History of Batman: Caped Crusader in Timeline

"Batman: Caped Crusader" is an American animated series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on August 1, 2024. Developed by Bruce Timm and produced by Bad Robot Productions, 6th & Idaho Motion Picture Company, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Studios, it serves as a spiritual successor to "Batman: The Animated Series." The show presents a darker, noir-inspired take on Batman's early years fighting crime in Gotham City, drawing inspiration from Batman stories of the 1940s and 1960s.

May 2021: Batman: Caped Crusader Announced

In May 2021, "Batman: Caped Crusader" was announced. The animated series was set to be developed by Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves.

January 2022: Ed Brubaker Joins as Head Writer

In January 2022, Ed Brubaker joined the "Batman: Caped Crusader" team as head writer and executive producer. A fan of "Batman: The Animated Series," Brubaker initially considered a freelance writing role before being offered the head writer position by Timm.

August 2022: Diedrich Bader Lends His Voice

Diedrich Bader confirmed his participation in "Batman: Caped Crusader" in August 2022, having done voice work for the series.

August 2022: "Batman: Caped Crusader" Pulled from HBO Max

In August 2022, "Batman: Caped Crusader" was pulled from HBO Max's lineup. Although production continued, the series was offered to other networks, with Apple TV+, Hulu, and Netflix expressing interest.

September 2022: Shopping "Batman: Caped Crusader" to Networks

By September 2022, "Batman: Caped Crusader" was being presented to different networks. The main contenders for picking up the series were Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+.

March 2023: Amazon Picks Up "Batman: Caped Crusader"

In March 2023, Amazon secured the distribution rights for "Batman: Caped Crusader" and immediately greenlit a second season. However, Ed Brubaker was unable to return for the second season due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and scheduling conflicts.

2023: "Batman: Caped Crusader" Aims for Older Audience

At the 2023 Annecy Film Festival, Warner Bros. Animation vice-president Peter Girardi revealed that "Batman: Caped Crusader" would target a more mature audience. This allowed Bruce Timm more creative freedom compared to "Batman: The Animated Series," where he had to abandon ideas due to censorship.

2023: Animation Reel Showcased

During the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, an early animation reel for "Batman: Caped Crusader" was shown.

January 2024: Post-Production Begins

Post-production for "Batman: Caped Crusader" commenced in January 2024. By this time, preliminary edits for several episodes were already completed.

June 2024: J.M. DeMatteis Writes for Season 2

In June 2024, J.M. DeMatteis announced his involvement as a writer for an episode in the second season of "Batman: Caped Crusader."

June 2024: Voice Cast Revealed

June 2024 saw the unveiling of the main voice cast for "Batman: Caped Crusader." Hamish Linklater was announced as the voice of Batman, and Diedrich Bader was confirmed to be voicing Two-Face.

August 1, 2024: Batman: Caped Crusader Premieres

On August 1, 2024, "Batman: Caped Crusader" premiered on Amazon Prime Video. The animated series, a spiritual successor to "Batman: The Animated Series," presents a darker, noir-inspired take on the Batman mythos.