Why does Superman have more live-action shows than Batman?

[Lead Cenobite]

But like Smallville, there's only so much you could stretch that premise out. I mean what would they do for villains, have him fight a teenage Joker?

Considering how long it's been since Batman's had a live action series, it's about time for a modern interpretation. A simple, straightforward Batman series. Of all the superheroes, he's the most suited for tv due to his lack of powers. I'm sure they'd have to cut some corners as far as content is concerned, but they'd probably be able to get away with more than all the previous animated series.

 

[Jordacar]

Enough with the cop shows and medical dramas. I wanna see a real, honest-to-goodness superhero show.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

At face value...a Batman tv show should be easier to make. It'd depend on where in his career he is. I'd prefer a Year One version, and my guess is that would be easiest on the wallet to make.

The batcave would, and continuity wise should, be unimpressive.

I just assume, as popular as they are, that the writers would capitalize on Batman's forensics expertise, detective skills, to get the CSI/ COP Show crowd.

Although, that could be awesome if done right. A Cop show...starring the Batman. I mean, all the trappings of a cop show but with all the dressings of the Batman.

 

[SV Fan]

I wonder if Al/Miles got to do the batman series which similar actors would be used. I am guessing KK would have played Harvey Dent's sister for starters.

 

[SpideyVille]

I don't think a show about batman before he was Batman would be as successful or last as long as Smallville, especially the way Al/Miles handled it. It worked for Superman because Clark was born and sent to be Superman, but Bruce kinda chose to be Batman, and it was based off the death of his parents. Having a show about Bruce's journey towards becoming Batman couldn't have lasted all that long, a couple seasons maybe. Making it into a teen drama wouldn't fit well wither. Having Clark grow up learning his powers with puberty provided for some fun moments, while still staying serious, but Batman, done right, wouldn't have much of those fun moments.

 

[ironman29758]

I don't think a show about batman before he was Batman would be as successful or last as long as Smallville, especially the way Al/Miles handled it. It worked for Superman because Clark was born and sent to be Superman, but Bruce kinda chose to be Batman, and it was based off the death of his parents. Having a show about Bruce's journey towards becoming Batman couldn't have lasted all that long, a couple seasons maybe. Making it into a teen drama wouldn't fit well wither. Having Clark grow up learning his powers with puberty provided for some fun moments, while still staying serious, but Batman, done right, wouldn't have much of those fun moments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Wayne_(proposed_series)
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/outline.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/future.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/timeline.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/script.htm
here's some info about casting:

Since the series did not actually get into pre-production or casting, it is unknown who would have been starred on the show. However, Shawn Ashmore, who later went on to play Bobby Drake in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, was heavily rumored to be in negotiations about playing Bruce, as well as Trevor Fehrman of Clerks II fame. A then-unknown Michael Rosenbaum (who would go on to play Lex Luthor in Smallville) was also considered to play the role of Harvey Dent. David Krumholtz, a current TV actor of Numb3rs, was said to be rumored for Jim Gordon.[3

they said they were only planning 5 years

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As the series progresses, Bruce becomes more and more intrigued and fascinated by the criminal element. He spends time at Arkham Asylum, observing the felons within. He restores Wayne Manor, and brings in a series of Martial Arts trainers. He buys sleek racing motorcycles, and realizes that in the helmet and leather, speeding through late at night, that it is quite a pleasure to be completely anonymous.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Towards the end of the first season, Bruce would find a large cavern underneath Wayne Manor. He and Alfred bring in Polish workers in blacked-out planes and buses to set up what ultimately becomes the Bat Cave. (What, you thought he built it all himself?)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In later seasons, Bruce would take bigger steps, and we'd finally get an answer to such burning questions like "Why didn't he just become a policeman?" He joins the GCPD; it doesn't last. He then goes to the FBI academy; that, too, is a bust.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bruce's skills grow as the series progresses. His skill in martial arts, already there when the show begins, is being perfected. He learns more about car racing, helicopter and airplane flying, gymnastics, and more. The world thinks that he's a fickle rich kid living it up and experiencing all that he can, but all of this work does lead to a purpose.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Once Bruce gains control of WayneCorp, he uses those resources to help him in his cause. Certain WayneCorp R&D in special weapons, prototypes, vehicles and such manages to disappear.... and of course, later ends up in Batman's arsenal. WayneCorp wins the bid to build the FBI's computer criminal database... and of course, Bruce has access.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Each episode would be framed with bookend scenes of an older Alfred telling the tale through his "memoirs" - an element that would later be seen to some extent with Birds of Prey.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bruce starts off the series as an immature 17 year old, but Bruce Wayne ends where all of the previous Batman stories would begin, at that moment where Bruce figures out the best way to stop the criminal element in Gotham City, by becoming... a bat. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tollin-Robbins Productions was approached by Tim McCanlies' agents the very weekend that The Iron Giant was released. He had something to pitch, and came in with the story of an American icon; a JFK Jr. kind of story. He laid out the whole thing. The character, his grandfather-type, his two-faced friends, the one cop in the city that he could trust, and the empire he was to inherit. The pitch was sait to be riveting by itself. At the end of the pitch, McCanlies revealed that the icon in question was none other than Bruce Wayne.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The insider told us that Bruce Wayne tells the pre-Batman days of the character much like Batman Begins does, but with a major difference: Instead of the entire story being told in two hours, you'd have 100 hours more of seeing young Bruce getting his life together, but at the same time going down such a dark path that we're not sure if we're supposed to be rooting for him or against him. "Because the fans know that while an hour of seeing Bruce Wayne before he puts the mask on is great, what we really want to see are 22 hours of him. 44. 66. Would an hour of pre-boss Tony Soprano be anywhere near as captivating as 30 hours of pre-boss Tony? This is what the feature guys never got," the source said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The script was pure beauty," we were told. "The characters were all dead-on, but better. More fully realized and modernized than they had ever been before. The opening tease... an unidentified young man kicking the ***** out of a jail cell full of street thugs, only to reveal Alfred at the end of it....could it possibly get better than that?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The project didn't get far enough to go for serious casting, but an actor named Trevor Fehrman (Now You Know, Clerks 2) was considered for the role of Bruce, as was Shawn Ashmore (Bobby Drake/Iceman from the X-Men films). Michael Rosenbaum, later to be the iconic Lex Luthor, was once tossed around for the role of Harvey Dent. David Krumholtz (Numb3rs) was considered as a possible contender to play Jim Gordon.[/FONT]

Shawn Ashmore as Bruce and Michael Rosenbaum(If you think Mike was a great young undeterimened to evil Lex imagine him as a young 2-face) and it has some good reviews for the script so imagine if it had good actors and been a 5 series and run with Smallville.

 

[Anubis]

For Superman fans, a lot of you people have some weak imaginations. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

A show about Bruce Wayne's Journey to become Batman not only could work, but would work far better than Smallville has. He lost his parents when he was 7 years old. He didn't become Batman until he was 25. In between you got 18 undocumented years. Learning martial arts from various disciplines around the world. From Grand Masters in Nanda Parbat to the NYC under Heavy Weight champ Ted "Wildcat" Grant. Coming under the tutelage of the great detective Henri Ducard. Some time spent learning the art of the escape from Zatara. (and playing kissy face with his daughter Zatanna.) There's a freakin plethora of s**t to go over with Batman. I mean Jesus, this s**t writes itself.

 

[Prison Mike]

The show would still be filled with the same WB/CW melodrama crap so I don't know how much better it would have been than Smallville.

 

[Anubis]

I think it could be a whole lot better if they made sure to keep the people that made Smallville the hell away from it.

 

[KalKai]

And it'd get cancelled mid-season..

 

[Man of Steel]

How about a World's Finest movie that lead to a TV series(like Star Wars:The Clone Wars)? Cast:
Superman-Brandon Routh
Batman-Sam Witwer

 

[Jordacar]

Sam Witwer can't play Batman, his chin's a dead giveaway. The cowl leaves his most distinguising feature totally exposed.

 

[Webhead2006]

well the main reason is for years their has been an embargo on the bat characters and the studio more interested in films then live action tv shows for batman. now it would be neat to see what a live action batman could be like today, all counting on castings/writing/budget/producing.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Looking at this teaser trailer for the upcoming DC Comics 75th Anniversary Dvd set for November 9th .

[YT]yDvZpZ8YXj4[/YT]

It's clear that their real accomplishment in television genre came from the DCAU - The DC Animated Universe series, Tv series ("Smallville", "Adventures of Superman", The 60's Batman, lynda Carter's Wonder Woman tv series and Lois and Clark :TASOS)

And in the film franchise Batman and Superman reigned supreme .

 

[The Caped Knight]

Check out this new Column by Craig Byrne
Eleven Smallville Spin-Offs That Should Happen

11. Young Bruce Wayne
Why It Might Work: Yeah, I said it. Arguably, there is only one DC character who would make as much of an impact with a prequel series as Superman has with Smallville, and that is Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. Have him appear first in Smallville, or dust off the Tim McCanlies series bible from years ago, and DC characters could be on TV for another decade. (Despite the image used to go with this, I would imagine Bruce Wayne in a series would be Clark's age)


Why It Might Not: Warner Bros. (or more specifically, Chris Nolan's camp) seems to think that a movie and television franchise can't exist at the same time. Which never stopped Smallville from co-existing with Superman Returns, and never stopped Batman himself from having various different animated, comic book, and video game projects running concurrently with the movie stuff. TV viewers aren't stupid; we know the movies and the TV aren't the same thing, and it's really disappointing that one division of the company can put a block to another like that. And hey, it's not as though another Batman movie will be out for another 2 or 3 years anyway, though when it is, I'm sure it'll be something fantastic, don't get me wrong.


Bonus: After ten seasons, to see Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne meeting would be one of those great moments we've waited years to see happening.


http://www.kryptonsite.com/smallvillespinoffs.htm

 

[The Englishman]

Ive always thought if they cant give us a Batman live action show then give us the next best thing, a Nightwing show....

 

[Lead Cenobite]

At face value...a Batman tv show should be easier to make. It'd depend on where in his career he is. I'd prefer a Year One version, and my guess is that would be easiest on the wallet to make.

The batcave would, and continuity wise should, be unimpressive.

I just assume, as popular as they are, that the writers would capitalize on Batman's forensics expertise, detective skills, to get the CSI/ COP Show crowd.

Although, that could be awesome if done right. A Cop show...starring the Batman. I mean, all the trappings of a cop show but with all the dressings of the Batman.

I really don't like the prospect of a cop show that stars Batman. I want a superhero show, I want something fun but also dark and maybe a bit surreal. We already get enough of the gritty real world stuff in the movies.

 

[p4poetic]

Batman works on film with great action scenes and effects. It would not work on a tv series cause it would get boring. Superman has powers which can be done on a tv budget well enough to entertain.

How do you know? There was only one live action Batman TV series and its outdated, to say the least.

 

[misjuevos]

how old was batman when he became batman? i think the studios like to appeal to younger audiences so they chose superman since he has his powers the moment he hits earth. i know smallville really milked the powers and still are milking them. for batman to appeal to a younger audience you could use one of his sidekicks, but people want batman. so here is an idea. use batman beyond. its a young batman with the original batman as his kick ass alfred. it has a future vibe with sci fi mixed in. but the best thing would be for a batman not on cw but a channel with adult themes and content.

 

[Chain]

It could be better than Smallville if done right.

Opening int. Bruce's high school principal's office.
Bruce is in trouble again.
He punched a bully,again
Alfred is trying to bail him out,again
There's talk of how brilliant he is. How he knows more than the teachers.
But his temper. His sense of justice was uncontrollable.
This is the last straw and he's expelled.

Awkward silent ride back to the estate. Lots of "evil eye" from Alfred in the rear view. But still a tinge of approval in his smirk.

int. Wayne manor Bruce's room: Bruce is on the computer looking at a Tibetan monastery,Scotland Yard,American Indian Shaman etc. Alfred comes in and says, " We need to have a talk about what you want to do with your life"......

 

[batdude]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Wayne_(proposed_series)
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/outline.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/future.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/timeline.htm
http://www.kryptonsite.com/brucewayne/script.htm
here's some info about casting:

they said they were only planning 5 years


Shawn Ashmore as Bruce and Michael Rosenbaum(If you think Mike was a great young undeterimened to evil Lex imagine him as a young 2-face) and it has some good reviews for the script so imagine if it had good actors and been a 5 series and run with Smallville.

You mean Rosenbaum almost played Two- Face?

 

[SV Fan]

It could be better than Smallville if done right.

I don't honestly believe it would be that much different. The show would be full of angst and focus on shippers. The only good thing would be if the main love interest was the bad guys sister, then we wouldn't have Two Fana

 

[Chain]

I don't honestly believe it would be that much different. The show would be full of angst and focus on shippers. The only good thing would be if the main love interest was the bad guys sister, then we wouldn't have Two Fana

Instead of a meteor freak of the week they could do different locations,different trainers for all his skills. make it mostly about him and Alfred jetting around the world pursuing his education and getting involved in local shenanigans wherever he may be.

 

[SV Fan]

Instead of a meteor freak of the week they could do different locations,different trainers for all his skills. make it mostly about him and Alfred jetting around the world pursuing his education and getting involved in local shenanigans wherever he may be.

Jetting around the world = $$$$$$$$$$$

I am guessing if they got the series we would see a 14 year old Bruce, who just enters his first year of High School(probably some rich private school) who meets the character who will cause him tons of angst in the upcoming seasons and soon after her brother. We would probably meet Bruce friends, a wacky character whose man role is plot exposition(maybe a young Vicky Vale) and Bruce's best bud. One would be female and the other male, while they probably would go the route of making one racially diverse. Just to throw a wrench in Bruce desire for Two face's sister, she will have a BF who would soon die out within a season.

I guess to some degree it might be a better concept because the producers couldn't use the my life sucks because I am an alien from a world that exploded hiding out on earth as a reason for all the angst, but I am certain they would find there nitch to make Bruce a emo teen full of issues. All that being said I do think the tone of Smallville would have suited Bruce Wayne more then Clark Kent, but it would perfectly fit Peter Parker the most.

 

[storyteller]

Some shows can function as a prehero story and others can't. Batman will only work as Batman. Why is it people want to see the prehero story so badly? I like Batman because he's Batman. I found that smallville was at its best when it was deeper into the Superman elements. Yeah its nice to reference Bruce training(like BTAS did with a few episodes) but Batman is the point. Really a Batman show would be pretty budget friendly. Its a crime drama/ detective story enhanced with a bat costume. Yeah some of the bad guys would need to be toned down but they all could work. Hell think that Mortal Kombat fan trailer. Bring in some real martial artist and bring the powers more to realism and the potential for one hell of a live action Batman show is there.


Now to the title. Superman hasn't had a movie since when before returns(and since)?
There's no real point in green lighting a live action show when you are releasing a major movie. So 88 to 97 had the Batman movies. Then there was a period where no one wanted to touch it. Finally Nolan did it and may have effectively screwed live action tv with his duology for a while.