I Want A New Live Action Show!

Kirk Langstrom

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Years ago, as i sat in the theater while the end credits of Batman Begins started to role, i immediately wanted more...it was a LONG three years until The Dark Knight, and although well worth the wait i felt like it all happened so fast, and then was done.

I've been thinking with today's production abilities, isnt the time ripe for a new live action tv show? Wouldnt it be cool to see Batman and all his great supporting cast and roges gallery fleshed out a bit more as far as origins/motivations go?

Im not sure how feasible it would be, what with the focus on the live action movies right now (and their enormous success)...then again, i seem to remember the Star Trek tv show running ok during the same years the movies were on the big screen, so it's possible. Especially with Batman's fanbase, which literally spans generations...

Anyone else...? :batman:
 
I think Batman's perfectly suited for live action tv. It can't be any harder than trying to do Superman on tv, with all his superpowers. In other words, you can actually show Batman being Batman, since he'll mostly be fighting and doing detective work. None of that is anywhere near the strain on budget depicting Superman's abilities are.
 
Right, and with the popularity of all the crime/florensics tv shows on today, i'd really like to see that aspect of Batman's abilities featured, which has been somewhat lacking in ALL the Batman movies...

In the right hands, i think a serious live action tv show would go through the roof!
 
It would be nice to see a show that's about Batman solving crimes, doing detective work, etc. Just as long as they don't go with the Smallville route by having so much drama.
 
This is how I think it should be done.

I posted this elsewhere, so no, this isn't stolen ;)




INTRODUCTION

Batman. The Dark Knight. In a dark city.

Orphaned as a child when his parents were gunned down in front of him, Bruce Wayne used the symbol of his deepest fear to combat the criminals of Gotham. Along the way he gains and loses allies, but this has always been his fight.

Along the way larger than life villains emerge, such as the Joker, the Penguin, King Tut, Catwoman, the Riddler, Two-Face, Black Mask and countless others.

But ultimately this is Batman’s story.

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TONE & INSPIRATION


One could think of this more of a live-action version of Batman: The Animated Series than a revival of the 1960s Adam West series, however the tone is more PG-13 with the violence and deep subject matters, allowing us to tell more mature stories. Visual inspiration would be taken from the popular fan films by Bat in the Sun Productions.

The difference with Gotham: The Series as opposed to the movies is the focus is more on the character of Batman than the action – the world’s greatest detective teaming – or sometimes rejecting – his allies to continue his lifelong goal of taking the fear of crime off the streets. This is ‘Batman’ already established, not ‘Bruce Wayne’.


The goal of this series is to faithfully retell the Batman legend as it appears in the comics, however some things are moved around, such as the Robins, and some characters’ introductions are slightly changed, reason being that a Television Series is a different type of storytelling than movies or comics.
The advantage of this format over feature films for retelling the story is there is more time to go into depth with the various characters, and introduce and develop more of the familiar rogues’ gallery.

Unlike Christopher Nolan’s universe, there is every possibility that alien life and super powered humans exist, for example Superman, Wonder Woman and other members of the Justice League, that Batman will become a member of. Very possibly this is the same universe as the CW’s Smallville.

This being 13 episodes, ala The Sopranos and Doctor Who, doesn’t allow for filler episodes that some network shows are littered with, thus allowing us to tell tight and compelling arcs, plus HBO would be an ideal platform. The feel would be almost like getting a new mini-Batman movie each week.

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POSSIBLE NETWORKS

- A&E
- AMC
- HBO
- ShowTime
- Starz

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FORMAT
7 seasons
13 episodes per season

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REGULAR CAST

Batman
Commissioner Gordon
Alfred Pennyworth
Lucius Fox (Seasons 1-3; 4-7 recurring)
Harvey Dent (Season 1 regular; Season 4-7 recurring as Two-Face)
Vicki Vale (Seasons 1-2)
Sarah Essen (Seasons 1-2)
Dick Grayson (s2e6 onwards-Season 4; TV Movie; Season 6-7 recurring as Nightwing)
Det Harvey Bullock (Season 1&2 recurring; Season 3-7 regular)
Renee Montoya (Season 2 recurring; Season 3-7 regular)
Barbara Gordon (Season 3 recurring; Serasons 4-5 as Batgirl; Sesons 6-7 as Oracle)
Jason Todd (Season 4)

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REGULAR LOCATIONS

• Wayne Manor
• The Batcave
• GCPD Headquarters
• The Iceberg Lounge
• Wayne Enterprises
• Gotham Globe office
• Streets of Gotham
• Crime Alley

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NOTES
• None of this is set in stone. This is a guide to how the series might flow.
• The villains are a guide to how they are introduced. Many will reoccur, but it would not be wise to introduce all the major ones in one go. I’d only have 6 main villains a season.
• I’ve put The Penguin in the Iceberg Lounge to save him being another ‘freak of the week’. That doesn’t mean he escapes from going to jail though...
• Same with the recurring characters other than Batman – associates (enemies and allies) will come and go
• Batman may change his costume more than once
• As many characters possible will be fully-rounded, and possibly developed in a way people may not expect. For example, there is a danger that the Riddler could be too similar to the Joker.
• No Tim Drake? I can’t see Batman taking on a young protégé after what the Joker does. The effects will be HUGE! Unless Nightwing finds and mentors him as his own successor, feeling there should be a Robin. I just don’t like the idea of too many heroes!
• Characters like Stephanie Brown & Helena Bertenelli would appear in civilian form only, but possibly in major roles.
• Damien Wayne possibly doesn’t exist, but I’d like to include the popular Kate Kane/Batwoman at some point. This is a very male-orientated show, so people will appreciate a larger female presence. I feel the inspiration era spans from YEAR ONE to just after HUSH
• I like to imagine this in a DC Universe where Superman and the Justice League etc. could exist, as opposed to the realistic Nolan take.

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SEASON ONE

This isn’t Batman Year One, the animated film and Nolan’s movie have already done that. This is a bit like Burton’s first movie – the Dark Knight has been around for a little while now, as an urban legend, apparently sorting out minor thugs, but this frustrates the police, in particular newly promoted police Commissioner Gordon.

We meet the Joker, a man who will prove to play a big part in Batman’s life.
Suddenly they come face-to-face, and Batman has to prove to Gordon that he can be trusted. His origin will be told in flashback in some episodes of the series, and gang wars will be a huge part of the season

RECURRING: Carmaine Falcone; Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin; Harvey Bullock; Dr Leeslie Thompkins
GUEST VILLAINS: Lady Shiva, Ra's Al Ghul; The Joker; Sal Maroni; Dr Hugo Strange; Mr Zsasz

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SEASON TWO

With Baman and Gordon as tentative allies, the war on crime steps up a notch. Newer, weirder villains start showing up. Harvey Dent has disappeared, and the new District Attourney is not nearly as good. Essen is murdered by the Joker, while Bruce & Vicki’s relationship ends and Selina Kyle shows up, before donning the mask as Catwoman – but Bruce doesn’t yet know her identity. In Episode 6, around the halfway mark, Bruce & Selina attend Haley’s Circus, where all Flying Graysons are brutally murdered but one – young Dick Grayson. Bruce takes him in, he discovers the secret and begins training.

RECURRING: Carmaine Falcon, Harvey Bullock; Renee Montoya; Dr Leslie Thompkins
GUEST VILLAINS: Joker, Catwoman, The Penguin, Tony Zucco, Egghead, Man-Bat

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SEASON THREE

Dick establishes himself as Robin, the Boy Wonder, a crimefighting partner to Batman. After Falcone’s death and Maroni’s imprisonment, the gangs are left without a leader, leaving crime on the street to get more frequent and less organised. The show would get less orientated on fighting gangs, but rather independent villains.

RECURRING: Barbara Gordon
GUEST VILLAINS: Joker, The Riddler, The Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter, Talia Al Ghul

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SEASON FOUR
Batman & Robin’s relationship begins to turn sour, with the two constantly disagreeing and Dick to concentrate more on his studies. Noticing Batman struggling alone, Barbara dons the mantle of Batgirl, and begins helping out.
At the end of the season, Dick declares he is no longer needed, and leaves Gotham. Harvey Dent makes a return, but he has changed dramatically, and there is a new wannabe kingpin, Black Mask.

RECURRIGN: None
GUEST VILLAINS: Black Mask, Two-Face, Mr Freeze, King Tut, Catwoman, Poison Ivy

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SPIN-OFF TV MOVIE: GRAYSON
Follows Dick to Bludhaven where he goes to find himself.

starring Dick Grayson. Could possibly include characters from the Batman/DC mythos not included in the main series, and set things up for the future.

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SEASON FIVE
Batman & Batgirl continue on their own, without Dick, before Bruce comes across an orphan trying to steal from the Batmobile. He feels sorry for him and takes him in, just like Dick. The Joker, having being incarcerated for over a year, escapes with the help of his new girlfriend, Harley Quinn. He goes on a rampage, shooting Barbara Gordon and murdering Jason Todd (in one dramatic episode combining 'The Killing Joke' ad 'A Death in the Family'. Literally BANG! BANG! Huge cliffhanger).

GUEST VILLAINS: Black Mask; Joker; Harley Quinn; The Riddler; Catwoman; The Ventriloquist

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SEASON SIX
More broken than ever, Bruce has hung up the cape and cowl, and has decided to leave crimefighting behind. It takes Barbara in her hospital bed to persuade him to go back as Gotham needs it’s hero. Barbara sets herself up with an advanced computer system and becomes Oracle, aiding Batman on his mission.

RECURRING: Nightwing/Dick Grayson
GUEST VILLAINS: Two-Face, Mr Freeze, King Tut, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn

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SEASON SEVEN
With Batman now being aided by Oracle, he is stronger than ever. His relationship with Dick Grayson is almost mended, but he makes it clear he wishes to stay independent; however a new enemy arises with a mysterious identity.

RECURRING: Nightwing/Dick Grayson; Robin III/Tim Drake
GUEST VILLAINS: Hush; Joker; Harley Quinn; Two-Face (in rehab?); The Penguin; The Riddler & Catwoman

http://www.**************.com/fansites/theDannyZone/news/?a=51401
 
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Add Arkham Asylum to your regular locations list, and i'm sold! :yay:
 
Thinking it over further; is the WB really taking a break from the Batman movies after TDKR? If so, maybe the time is perfect to concentrate on a small screen version of Batman...?
 
I think it would be the perfect time Cap. Personally,I can't decide whether I'd rather the show focus on the early days(Solo detective adventures which I like the most) the mid career (Expirienced hero,established ememies and developing Dick Grayson's story as the starting point) or more recent years (Nightwing and Oracle).
 
There has already been made a thread for this here for the exact same idea:
http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?p=21672719

I even gave the idea of making season One Batman's Year 1 but also playing with who is behind Batman's mask in the first film like in his first appearance in Detective Comics 27
Both threads should be merged
 
Goodies:
Michael Fassbender as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Ian McDiarmid as Alfred Pennyworth
Bryan Cranston as James Gordon
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Dick Grayson/Robin
Saoirse Ronan as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle
Ethan Suplee as Harvey Bullock
Idris Elba as Crispus Allen
Ana Claudia Talancon as Renee Montoya

Baddies:
(Position Has Yet to Be Filled) as the Joker
Jon Hamm as Harvey Dent/Two-Face
Eddie Marsan or Ricky Gervais as Oswald Cobblepot
(Still Can't Think) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Melanie Laurent as Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy
Pauley Perrette as Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
Stanley Tucci as Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze
Viggo Mortensen as Ra's Al Ghul
Cote de Pablo as Talia Al Ghul
Edward Norton as Edward Nygma/Riddler
Michael Clarke Duncan as Waylon Jones/Killer Croc
Alan Rickman as Hugo Strange
John Borrowman as Roman Sionis/Black Mask
 
I think it would be the perfect time Cap. Personally,I can't decide whether I'd rather the show focus on the early days(Solo detective adventures which I like the most) the mid career (Expirienced hero,established ememies and developing Dick Grayson's story as the starting point) or more recent years (Nightwing and Oracle).

I think Season one should be predominently Bruce, Alfred, Gordon, and Dent, with maybe a very young Dick Grayson showing up at the season's finale...
 
That would be fine but I really,really want to see Nightwing and Oracle.lol
 
Thinking it over further; is the WB really taking a break from the Batman movies after TDKR? If so, maybe the time is perfect to concentrate on a small screen version of Batman...?

Oops! Forgot that one! :yay:
 
Right, and with the popularity of all the crime/florensics tv shows on today, i'd really like to see that aspect of Batman's abilities featured, which has been somewhat lacking in ALL the Batman movies...

In the right hands, i think a serious live action tv show would go through the roof!

I love to see Batman TV show something like this. :up: :2face:
 
I'd wager on an adult animated batman series ala spawn more so than a live-action tv series.

WB likes to keep its main properties separate in tv and film. In smallville you didn't really have superman you had clark kent, wasn't even allowed to wear the suit.

I think they feel there's a dilution if you see a lower budget version operating on tv while their getting ready to promote a big screen version. I think they feel the public is easilly confused and thus can only handle one incantation at a time.
 
A good live-action series would be win. Like they did in the 60s but with the modern more serious Batman. It would be a hit imo.
 
For some reason I can really see James Marsters as Zsasz...

Anyways,I'd like for the Joker to be based off of the Killing Joke/Red Hood orgin in the pilot and then build the anticipation thru a few episodes before finally encountering Batman.For example, Joker, cloaked in a purple trenchcoat and fedora hat giggling in the shadows, watches as Batman apprehends some criminal in one episode.In another we see a "Jokerised" victim fall to the ground as a Joker playing card sails to the ground.

I'd also love to see the Penguin in a recurring role as the crooked owner of the Iceberg Lounge and as the guy Batman roughs up constantly for information.
 
It would have to have an impressive budget.

The real problem would be atmosphere. What's the most depressing city in America these days? Make that Gotham.
 
For some reason I can really see James Marsters as Zsasz...

Anyways,I'd like for the Joker to be based off of the Killing Joke/Red Hood orgin in the pilot and then build the anticipation thru a few episodes before finally encountering Batman.For example, Joker, cloaked in a purple trenchcoat and fedora hat giggling in the shadows, watches as Batman apprehends some criminal in one episode.In another we see a "Jokerised" victim fall to the ground as a Joker playing card sails to the ground.

I'd also love to see the Penguin in a recurring role as the crooked owner of the Iceberg Lounge and as the guy Batman roughs up constantly for information.

I second that!
 
I like a lot of ideas in this thread. WB should take a break with the films for a few years and really focus on making a good Batman live-action show. Definitely focus mostly on story/characters, detective skills, and finally action. It should be a PG-13 style show and mature for the older fans, and they can keep doing their thing with the cartoons for the younger audience.
 
Would a TV budget allow Batman to have the gadgets and equipment he needs? Including a Batsuit that doesn't look like crap?
 
It doesn't need to be gadget heavy. Give him a grapple gun, a batarang, a Batmobile, and be done with it. And I'm sure they could do the suit, though it would probably be cloth/spandex, or they could reuse one of the old movie suits.
 
It doesn't need to be gadget heavy.

True. I admit, I'm interested in exploring the detective side of Batman.

Give him a grapple gun, a batarang, a Batmobile, and be done with it.

I think he'd need a little more than that. But hey, if they could make it work, I wouldn't complain.

And I'm sure they could do the suit, though it would probably be cloth/spandex, or they could reuse one of the old movie suits.

I'd rather they create their own suit. As long as it looks good, I don't really care about the material. But if they had to re-use one of the old ones, I'd want them to use the BB suit.
 
Well yeah, but those would probably be the most prominent ones. I suppose there would also be more forensic/detective oriented gadgetry too, but I can't imagine it being too expensive. And as for the more colorful villains, I wouldn't want them to be overexposed. Not that the series has to be like supervillain-free like a lot of live action shows tend to be, but I'd like their appearances to be a big deal. Most episodes would deal with Batman fighting more real world crime and the mob, or maybe corrupt businessmen, then a few episodes would deal with the Joker or Riddler, for example. One thing that I would like established is that this isn't a normal world. Weird things do happen sometimes, things that are otherworldly or at the very least, improbable.
 

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