The DC Comics' effort to bring their characters to the big screen has been a decidedly mixed bag with a lot of good and a lot of bad on display. The franchise has made messes of good ideas and gold out of less inspiring concepts, but there are still tons of source material that hasn’t made the transition.
Between the DCEU,the unrelated Matt Reevesand Todd Phillips franchises, and the CW’s numerous ongoing series, there is a lot of Batman on screens. The Caped Crusader has long been one of the most regularly adapted heroes of the comic book page, and for good reason.
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Not only is Batman among the top two or three most popular superheroes in fictional history, but he’s also the subject of several fan-favorite adaptations.Tim Burton’s 1989 entry, the Christopher Nolan trilogy, and Matt Reeves’s newest take on the franchise are all counted among the best-loved superhero films of the modern era. Batman may be the only character who seems to be immune from superhero fatigue, as every new iteration is met with excitement from fans and newcomers. Tying a new hero in with Batman seems to be a cant-miss way to turn any character into a hit. Barbara Gordon and Barry Allen are both set to appear in their first-ever solo film withMichael Keaton’s Batman inthe supporting cast. Given the overwhelming on-screen power of the Bat and the ongoing desire to bring every piece of his mythos to the big screen, there is one great iteration of the character awaiting his turn.
Batman Beyond takes place in the distant future of Gotham City, in which the Caped Crusader has continued to fight late into his 50s. As his health begins to fail him, his allies tragically die off or leave him behind. The other members of the Batman Family have retired from their costumed superheroics andBruce Wayne is forcedto hang up the cowl as well. Without Batman, gangs take over the futuristic metropolis of Gotham City. The city needs a hero, and the hero that enters the picture is a 16-year-old high school student who falls into the position and becomes the new Batman. Terry McGinnis takes on the role of Batman with Bruce Wayne providing intelligence and mentorship to the new hero. This new Bat would be a perfect fit with the modern take on superhero cinema.
Batman Beyond was created by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett, the team behind the beloved 90s Batman animated series. The character was created for the 1999 cartoon and entered the comics during and after the series.Batman Beyondadds the cyberpunk subgenreto Gotham City, introducing sci-fi elements and even more advanced technology to the franchise. Cyberpunk is a hugely popular aesthetic in the modern-day, partially due to social commentary. Terry McGinnis’s Gotham is distinct and impressive. Other takes on the city have varied in quality, from fantastical to realistic, but the Gotham of 2039 is a potentially excellent setting for a superhero movie.
Batman is enduringly popular, but everyone already knows everydetail of his origin story. Fans have seen Thomas and Martha’s grisly fate in Crime Alley dozens of times in dozens of different ways. Terry’s story has been depicted before, but it’s still a fresh take on the Batman origin story. Superhero movies love an origin story, but using a hero that fans are already extremely familiar with necessitates speeding past that element. Terry is a charismatic and powerful character who offers a new direction on theclassic Batman mythos. In addition, his young age allows the film to place a hot young star into the role and play Batman with the high school angle that works on characters like Spider-Man.
In addition to a younger Batman, this also offers fans an older Bruce Wayne. Fans seem to love a weakened and tired take on the character, and placing him in the mentor role allows him to stay key to the narrative without being in his prime. A filmmaker with the resources who might want to go particularly on the nose with the concept could justhire Michael Keaton again. It seems to be working forBatgirlandThe Flash. An older Batman leading the way for a new young hero could be one of the most popular directions for the franchise. Throw in a cyberpunk setting and a new host of villains and DC would have a can’t-miss idea.
Batman’s popularity is seemingly unkillable, but the films have churned through quite a few actors in the role. A new take on the character offers a ton of new directions for a franchise that could conceivably never end. Batman Beyond is an iconic brand that would excite longtime fans and bring a ton of new viewers to the franchise.
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