Batman Beyond’s futuristic version of Gotham has been imagined in live-action thanks to a fantastic fan film, over two decades after the animated show’s conclusion.Batman Beyondwas a highly acclaimed installment in thetimeline of DC’s Animated Universeand ushered in a now-fan-favorite variation of Gotham’s Dark Knight. Set way into the future,Batman Beyond’s rewatchable episodesdepicted a new hero donning the mantle of Batman, Terry McGinnis. With several newupcomingBatmanmovies and showsin development, many have been holding out hope forBatman Beyondto be adapted into live-action.
As it turns out, a fan film byLumis Entertainmenthas beaten DC Studios to the punch, providing an excellent look atBatman Beyondthrough the live-action lens. The fan film featuresTitans' Ryan Potter as Terry McGinnis in a story titledBatman Beyond: Year One, as the young hero balances budding relationships with his new responsibilities as Gotham’s protector:
Written and directed by Michael Yu,Batman Beyond: Year Oneis a brilliant reimagining of the original show, long after it stopped airing. From theBlade Runneraesthetic of a futuristic Gotham to the iconic black and red suit of Terry McGinnis, the fan film brings to life the many aspects audiences have desired for decades. The film also stars Isabelle Hahn, Justin Vancho, Fiona Dorn, D.Y. Sao, Koki Tomlinson, Tony Vittorioso, and Bruce Inaba & Dayna Huor.
The voice actor for Bruce Wayne is credited as “???” in the film’s credits, leading many to theorize it is Roger Craig Smith fromBatman: Arkham Origins, the younger version of Kevin Conroy’s Batman from Rocksteady’s video game universe.
What Batman Beyond’s Fan Film Means For DC
Batman Beyond Could Be An Option For James Gunn’s DCU
Above all else,theBatman Beyondfan film proves that this version of the character can work in live-action. The original show was beloved and even spawned a highly-rated DC Animated Universe movie, yet audiences have often thought it could work as a distinct, original, take on Batman in live-action. TheBatman Beyond: Year Onefan film proves this beyond doubt, bringing the world to life beautifully while translating the unique character of Terry McGinnis and his relationship with an elderly Bruce Wayne perfectly. All of this could give James Gunn a lot to think about concerning the DCU’s Chapter One.
DCU Chapter One Gods And Monsters: Every Movie & Show In The New DC Universe
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe begins with six movies and six shows that open the DCU’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters”.
Gunn has proven his willingness to make DC stories that somewhat break tradition, fromLanternsbeing aTrue Detective-style story in the American heartland toSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrowbringing a newer comic book run to life. After seeing this fan film,Batman Beyondcould be another way the DCU reinvents the wheel via Batman. WhileThe Brave and the Boldhas already been announced as the DCU’s Batman, aBatman Beyondlive-action movie could be developed as an Elseworlds project, with the above fan film proving how well this would work.
Our Take On Batman Beyond: Year One
Batman Beyond: Year Oneis simply stunning, and is produced to such a high quality that I cannot quite believe DC has not capitalized on this concept yet. TheBatman Beyondanimated show ended in 2001 and has since garnered a strong cult following. Even 20 years later, this incredibly original concept for Batman has yet to be explored in live-action by a Hollywood studio. AfterBatman Beyond’sYear Onestory, I am more convinced than ever that a big-budget movie based on the show deserves to be made, if only to provide a new take on The Dark Knight.
Batman Beyond
Cast
Batman Beyond is an animated action-adventure television series set twenty years after the events of Batman: The Animated series. Bruce Wayne, now in his twilight years, continues to fight crime with new gadgets, suits, and tech - but his old age has revealed that even the Caped Crusader has limits. Enter Terry McGinnis, a teenager with athletic prowess and a strong sense of justice. When pursued by a gang one night, Terry is helped by the elderly Bruce Wayne - an event that leads to Terry’s training as the new generation Batman.
