Batman is coming back to the small screen. HBO Max and Cartoon Network have officially announced Batman: Caped Crusader. The upcoming animated series hails from Bruce Timm, the man behind Batman: The Animated Series. J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Matt Reeves (The Batman) are on board to produce alongside Timm.
Batman: Caped Crusader represents Timm’s return to the iconic DC character in animated episodic television. Timm kicked off his journey with the character in Batman: The Animated Series. That show, which featured Kevin Conroy as the Dark Knight, is still widely regarded as one of the best adaptations of the hero in any medium.
Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves said the following in a joint statement.
“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.”
Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, added, “It is always fun to feed the insatiable appetite fans have for all things Batman. 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.”
Plot details for the show currently remain under wraps. There is no word yet on casting either. Warner Bros. does however teased that the show will “Utilizing state-of-the-art animation techniques and technologies available.” They also tease that the animated series 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.”
Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, said, “Batman: The Animated Series was a masterpiece that shaped the perception of the character for an entire generation of fans. 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.”
It had been rumored for sometime that a Batman: The Animated Series revival was in the works at HBO Max. Whether or not this show proves to be a true continuation of BTAS remains to be seen. But with Bruce Timm at the wheel, that seems feasible. Not to mention that J.J. Abrams, who is producing Justice League Dark projects as well, is one of the biggest producers in Hollywood. And Matt Reeves is currently directing The Batman, which hits theaters next year.
Batman: Caped Crusader does not yet have a release date set.
What do you think? Are you excited about the new Batman series? Do you like the team involved? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
