Batman: Caped Crusader creator Bruce Timm is sharing some new details on young Bruce Wayne and when he decides to declare war on crime.
Timm has an interesting and different take on this than what has come before with Batman’s origin. In this version of the story, Bruce is 8-years-old when he decides what he wants to do with his life after his mother and father are murdered.
While talking with Empire Magazine Timm, explains: “The slightly different take that we’re doing on it is that at night, when he’s lying in bed reliving the murders of his parents again and again in his head, it’s so upsetting and so horrifying that the way he copes with it is he decides, right then and there, I’m going to declare war on crime.”
He continues: “And so literally from that point on, even though he’s eight, he’s kind of Batman already…”
In every other iteration of Batman’s origin that I’m familiar with, Bruce is an adult when he decides to become Batman. His thirst for vengeance in this version of the story obviously starts at a much younger age!
Timm explains that this series is set in the very early crime-fighting career of Batman: “Batman is so early in his career that in the first episode, he’s still an urban myth.”
He went on to say: “It’s not Year One,” referring to the Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli Batman origin comic. “It’s more like ‘Week Two’.”
Not only will Bruce Wayne be trying to figure out how to be Batman, this is going to be a different kind of Batman from the versions we’ve previously seen.
Timm said: “I wanted to make him kind of weird, and spooky. If you’re stuck in a room with Batman, whether you’re Commissioner Gordon or Barbara Gordon or Renee Montoya, you don’t feel comfortable. You’re kind of like, ‘What is this guy? What’s this all about?’”
He also revealed that Batman weaponizes Alfred in this story: “He weaponizes Alfred. He’s not Batman’s surrogate father anymore. He’s a guy that’s going to enable him to fight crime.
“That’s how focused [Bruce] is. It’s a weird take on him. But it’s something I don’t think we’ve seen before.”
The description for the series reads: “Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear.
“Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.”
The cast includes Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass) as Batman, Christina Ricci as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Jamie Chung is Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, and former Batman voice actor Diedrich Bader is set to play Harvey Dent / Two-Face.
Other cast members include Minnie Driver, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, McKenna Grace, Jason Watkins, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment, and Toby Stephens.
This animated series has been in development for some time with Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and comic writer Ed Brubaker leading the charge.
Batman: Caped Crusader premieres this August 1 on Prime Video.
via Screen Rant
