When the Harley Quinn grownup animated collection debuted in 2019, it was a bona fide smash hit. Among the many breakout characters who left an indelible mark on viewers was the D-list villain Kite Man. Now the flying flunky is hovering to new heights in Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, his personal spinoff collection debuting this week. Forward of the discharge of the Kite Man animated collection this week, we had the prospect to speak with Matt Oberg the voice of the titular himself in addition to producer Dean Lorey.
Taimur Dar: I believe most individuals would agree it wasn’t too way back Kite Man can be thought-about a D-Record character. However in the identical vein as somebody like Peacemaker, he’s getting into the mainstream and headlining his personal tv present. Did both of you ever think about in your wildest desires that Kite Man would soar to such heights?
Matt Oberg: [Laughs] We knew that this was his future. All of us knew that this was the place this was headed. We simply didn’t understand how lengthy it will take. That is fated within the stars that Kite Man would have his personal present. I’m completely satisfied that it took solely 5 years to get it there. I’m so thrilled that this present exists and fortunately stunned that it exists. I can’t watch for audiences to share within the pleasure and shock that I had collaborating in it.
Dean Lorey: We had no concept that Kite Man was going to turn into what he’s turn into. He began as a one-off character in Season One in every of Harley within the bar mitvah episode. We beloved him and saved writing him. We wrote it for Matt. He simply grew into this glorious character. Once we have been searching for a personality to do a derivative of, we thought he was an unlikely and surprising character and thought we may take him on an excellent journey.
Dar: Matt, I imagine your first animation voiceover function was as Mark Lilly in Ugly People. It’s certainly one of my favorites. As totally different as they’re, I can’t assist however discover an analogous power between the characters notably of their positivity. Do you are feeling like there’s an overlap for you as a performer?
Oberg: That’s a superb level. I hadn’t considered it like that. This was this Comedy Central cartoon a very long time in the past. It was equally a man who’s making an attempt to do his greatest surrounded by people who find themselves dragging him down or complicating his life. I believe it’s an analogous arc for each of these characters. With Kite Man there’s much more instructions you possibly can take this in. I used to be in a position to recycle a number of the identical energies in that efficiency in addition to use the identical precise voice in order that was an actual useful transition.
Dar: Even earlier than the Harley Quinn animated collection, Kite Man’s resurgence started within the comics a lot of years in the past due to author Tom King. That’s the place his iconic catchphrase “Hell Yeah!” originated. Clearly, you’re doing your individual factor with the character however I’d like to know if you happen to’ve learn these Tom King Kite Man points?
Lorey: We learn a few of them. We at all times beloved the character and his optimism and fearlessness within the face of getting completely no skill to do something. I didn’t speak to Tom King immediately however I do know that he was a fan of the Kite Man in Harley and this collection. We have been simply relieved and thrilled that he was actually into it. For us it was only a pleasure to get to work with the character.
Dar: Ensemble data are a rarity today so I’m assuming actors recorded solo. In that case, have been you in a position to hear the performances from the opposite actors and even know who was voicing the opposite characters?
Oberg: lt’s a little bit little bit of each. The primary time you go in you’re doing it with a director or author who reads towards you. As soon as a number of the animation is available in they usually’re beginning to put the items collectively, I can hear what everybody else is doing and return in and calibrate to match a few of their performances. You’re proper it was not an ensemble recording. However there’s an excellent crew that helps me stroll by means of it so the chemistry like with Golden Glider is working and our performances is in the identical world.
Lorey: I might name out Chris Marrs who’s certainly one of our high producers on the present and labored so much with Matt within the recordings.
Oberg: He was nice. He performed each different character besides mine. And generally he would play mine.
Lorey: He would play it within the writers’ room!
[Laughter]
Dar: On topic of the voice forged, the Kite Man animated collection options a tremendous array of actors. I’ve to single out Lance Reddick who sadly handed away final 12 months. Aside from one or two episodes close to the top of the season, it seems to be like he was in a position to report most traces for the function as Lex Luthor.
Lorey: He obtained nearly all of it. He was fantastic. We have been so saddened and shocked after we heard he died. He was nice in it.
Dar: Likewise, some characters from the Harley Quinn animated collection you needed to recast for numerous causes. For example, Keith David has changed Michael Ironside. As a lot as I really like Michael Ironside, Keith David is pitch excellent for this model of Darkseid within the Kite Man animated collection. What went into recasting a number of the characters?
Lorey: In just about each case it was simply availability of individuals. We beloved the unique actors too. We obtained actually fortunate with the recasting that we did. I’m going to name out Keith David particularly. I believe he’s wonderful as Darkseid. He’s very humorous and had an excellent tackle the character. Lance was fantastic. Janelle James got here in after Wanda Sykes to do Queen of Fables and introduced a special take too. It was actually fascinating to work with nice actors and see every particular person’s tackle the identical function. They’re equally good however totally different. It actually factors a finger to how a lot actors convey to a task. All people made it their very own whereas nonetheless retaining the integrity of the characters. We’re actually blessed with the voice forged.
Dar: Finaly, I don’t wish to spoil an excessive amount of however there’s an excellent episode the place Kite Man goes on a quest to acquire powers that I believe will probably be a fan-favorite. So I gotta ask, if you happen to might be granted any energy what wouldn’t it be?
Oberg: To grant a Season Two. Is {that a} large enough ask? Inexperienced mild energy?
Lorey: I assume I might ask for the ability to get writing achieved. [Laughs]. It’s actually exhausting to jot down. I’d love the ability to go proper to a completed script.
Oberg: AI will quickly grant you that energy, Dean!
[Laughter]
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! premieres Thursday, July 18 on Max.
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