With James Gunn’s DC Studios heading forward with a new DCU slate, details on canceled DC Film projects have begun surfacing and a Batman Beyond project is one of them. In fact, the story not only featured a younger Terry McGennis as the caped crusader but an older Dark Knight portrayed by Michael Keaton, mentoring him. Though latest reports revealing that a veteran Bruce Wayne would have had a spark with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman has drawn more support from fans as well as disappointment over its cancellation.
Lately, discussions among DC film fans have been all about “what could’ve been” as the CEOs overseeing the DC multimedia division are scrubbing the in-development projects at Warner Bros. Pictures to make way for the 10-year DC Bible design. Unfortunately, a spin-off from The Flash featuring the burtonverse Batman with McGennis under his wing was axed just weeks after Gunn and Peter Safran took on their duties.
Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson was penning a script and her pitch even “had executives excited” as THR’s Heatvision noted. So what aspect of the story could have had WBs execs interested in the project? It’s likely the romance element between Keaton’s Bruce Wayne and Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle.
DCEU fans want James Gunn to revive Batman Beyond movie exploring Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman romance with older Bruce Wayne
While many DCEU fans were not in support of the idea of an older Batman taking over as the main version in DC Extended Universe – there has been a considerable amount of support for a Batman Beyond project as an Elseworld title, similar to Matt Reeves’ Batman universe and Todd Phillips’ Joker. Still, many are hoping Gunn considers greenlighting the DC Film, though, It should be noted that Michelle Pfeiffer was not contacted to reprise the Catwoman role so a deal was not in place. But that isn’t stopping fans from sharing their frustrations – as can be seen in the reactions below.
Now this, actually does intrigue me – if Pfeiffer actually returned. I wouldn’t want it to be set in the DCEU but if Burton’s Batman was it’s own self-contained elseworld, yeah this would hit. https://t.co/dXIzdfTcST
— Richard Newby – Vote Blue and Save Yourselves (@RICHARDLNEWBY) December 10, 2022
We were so close to greatness. 😩
(Batman Beyond art by: @Bosslogic) pic.twitter.com/3PjOuST1st
— Heroic Hollywood (@heroichollywood) December 9, 2022
Michelle Pfeiffer would have returned as Catwoman for Michael Keaton’s Batman Beyond movie, but DC cancelled the movie pic.twitter.com/CAx7lp79bv
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) December 9, 2022
They…. they cancelled a Michael Keaton #Batman Beyond movie????
I trust @JamesGunn but…… pic.twitter.com/MDaBjagzng
— Brian of the Living Dead🚫 (@HeSlimedMe__) December 9, 2022
“I would like to see the cancelled Batman Beyond film” https://t.co/nmVaHCTYD8 pic.twitter.com/pNe9bCsHLs
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) December 10, 2022
I get that @JamesGunn has to make some tough calls to get the DCEU back on the right creative track, & he's earned the benefit of the doubt. But this one hurts as a Batman fan, man. It hurts A LOT. Keaton as Grumpy Old Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond? PERFECT https://t.co/J62AF9HWtO
— Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) December 10, 2022
Okay, the news about a Batman Beyond movie with Michael Keaton as Cranky Bruce getting cancelled sucks, but losing an updated Michelle Pfieffer Catwoman REALLY hurts. https://t.co/pNregR5aqe pic.twitter.com/9DrPi2BHeE
— Stephen Clark: @theMediaman@techhub.social (@theMediaman) December 10, 2022
A Batman Beyond movie with Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfieffer reprising their roles as Batman and catwoman! 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/v0RDquP66H
— 𝙶𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎✖️✖️//💥⏳🥀🐉 (@giselleb1234) December 9, 2022
Batman… Beyond… movie… with Michael… Keaton… pic.twitter.com/kDyPygpQMr
— The Green Kasey (@RawbertBeef) December 9, 2022
WAIT! I TAKE IT BACK! FUCKKKK!
THEY CANCELLED BATMAN BEYOND! 💀 pic.twitter.com/l8yfdwR4Sv
— JOLLY J✨ (@DynamoSuperX) December 9, 2022
Lemme get this straight….we could’ve gotten a cyber punk Batman Beyond flick, with Michael Keaton as Old man Bruce Wayne…and they canned it?…Does…does Discovery just Hate money or something? https://t.co/LSsgPicQd0
— Chris DeRose #NewDeal4Animation (@ScratchyDerose) December 9, 2022
It’s possible that the execs that greenlit the Batman Beyond movie were Micheal De Luca and Pamela Abdy since the two WB chairpersons are still involved in the decision-making process as the duo was recently faced with a hard choice over Wonder Woman 3. So perhaps there’s still a glimmer of hope considering Gunn could explore some of the leftover ideas with his own storytelling twist.
Earlier last week, Terry McGennis’ Bat made news when Batgirl director Adil El Arbi shared a cryptic post featuring the futuristic version of Batman. The helmer also shared his desire to direct such a project though believes it can be explored only after the conclusion of Reevesverse.
WBD boss David Zaslav has made his intentions clear on the DC franchise not entertaining multiple iterations of Batman in the future. So it remains to be seen if a Logan-style one-off could be considered by the DC Studios chiefs. Stay tuned for more updates on the DC Universe.
