HBO Max's Batman: Caped Crusader - What We Know So Far
May 19, 2021 brought some exciting news for Batman fans: Warner Brothers has announced that a new animated series is coming to HBO Max and Cartoon Network (via Deadline), titled "Batman: Caped Crusader."
From what we've been told about the series so far, it looks like fans of the Dark Knight have plenty of reasons to get psyched about this newest animated foray into the streets of Gotham. Most importantly, the series has a top notch team of executive producers at the helm, including J.J. Abrams, "The Batman" writer-director Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm of the classic "Batman: The Animated Series." Warner Brothers called "Batman: Caped Crusader" a "reimagining" of Batman's rich mythos, which will also explore the superhero's "noir roots."
Of course, what everyone really wants to know is when "Batman: Caped Crusader" will come out, who will be in it, and what will it be about. While much of that info is being kept under wraps at the moment, here is what we know so far — and our best guesses.
When will Batman: Caped Crusader be released?
The truth is that animated TV shows take a long time to develop. When any new television series hits the scene, its future can be a bit precarious. If the ratings are low, or the reviews are negative, then it's unlikely that the show will ever see a second season.
An animated series can be even more complicated, because there is a lot more involved with its creation — production teams, designers, animators, writers, the cast. Everyone has to pull their weight to make sure that the project succeeds, and that can take time. For example, the original announcement for the adult animated series "Harley Quinn" came in late November 2017, yet the show's pilot episode didn't air until two years later, with 26 total episodes in Season 1. Luckily, the series gained enough traction to earn Season 2, and now that the series has changed hands from SyFy to HBO Max, a third season is just around the corner.
With that knowledge, we should assume that "Batman: Caped Crusader" will take at least a year for production — perhaps two, depending on the number of episodes planned for its first season. So we might have to wait a little while.
Who will be in "Batman: Caped Crusader"?
Of course, we can expect that many of DC's famous characters from the comics will make an appearance in "Batman: Caped Crusader." After all, Batman's list of adversaries is nearly endless. Almost certainly, we can expect that a new version of his archenemy, the Joker, will be present, as well as Bruce Wayne's closest allies, like Alfred and Commissioner Gordon.
Now, here is the big question: who will lend their voice to play the Batman? There has been a long legacy of animated Batman shows, and plenty of actors who have taken on the role. Is it possible that one of them might return to reprise the role in this new adaptation, or will it be someone new?
Perhaps the most recognized Dark Knight voice actor of all time is Kevin Conroy, who starred in the highly regarded "Batman: The Animated Series" of the 1990s. Conroy has since voiced the character across many other mediums, including the video game "Batman Arkham Asylum," and several feature-length animated films, like "The Killing Joke." Conroy even stepped in front of the camera to play a version of Bruce Wayne in the Arrowverse crossover event, "Crisis on Infinite Earths." Despite taking on the role numerous times over the last thirty years, Conroy still seems more than willing to revisit the hero across the many DC universes. However, since "Batman: Caped Crusader" claims to be a totally fresh and innovative take, the production team may want to bring in someone new.
What will "Batman: Caped Crusader" be about?
For the plot of "Batman: Caped Crusader," we can assume the basics, which most Batman fans already know: the wealthy Bruce Wayne is orphaned at a young age when a robbery-gone-wrong results in the death of his parents. This event inspires Wayne to become a symbol of justice, to strike fear in the hearts of the wicked. He dons the cape and cowl of a new identity, Batman, utilizing his fighting and expert detective skills to take down the bad guys, along with his wealth to build high-tech gadgets and weaponry.
It's likely that "Batman: Caped Crusader" will not feature another retelling of Batman's origins, but will put its audience right into the action. There hasn't been an official summary released just yet, but Warner Brothers and the executive producers have offered a few hints into what the new animated series has to offer. One notable aspect is that the "ears" on Batman's cowl are drawn in the more exaggerated style of the character's earliest Bill Finger and Bob Kane comics, implying (possibly) a younger Dark Knight than the one in the nineties cartoon.
"We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City," said the executive producing team, in the initial press release (via Deadline). "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."
Well, if the words of Reeves, Timm, and Abrams are anything to go by, it looks like "Batman: Caped Crusader" is a series that fans will not want to miss. Looper will be sure to keep you updated with any new info.