August 19th, 2019 
Jackson Murphy 
The LEGO DC franchise continues with the new film, LEGO DC Batman: Family Matters, which is available on DVD this week. I recently caught-up with the cast and crew to learn what still makes this iconic character so fascinating to play with.
Director Matt Peters is excited for audiences to experience this story. “This time we were able to focus on Batman and the family themselves and the dynamic between them and actually create a story that really plays to that dynamic,” he said. “It’s an analysis of Batman because he is the head of the Batman family, and there’s a responsibility that goes with that. How would Batman the crime fighter deal with that? Is he okay with it? Is he comfortable with it? That’s a story for a hero. That is our movie, essentially, focusing on that.”
Troy Baker, the voice of Batman, agreed. “It is all about redemption. Batman is challenged in a way he’s never been challenged before.” And as for Baker taking on such a prestigious role, “He’s a really good character that has survived now for 80 years. All you can hope to do is move the needle a little bit.”
Joining the Caped Crusader, of course, is Robin. “He’s really interested in proving himself [to Batman],” Peters said. “Sidekick is not his thing. He wants to throw himself in… and really be a crime fighter. He just wants to be the best Robin he can be.”
Among the other focal points of “Family Matters” is Red Hood. “Once we decided Red Hood would be in it, the story… really developed around that,” Peters said. “We saw a lot of opportunities. The character has a lot of history. There’s a lot of dynamic to play there. That’s a Batman legacy that we get to exploit for a story.”
And this film also marks the introduction of Batwoman into the saga. Peters was “excited to be able to bring her character in and try to have her in the family as much as we could. She’s a relatively new character, too. The history we have is not as deep for Batwoman as the remainder of the family. But still it’s great to be able to do that. We had Tara Strong do the voice of her… a really outstanding performance, and it’s a great thing to see her go from Harley Quinn, which she’s known for, to doing a hero like Batwoman.”
Actress Alyson Stoner (Isabella on Phineas and Ferb) voices Batgirl. “You see elements of Batgirl’s personality come forward. She has a side story throughout this film in particular… There’s a sassiness and a snarkiness to her in this version that I haven’t been able to portray in others. You go with the flow and listen to the directors – and honor the legacy at all times.”
Stoner grew up with LEGOs. “I actually didn’t favor the more gendered toys. I felt like LEGO was very a neutral way of being constructive and building whatever you imagined.” Peters also played with LEGOs as a child, but he admitted that, “I actually became a bigger LEGO enthusiast as an adult. The sets have gotten so elaborate and fascinating,” and they have greatly influenced the movies.
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