Alternative Versions of Batman - Film and Television

Film and Television

• The Batman television series and 1966 film, starring Adam West, featured a campy version of Batman and associated characters, similar to the style of DC comics at the time of production.

• Tim Burton's Batman was a combination of Burton's own unique film stylings and the gritty, darker interpretation presented in DC continuity at the time. After two films, Burton continued to produce the films, but was replaced as Director by Joel Schumacher. The films became known for their over-the-top production design and their dependence on star-power casting to draw audiences. Batman was characterised as incrementally more sardonic and frivolous throughout the series.
  • Batman, played by Michael Keaton
  • Batman Returns, role reprised by Keaton
  • Batman Forever, played by Val Kilmer
  • Batman and Robin, played by George Clooney

• Christopher Nolan's films are a reboot in the Warner Brothers franchise. Starring Christian Bale in a new continuity allegedly based on Batman: The Man Who Falls, Batman: Year One and Batman: The Long Halloween. This depicts Bruce Wayne as a confused and frustrated young man, incapable of dealing with the murders of his parents or the injustices of Gotham City, and spends seven years in self-imposed exile from Gotham during which time he lives on the streets and even commits theft (albeit from his own company), until incarcerated in a Chinese prison camp and then approached by Ra's al Ghul, from whom he receives the League of Shadows training which allows him to become the Batman. Batman is merely an idea used by Wayne to "spread fear amongst those who would prey on the fearful" (i.e. the criminals); he is not entirely able to separate the Batman persona from his own personality. Accordingly, Bale is only listed as "Bruce Wayne" in the credits of The Dark Knight. Wayne is dependent on Lucius Fox for supplying him with the fundamental tools, armor, weapons and vehicles needed to be "Batman" (this is in sharp contrast to the comics continuity, in which Lucius Fox is merely the CEO of Bruce Wayne's corporate holdings and Wayne himself has mastered the skills required to design and build his own equipment, armor, weapons and vehicles). The continuity includes:
  • Batman Begins
  • Batman: Gotham Knight
  • The Dark Knight
  • The Dark Knight Rises

• The DC animated universe, starting with Batman: The Animated Series, featured a newly dark and more serious Batman voiced by Kevin Conroy. In-story information indicates Bruce Wayne's birth as being circa 1960.
  • Batman: The Animated Series
  • Superman: The Animated Series
  • The New Batman Adventures
  • Batman Beyond is set roughly 50 years after Batman: The Animated Series, and features an 80 year old Bruce Wayne acting as mentor to Terry McGinnis, the new Batman.
  • Justice League, which in turn features two animated, alternative Batmen:
    • In "The Savage Time", Bruce Wayne's parents stand up to Vandal Savage's totalitarian regime and are killed, prompting Bruce to become a freedom fighter also named Batman.
    • In "A Better World", Batman is a member of the Justice Lords, who themselves have near-totalitarian rulership of Earth.
  • Justice League Unlimited

• Teen Titans/Teen Titans Go - Batman himself would not directly appear in the series, but there are a few references to him:
  • "Apprentice Part 2": After Robin tells Slade that he has a father, a swarm of bats fly across the screen. One particular building that Robin steals from is Wayne Enterprises (revealed after a fight scene).
  • "Go": Upon arriving in Jump City, a bank robber whom Robin pursues says "Hey, this isn't your town. Aren't you supposed to be with...", but is cutoff before saying Batman.

Batman and the Justice League make a cameo in the tie in comic Teen Titans Go #45. He narrates Robin's origin in #47 and views Titans Tower at the end of the story.

• The Batman features a new animated Batman set outside DCAU continuity. This series features very different versions of most characters and antagonists previously unseen in or outside of comics.

• Batman: The Brave and the Bold features a lighter Batman, teaming up with other heroes. This show even has various references to 1960s TV series, including a flashback of Thomas Wayne voiced by Adam West.

• In the Birds of Prey television series, Batman is viewed as a myth or urban legend, having mysteriously disappeared from New Gotham, leaving Barbara Gordon and batmans' daughter Helena Kyle to defend the city.