Holy animated Batman news! Amazon Studios announced today that it has partnered with Warner Bros. Animation to bring us not one, but two new shows along with a feature-length project.
The first show, the J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves-backed Batman: Caped Crusader, has been picked up by Amazon for two seasons. Amazon also greenlit the film, Merry Little Batman, and an associated spin-off series, Bat-Family.
“Batman: The Animated Series helped pioneer in the evolution of superhero storytelling and defined the Dark Knight for a generation,” Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon and MGM Studios said in a statement. “Batman: Caped Crusader will no doubt continue that tradition and, alongside Merry Little Batman and Bat-Family, we’re thrilled to collaborate with Warner Bros. Animation to offer a variety of takes of the Batman mythos to our global Prime Video customers.”
Warner Bros. Animation was also chuffed at the news. “We are excited to partner with Amazon to begin an all-new animated chapter of Batman,” Sam Register, president, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios said in the same statement. “From the cinematic noir storytelling of Batman: Caped Crusader to the comedic adventures of Merry Little Batman and Bat-Family, these new projects ensure that there will be an animated Batman story ready to excite fans of all ages.”
Caped Crusader was originally set to stream at HBO Max (now known as Max, because I dunno). New Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav axed the project, however, and it’s great to get confirmation that the show, which is a “reimagining of the Batman mythology,” has found a new home.
Here’s the synopsis for Merry Little Batman:
Merry Little Batman is an animated family action comedy destined to join the rogue’s gallery of classic holiday movies. When young Damian Wayne finds himself alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he must transform into “Little Batman” in order to defend his home and Gotham City from the crooks and supervillains intent on destroying the holidays.
The movie’s Bat-Family spin-off series follows Merry Little Batman’s Batman, Alfred, and young Damian Wayne, who is now officially Little Batman (see image above for all three), as they “navigate the fun and frustrations of life as a super family.”
No news yet on when any of these projects will make their way to Prime Video.
