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HBO Max and Cartoon Network have put together their own Justice League of behind-the-scenes talent for a brand new Batman animated series, titled Batman: Caped Crusader. The straight to series order comes from three big names probably well known to superhero fans: Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves.
“It is always fun to feed the insatiable appetite fans have for all things Batman,” Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC) said in a release provided to Decider. “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.”
Bruce Timm is probably best known as the co-creator of what many fans consider not just the best Batman animated series, but arguably the best iteration of Batman of all time: Batman: The Animated Series. Timm also worked on the spinoffs Batman Beyond, Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited, as well as numerous DC Comics based, direct-to-DVD animated movies.
Then there’s J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves. Though Abrams doesn’t specifically have a tie to Batman, the prolific writer, director and producer has been working behind the scenes on a number of live action projects, including Justice League Dark — a supernatural take on the DC hero team-up — and a new iteration of Superman being written by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
And Matt Reeves is quickly expanding his foothold in Gotham City. He wrote, produced and directed The Batman, Warner Bros. forthcoming origin story starring Robert Pattinson. That’s being spun off into a live action series for HBO Max focusing on the Gotham Police Department. And now, he’s moving into animation, as well.
“Batman: The Animated Series was a masterpiece that shaped the perception of the character for an entire generation of fans,” said 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.”
“We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City,” said Timm, Abrams and Reeves, presumably simultaneously now that they’ve formed a hive mind of some sort. “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.”
Though no further details, including voice actors or premiere date were shared at this time, the release does note that Batman: Caped Crusader will, utilize, “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.”
Meaning, it’ll be Batman: The Animated series… But beyond, one might say. Check out a first look at the series’ big-eared, old-school design of Batman, below (and note how the logo not-so-subtly references the iconic logo for B:TAS, too):
