brought such chemistry, such magic to the screen and you’re just rooting for both of them. Both of them are just incredible. So I think that, as Amanda was saying, it’s important as people are crossing moral lines to understand the motivation. You may not agree with their technique, but you have to at least accept why they’re doing it. To me, their relationship is the heart of his character, and is the heart of why he’s willing to go to the lengths that he’s willing to go.

    Nonso Anozie as Jepperd, Dania Ramirez as Aimee in 'Sweet Tooth' season 2.
    (L to R) Nonso Anozie as Jepperd, Dania Ramirez as Aimee in ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Finally, do you already have ideas for season 3, and do you have a larger arc designed for future seasons?

    SD: Look, we’re focused right now on getting season 2 out, and hopefully, everybody loves it. The nice thing is Jeff (Lemire) gave us a lot of material in the books. So if we’re fortunate enough to have a season 3, I know that the writers certainly have ideas on how to utilize some of the other storylines found in the graphic novels to continue to tell the story of Gus and Jepp.

    Bobby the Gopher in 'Sweet Tooth.'
    (L to R) Bobby the Gopher in ‘Sweet Tooth.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2021.

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    To watch our exclusive interviews with the cast of ‘Sweet Tooth’ season 2 including Christian Convery, Naledi Murray, Nonso Anozie, Dania Ramirez, Adeel Akhtar, James Brolin and showrunner Jim Mickle, please click on the video player below.

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