"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.
May 2021: Batman: Caped Crusader Initial Announcement
In May 2021, the animated series "Batman: Caped Crusader" was announced, slated to air on Cartoon Network and HBO Max. The show, developed by Reeves, Abrams, and Timm, would be run by Timm and feature ten episodes in its first season.
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.
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.