In a merger of monolithic proportions, Warner Bros. Discovery has made questionable changes. Their projects have either been canceled like the Batgirl movie with vociferous outcry, a point of controversy, or pushed back and around due to marketing costs. CEO David Zaslav has taken a roulette approach to choosing content for viewers. It’s no different from the slew of choices on a streaming service to begin with, but when there is a pop culture icon in the balance, ears prick up and start to burn.

The pointy ears of Batman have cause for concern with his latest animated adventure, Batman: Caped Crusader. HBO Max and Cartoon Network were set to premiere the new series announced in May 2021 at the WarnerMedia Upfront event. However, as of August 2022, the show will be moving to a different streaming service with Apple TV+, Hulu, and Netflix all expressing interest. Studios and executives are making decisions that change the way people are entertained, but it doesn’t take the World’s Greatest Detective to see that Batman: Caped Crusader belongs with the rest of the DCU under Warner Bros. Discovery.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

HBO Max Reaches Kids and Adults

     Warner Bros. Discovery

The libraries available on HBO Max cater to both young and mature audiences. In the children’s cartoon Batwheels, the Batcomputer brings the Bat-Family’s vehicles to life to fight crime in Gotham. For adults, Harley Quinn reinvented the way comic book fans saw lesser-known villains through violent and volatile satire, including the glorification of heroes. Doom Patrol and Titans gave way to villain and superhero groups, again introducing obscure characters to the mainstream. Warner Bros. Discovery has access to these DC Comics properties, many of which with their own spin-off series, like Peacemaker and Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler. Graphic novels with more realism like DMZ have also been adapted for HBO Max. Reaching a wider audience on the platform that already owns and creates these characters and adaptations is an easy and wise choice to make.

Legends of the Dark Knight Continue

Acclaimed animator Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) and directors J.J. Abrams (Star Wars) and Matt Reeves (The Batman) are offering a new Batman mythos inspired by the 1940s and Detective Comics #27, the character’s debut issue. Fans can rest easy that the show will go on despite the sad news that beloved Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy recently passed away. A new generation of fans have already identified Robert Pattinson as their Batman. It’s time for Bruce Timm and his Bat-Family to do the same.

HBO Max can catch lightning in a bottle with Batman: Caped Crusader. This iteration of the Dark Knight will be a crime fighter who is still learning about the criminal underworld. Relationships fans are used to seeing from Batman’s friends and foes will not be concrete or familiar. The psychology of characters will be explored much further, with animation techniques previously unavailable to the original 1990s series. It will be a shot in the dark (Crime Alley is an accurate albeit unfortunate name for a street) that fans are anticipating alongside the other animated Batman shows on HBO Max.

Shadow Work

     Warner Bros. Animation

It’s an ironic stroke of serendipity that the series has returned to a primordial darkness. Kevin Conroy’s passing, while too soon, may have found his absence appropriate now. Filling the classically trained voice actor’s shoes will be a case worth solving. One potential suspect and unintentional suggestion was found on a talk show by a future Batman villain. Back in 1991 on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a hot new talent did an impression of Wile E. Coyote and a scene from Poltergeist. The guest was Jim Carrey, the Riddler in the 1995 film Batman Forever, who unknowingly gave an answer as to who could roost where Kevin Conroy has with another impression. Carrey pulled off his jacket, whipped it around over his head, pulled it back over his nose, and shouted, “Kevin Bacon is Batman!”

“Bacon is Batman” has a nice ring to it; the merchandise and memes would be infamous! The Footloose star does have a deep enough voice reminiscent of Kevin Conroy, but not too overbearing or imitative. Other voice actors have been the Masked Manhunter: Ben McKenzie (Batman: Year One), Bruce Greenwood (Batman: Under the Red Hood), Jeremy Sisto (Justice League: A New Frontier), Roger Craig Smith (Batman: Arkham Origins), Troy Braker (Batman: The Telltale Series).

All are fair gain, even Jeffrey Wright from the HBO Max audio drama Batman: The Audio Adventures or Winston Duke from Batman Unburied on Spotify. Whoever voices the Batman next, they’re in good hands with plenty of creative talents. The fact that other streaming services want Batman: Caped Crusader is a testament to the character’s staying power as well. All the more reason for HBO Max to hold the reins on this new chapter in the Batman franchise.