Unless you’ve had your Batman fill, there’s more to come from the world of the Dark Knight set in Gotham.
HBO Max and Cartoon Network are officially in tow for a straight-to-series order for Batman: Caped Crusader, an all-new animated series and reimagining of the Batman mythology. The new animated series will be exec produced by Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation (WBA), Bad Robot Productions and 6th & Idaho.
“It is always fun to feed the insatiable appetite fans have for all things Batman.” said Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC). “Batman: Caped Crusader will entertain first time and die-hard fans alike and, with such an impressive creative team in place, we know we have another future Batman classic in the making.”
Batman: Caped Crusader represents Timm’s return to the iconic DC character in animated episodic television, which began with the Emmy® Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series. Praised by many to be the gold standard of animated superhero storytelling, Batman: The Animated Series is considered one of the best depictions of the Dark Knight in any medium.
Now, nearly 30 years since the series premiered, Timm once again takes on the mantle of the Bat alongside two of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the industry: J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves. Utilizing state-of-the-art animation techniques and technologies available, this powerful creative partnership will once again reinvent Batman and his iconic rogue’s gallery with sophisticated storytelling, nuanced characters and intense action sequences all set in a visually striking world.
“Batman: The Animated Series was a masterpiece that shaped the perception of the character for an entire generation of fans.” added Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios (CNS). “It is in that spirit that we are bringing together three master storytellers in J.J., Matt and Bruce – each with their own intuitive understanding and affection for the character – to create a new series that will continue in the same groundbreaking legacy.”
Statement from Timm, Abrams and Reeves: “We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City. The series will be thrilling, cinematic and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.”
Reeves is currently the man at the helm for his own incarnation of the legendary DC crimefighter in The Batman, poised for actor Robert Pattinson’s turn at the cape and cowl in theaters and IMAX on March 4, 2022. The director is also in tow for a spin-off set in the same universe with Gotham Central, with Reeves partnering with Joe Barton as showrunner.