DAVID MCCALLUM: SON OF BATMAN

Open Channel D: Actor David McCallum, who portrayed agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968), will appear in an upcoming animated film called Son of Batman. McCallum will reprise his role as Batman's butler Alfred- his first work in the role was for the 2008 animated Bat-Anime anthology Gotham Knight. Most Spy Vibers remember David McCallum for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Great Escape, The Outer Limits, Sapphire & Steel, The Invisible Man, JAG, and NCIS. In recent years, he has also lent his voice to a number of projects, including Ben 10, The Replacements, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold (as Merlin). Music was a large part of David McCallum's upbringing and education. Spy Vibe covered some of his record releases from the 1960s here. More below.

Son of Batman: The film is based on Grant Morrison's Batman & Son arc. Batman is shocked to learn that not only does he have a son, but that the boy's mother is Talia, the daughter of the international overlord Ra's Al Ghul. The Dark Knight and his willful boy- as the new Robin- become uneasy allies when Talia enlists a team of ninja man-bats on a criminal enterprise with international consequences." Release date is May 6th. Amazon page here. I usually love these DC animated films, though I do wish Kevin Conroy (Batman Animated Series) was in the lead as the Caped Crusader. Past Alfreds: Efrim Zimbalist Jr. played Batman's butler in most of DC's productions of Batman, Superman  and Justice League projects between 1992-2004. Alan Napier defined the character for the 1966 Batman TV series, and Michael Caine recently played Alfred in the Dark Knight trilogy. I look forward to hearing David McCallum again in the role.

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