In a ground-breaking exploration of the influential legacy of DC, the new documentary series “Superpowered: The DC Story” is set to premiere today on BINGE.
Co-directed by Emmy-nominated Leslie Iwerks, known for “100 Years of Warner Bros.” and “The Imagineering Story”, and Peabody Award-winning Mark Catalena, known for “Johnny Carson: King of Late Night” and “Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times”, the series delves into DC’s rich history, tracing its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across various artistic mediums.
Narrated by Rosario Dawson, the series encapsulates the enduring universe of DC characters, revisiting the iconic comic book company’s origins, evolution, and its indelible impact on pop culture.
The documentary features a wealth of interviews with the industry’s most prolific creators and the actors who have brought their iconic characters from the page to the screen.
The inaugural episode, titled “The Hero’s Journey”, delves into the creation of the superhero trinity: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, taking the viewers through DC’s struggle to stay current amid corporate takeovers and societal changes post-WWII.
The second episode, “Coming of Age”, explores the company’s brave steps to reset DC’s entire universe amid declining comic book sales, including the advent of their first Black Super Hero and their new imprint, Vertigo Comics.
The final episode, “A Better Tomorrow”, showcases the formation of Milestone Media by a group of diverse creators who aimed to give voice to marginalized characters and stories, reflecting on DC’s vision for a more inclusive future.
The series includes over 60 new and archival interviews with industry heavyweights including Melissa Benoist, Greg Berlanti, Tim Burton, Mike Carlin, Lynda Carter, Henry Cavill, Kaley Cuoco, Gal Gadot, James Gunn, Patty Jenkins, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Jim Lee, Zachary Levi, Damon Lindelof, Tom Mankiewicz, Jason Momoa, Christopher Nolan, Robert Pattinson, Christopher Reeve, John Ridley, Margot Robbie, Bruce Timm, Michael E. Uslan, and Mark Waid, among others.
“Superpowered: The DC Story” is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, DC, Berlanti Productions, and Iwerks & Co. The showrunner Leslie Iwerks, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Jim Lee, and Doug Prinzivalli serve as executive producers. Co-executive producers include Mark Catalena, Rachael Jerahian, Jonathan Gabay, and Adam Schlagman.
Jack Pozzobon