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Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

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This article is about the animated film. For the comic-book story arc, see The Judas Contract.
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
Promotional poster
Directed bySam Liu
Screenplay byErnie Altbacker
Based on
The Judas Contract
by
Produced byJames Tucker
Starring
Edited byChristopher D. Lozinski
Music byFrederik Wiedmann
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release dates
  • March 31, 2017 (2017-03-31) (WonderCon)
  • April 4, 2017 (2017-04-04) (United States)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.5 million

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is a 2017 direct-to-video animated superhero film directed by Sam Liu from a screenplay by Ernie Altbacker based on The Judas Contract by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. It is the twenty-eighth film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, part of DC Animated Movie Universe and the sequel to Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016). The film features the voices of Christina Ricci, Taissa Farmiga, Miguel Ferrer, Stuart Allan, Brandon Soo Hoo, Jake T. Austin, Kari Wahlgren, Sean Maher,[1] Gregg Henry, and Meg Foster. It marked Ferrer's final film role.[2]

This film had its world premiere at WonderCon on March 31, 2017. The film was released through digital download on April 4, 2017, and through home media on April 18, 2017, by Warner Home Video.

Additionally in the film, Crispin Freeman, Jason Spisak and Masasa Moyo reprise their respective roles from Young Justice as Roy Harper / Speedy, Wally West / Kid Flash and Karen Beecher / Bumblebee.

Plot

Five years ago, the original Teen Titans (consisting of Dick Grayson as Robin, Speedy, Flash, Beast Boy and Bumblebee) rescue Princess Starfire of planet Tamaran from her captors sent by her evil older jealous sister Blackfire who had staged a coup and forcibly taken the throne. As she is no longer able to return to her world, the Titans offer her a home on Earth as one of them.

In the present, Dick Grayson - now known as Nightwing - rejoins the Teen Titans to track down a terrorist cult led by Brother Blood, who plans on capturing the team to absorb each of their unique abilities with a machine that he has tested on Jericho; the latter is later shot in the head by Brother Blood's lover and assistant; Mother Mayhem. To speed up the progress with his development, Brother Blood hires the mercenary Deathstroke to deliver the Titans to him; Deathstroke, who survived his apparent death a few years ago[N 1], seeks revenge on Damian Wayne - the new Robin - for replacing him as Ra's al Ghul's heir before betraying the League of Assassins. Deathstroke monitors the Titans through his double agent Terra, who joined the team a year prior[N 2] and whom he rescued after her parents turned their whole village against her and tortured her. When Damian grows suspicious of Terra's behavior and starts tracking her, he is confronted by Deathstroke; they fight until Terra subdues and captures Damian, thus revealing her affiliation to Deathstroke.

Terra initially acts cold and distant towards the other Titans despite their welcoming attitude, but eventually warms up to them. During the night celebrating her one-year anniversary with the Titans, she shares a tender moment with Beast Boy and kisses him; they gradually form a relationship together. While attending a convention to do a podcast with filmmaker Kevin Smith, Beast Boy is captured by Deathstroke; Blue Beetle is snatched from the soup kitchen where he works; and Starfire is kidnapped at the apartment she shares with Nightwing. Meanwhile, Terra captures Raven at the Titan's headquarters. Nightwing soon learns about the conspiracy before Deathstroke ambushes him. Outmatched, he manages to escape by faking his own death.

Terra reveals herself as a double agent to the captured Titans when she and Deathstroke bring them to Brother Blood, who intends to become a godlike figure by using the machine to absorb the Titans' powers. However, since Deathstroke had failed to capture Nightwing, the machine cannot operate properly without a sixth Titan; in response, he betrays Terra by allowing Brother Blood to apprehend her - thus completing the deal between them. With his followers and Deathstroke present, Brother Blood proceeds to commence draining the Titans of their powers until Nightwing surprisingly intervenes. After rescuing the Titans, Nightwing and Robin fight Deathstroke while the others battle Brother Blood - who has absorbed all of their powers. The Titans struggle against the villains until Terra intervenes, furiously attacking Deathstroke for his betrayal while causing Brother Blood to get overpowered. The battle ends with Brother Blood being depowered by Raven unleashing her inner fury as a demon and then while Deathstroke is buried underneath multiple rocks thrown by Terra. Brother Blood is then shot and killed by Mother Mayhem to prevent him from being captured by the Titans. Too ashamed to face her former allies after betraying their trust, Terra decides to bring down the entire area. Beast Boy attempts to assist Terra in escaping the crumbling fortress, but Terra pushes him back and is buried underneath multiple layers of rubble. Beast Boy digs her up, and she dies in his arms.

In the epilogue, Beast Boy goes on Kevin Smith's podcast and talks about the Titans with the host. He mentions that the team has a "wonderful new member" and that he will always miss Terra.

In a post-credits scene, Jericho is shown to have survived the bullet Mother Mayhem shot at him earlier.

Voice cast

Voice actor Character
New Teen Titans
Stuart Allan Damian Wayne / Robin
Taissa Farmiga Rachel Roth / Raven
Brandon Soo Hoo Garfield Logan / Beast Boy
Jake T. Austin Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle
Christina Ricci Tara Markov / Terra
Old Teen Titans
Sean Maher Dick Grayson / Robin / Nightwing
Kari Wahlgren Koriand'r / Starfire
Masasa Moyo Karen Beecher / Bumblebeea
Traci
Jason Spisak Wally West / Kid Flasha
Crispin Freeman Roy Harper / Speedy / Arsenala
Villains
Miguel Ferrer Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
Gregg Henry Sebastian Blood /
Brother Blood
Meg Foster Mother Mayhem
Other
Maria Canals-Barrera Bianca Reyes
Titans tower computer
Kevin Smith Himself
David Zayas Alberto Reyes

^a The actor/actress's voice role is reprised from Young Justice.

Production

An adaptation of The Judas Contract was planned as the third in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, to be released after Superman: Doomsday (2007) and Justice League: The New Frontier (2008),[3] however, this was later shelved.[4] It was to be based on 1984's "The Judas Contract" story featured in Tales of the Teen Titans #42–44, and Teen Titans Annual #3 by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.[5] Warner Bros. Animation's writer/producer Bruce Timm confirmed in April 2010 that there were no current plans to revive the project.[6] In July 2016, however, Warner Bros. announced that the project had officially been resurfaced as Teen Titans: The Judas Contract and would serve as the sequel to Justice League vs. Teen Titans.[7][8] In January 2017, it was announced that Farmiga, Austin, Wahlgren, Soo Hoo, Allan and Maher, would reprise their roles, and Christina Ricci and Miguel Ferrer would join the cast as Terra and Deathstroke, respectively. Later on the same month, Ferrer died from throat cancer.[9]

Distribution

Marketing

In January 2017, the first promotional images from the film were released By The Hollywood Reporter.[9] In early February 2017, the first official trailer for Teen Titans: The Judas Contract was released, as well as an exclusive clip from the film.[10][11]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles WonderCon on March 31, 2017. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract was then released via digital download on April 4, 2017, and was released straight-to-DVD and Blu-ray on April 18, 2017.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 7.56/10.[12]

Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave the film a 6.2/10 rating, writing, "The film loses too much of what makes the source material memorable, while the limited run-time prevents the writers from fully taking advantage of the team dynamic or properly fleshing out the villains."[13] Julian Roman of MovieWeb called the film a "marked improvement" over Justice League vs. Teen Titans and wrote, "The film slickly integrates adult themes into its entertaining plotline. The Judas Contract is action packed and moves at a fast pace. The Teen Titans are certainly on better footing here."[14]

It earned $3,159,717 from domestic home video sales.[15]

Notes

  1. ^ as depicted in the 2014 film Son of Batman
  2. ^ as depicted in the 2016 film Justice League vs. Teen Titans

References

  1. ^ Lovett, Jamie (February 8, 2017). "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract Trailer Released". ComicBook.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  2. ^ "Miguel Ferrer, Twin Peaks and DC Animation Actor, Dies at 61". Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  3. ^ "DC Universe DVD Releases Coming from Warner Bros". MovieWeb. July 24, 2006. Archived from the original on August 31, 2006. Retrieved August 31, 2006.
  4. ^ Harvey, James (February 28, 2008). ""Teen Titans: The Judas Contract" Animated Feature On Hold". WorldsFinestOnline.com. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  5. ^ "'Comics Buyer's Guide' Fan Awards Archives". CBGxtra.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  6. ^ Marnell, Blair (April 27, 2010). ""Green Lantern" And "Wonder Woman" Animated Sequels Aren't Happening, Says Bruce Timm". MTV. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  7. ^ "Top 5 Easter Eggs in 'Justice League vs. Teen Titans' That Reveal More About the DC Animated Universe". Moviepilot. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Damore, Meagan (July 23, 2016). "SDCC: "Justice League Dark" Animated Film Confirmed; "Teen Titans" & More Announced". Comic Book Resources.
  9. ^ a b Kit, Borys (January 19, 2017). "Christina Ricci, Miguel Ferrer Join Voice Cast of 'Teen Titans' Animated Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  10. ^ Harvey, Jim (February 8, 2017). ""Teen Titans: The Judas Contract" Trailer, Video Clip Released". WorldsFinestOnline.com. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract Clip & Synopsis". Cosmic Book News. February 10, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  13. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (April 7, 2017). "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract Review". IGN. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  14. ^ Roman, Julian (April 6, 2017). "Teen Titans: Judas Contract Review: A Fast, Fun DC Animated Movie". MovieWeb. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  15. ^ "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract The Numbers listing". The Numbers. April 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
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