San Diego Comic Con 2019 celebrated Batman’s 80th Anniversary and one of the fan favorite Batman’s, Will Friedle aka Terry McGinnis himself appeared for Hall H. Friedle’s famous for roles of Eric Matthews in ‘Boy Meets World’, Ron Stopable in ‘Kim Possible’, Lion-O in ‘Thundercats’ and other projects within his career. Over at San Diego Comic Con 2019, we got to catch up with the cast for the Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary.
We discussed what this series means to him & the fans, why people appreciate Batman and what pop culture really means. Friedle expresses how fans like myself, still love this show. At first, there were some criticism back then; however, everyone who has seen this show absolutely loves it. He also expressed that people love Batman because, he is different compared to the other superheroes. Batman isn’t someone who has powers but uses his will and resources to do what he thinks is right.
When it comes to the discussion of pop culture, I can say that I agree that when we look at things in pop culture, especially in today’s media, it’s nostalgia. There is that feeling of happiness when we are looking at the things that make us happy from an old memory, we look back on things we enjoy and why we enjoy them for specific reasons.
As a kid, I enjoyed watching Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis and Kevin Conroy has been one of my favorite Justice League members. The Justice League, Justice League: Unlimited, Batman Beyond, Teen Titans and especially Static Shock are still the shows that I enjoy, remember and look back on in pop culture. (You can actually watch these show again on the DCUniverse streaming website and app!) That feeling of happiness and comfort is something that is relatable to audiences when it comes to things that we love and care about. That’s something that’s part of our lives that we appreciate. For those who are fans of this series, it was announced that there will be a Batman Beyond Blue Ray & DVD edition available for fans to in October. Make sure you look out for that!
About | Batman Beyond
The extraordinary Batman Beyond: The Complete Animated Series Limited Edition package features approximately 1,500 minutes of entertainment spread over four Blu-ray™ discs, plus the two bonus discs of enhanced content. In addition to a newly-remastered Blu-ray presentation of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, there are 15 featurettes on the bonus discs, highlighted by two new inside looks at the beloved television series, led by Nostalgic Tomorrow, a gathering of Batman Beyond production talent and cast led by executive producer Bruce Timm and actors Kevin Conroy and Will Friedle, the voices of Batman and Terry McGinnis, respectively. The bonus discs also spotlight four episodes with audio commentary from Timm and select members of the production team. *Source: Warner Bros Home Entertainment
Host: Machelle Noel here over at SDCC 2019. Joining me right now is TV and VO actor, Will Friedle, who plays Terry McGinnis over at Batman Beyond. He’s here to celebrate the 20th anniversary edition and to talk about what’s coming up at this new addition. So, ‘Hey Mr. Squirrel! How’s it going?”
Will Friedle: How are you?
Host: I’ve been wanting to say that to you for the longest time!
Will Friedle: Hahahaha! …
Host: I mean you got it on your Twitter page. I’m like, maybe he still wants me to refer to him as Mr. Squirrel so..
Will Friedle: That’s really funny! I love that. You’re the first squirrel’s today.
Host: Yes! And Boy Meets World fan I mean…
Will Friedle: Awesome!
Host: So, hey! Congratulations for hall H, first of all. I mean it must have been a really nice sandwich between Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Tom Cruise and you’re like back to back.
Will Friedle: Can you believe it! I walked out. There’s Schwarzeneggar walks by me and we’re waiting to go on and then there comes Tom Cruise. So it’s just like ‘Okay! Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, and then us!’
Host: That’s when you know you’ve made it. No, you’ve already made it.
Will Friedle: Haha! That was pretty great though. That was very cool yeah.
Host: We were there, and so we just saw you guys and we’re just like, that’s a lucky panel.
Will Friedle: Yeah, it was pretty great. Yeah. Totally Cool!
Host: So with Batman Beyond, so what’s it like… Well first of all, congratulations.
Will Friedle: Thank You.
Host: You’re celebrating you’re 20th anniversary. What’s it like looking back and also looking back and go, ‘That’s how I started my career.’ It’s One of my, your early starts in your career.
Will Friedle: It was. It was my first animated series. So… it, holds such a special place in my heart. It really does and always will. But the fact that… this show has endured for as long as it has, and people still love it, and we have huge fans all over the world, um… is great. Yeah.
Host: And now, you know um, Batman is celebrating his 80th anniversary, what is it about Batman that just draws people in and really just see any reincarnation of about him? I mean you’ve been in this franchise for the longest time so what’s your take on it?
Will Friedle: Um, my take on it very simple. Batman is just a man. Um… and that’s what people love. He doesn’t have any superpowers, he’s not an alien, um, he’s simply a man who uses just his will and his money. Ahaha. But, really just his… his heart and his will to go out and write the wrongs that he thinks he sees. He also doesn’t kill. Which is, hugely important. I think… that resonates with people. It really does.
Host: You’ve been in the franchise for a while. I mean, with the fandom, have you seen it… I mean, this big? I mean has it just been gradually growing with it over time?
Will Friedle: It does. I mean, people were skeptical of Beyond when it started because they heard teenage Batman and they thought it was gonna be something very cartoony. And then, they got this really dark-brooding kind of younger Batman and uh, the fans loved it. So, uh you know, we were… we were bashed a little before we ever aired, and then we aired and then we had a whole bunch of fans. So we were excited about that.
Host: As an actor, what have you learned about yourself as an actor with this pop culture? I mean its one of those pop culture Batman, they have intense fans…
Will Friedle: Yeah. You know what I, you know what I’ve learned really? Is the thing… ‘Pop Culture’ to me also usually means nostalgia. And nostalgia to me also usually just means comfort. So it’s the thing that takes us back to making us feel… comfortable and warm and happy and I have a friend that calls it ‘comfort food’. Another who just calls it just a blanket at the foot of your bed. I mean, it’s a wonderful thing. So you know… nostalgia is for you, whatever is gonna bring you there. And I think Batman Beyond does that for some people. Batman: The Animated Series does it for certain people. Boy Meets World does it for certain people. It just… you… it is that comfort food. It takes you back to a time when, everything on television wasn’t so horrible with the news and everything else. So it just… you’re happy, and you’re warm and you’re comfortable and… I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
Host: I like that. It’s just a great way to escape from reality.
Will Friedle: Yeah! Or take you back to a time where reality was just a little easier.
Host: Like Boy Meets World reruns.
Will Friedle: See there you go! There you go.
Host: You have a lot of projects, how do you balance-do the work/life balance thing with your busy schedule?
Will Friedle: Um… it can be tough. You know, I was in Italy yesterday. So and… I flew back for this. I haven’t been home yet. A little tired and a little dizzy. But uh, in a good way. Just seeing the world and flying out and doing a whole bunch of projects. So you just kind of, you keep going. This is… this is a very fickle business. I’ve been really lucky. I’ve been doing it for 32 years. But… you know we live in a business where… it can end any day. So… you do as much as you can.
Host: We’ll take that, and… What do you hope fans take, the important message… with Terry McGinnis’s character and all?
Will Friedle: Um, you know, if you find something you want, you fight for it. You fight… for the things that you believe in and um, you know you… you rise above whenever you can.
Host: I love that. Okay we’ll wrap it up with that. Folks! Be sure to catch Batman: Beyond coming to you via Blue Ray & DVD over in October. I’m Machelle Noel with Will Friedle, and we’ll see you guys next time. Bye!
Danielle Bawit | Writing Contributor
B.A. | Media Studies | Cal State Univ – San Marcos
Hello! My name is Danielle Bawit. I attended MSJC- Mt. San Jacinto’s Community College and received two Associate’s for Communication and Liberal Arts. I am currently in my last semester at CSUSM-California State University San Marcos, and I will be receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies. I grew up with watching DC heroes on the screen, wrestling with my family, Disney movies and listening to Kpop. I have been always involved with my education by joining choir’s and becoming part of MSJC’s communications club as a Historian. I have promoted events for the club at my previous school, and I have promoted and volunteered for Khip-hop concerts. I aspire to one day work in the entertainment world while promoting artists and music. Additionally, I also hope to share written stories to people in my career due to my love for writing.| Instagram @Charice_Danielle| View My Articles
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