Summary
- The footage from a
Batman Beyond
animated project which was pitched by
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
visual developer Yuhki Demers has been revealed. -
Batman Beyond
is a fan-favorite DC series featuring Terry McGinnis as the young Dark Knight. - Despite interest in revival, the project is not in development but has sparked enthusiasm among fans and creators.
A Batman Beyond animated project was pitched by Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse visual developer Yuhki Demers and writer Patrick Harpin last year, and the footage they created has now come to light. Coming courtesy of @Vehgeto on YouTube, the clip brings to life the futuristic Neo-Gotham in a style akin to that of the Spider-Verse franchise, and finds young Dark Knight Terry McGinnis taking flight for the first time.
You can check out the footage of the Batman Beyond pitch below.
First airing in 1999, Batman Beyond picks up with the DC icon in 2039 and follows the adventures of Terry McGinnis, a teenager on the wrong side of the tracks, who is taken under the wing of an elderly and retired Bruce Wayne. Much like his predecessor, Terry is driven by remorse and vengeance, and after being gifted with a high-tech bat-suit, decides to use all the gadgets and training Bruce can throw at him to take down criminals in the harsh, crime-ridden Neo-Gotham.
The series is now a fan-favorite among DC fans, with the character Terry McGinnis having since become a major part of Batman lore and featuring in leading his own comics and movies, as well as appearing in other animated DC outings such as Justice League Unlimited.
Could We See a Batman Beyond Revival in the DCU?
This Spider-Verse-esque idea was first revealed by Yuhki Demers back in February, with the artist releasing some stunning concept art and revealing the backstory of the project. Which, at present, is sadly not in development.
“5 months ago Patrick Harpin walked into @wbpictures @DCofficial and pitched a Batman Beyond Animated Feature. Before we pitched, they warned us “there is absolutely no way we can do a 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 movie”, but they loved our enthusiasm. We pitched the outline for the entire film, and what started as a ‘never’ turned into a ‘maybe’. In the time since, we’ve been pitching our way up the company hoping to get to @jamesgunn.”
5 Reasons the DCU Should Release a Batman Beyond Movie
There have been attempts to adapt the fan-favorite TV classic into live-action before, and the new DCU may just be the best home to finally do it
Demers also revealed who is behind the Batman Beyond project, saying, “From Writer/Director Patrick Harpin (My Dad the Bounty Hunter) & Production Designer/Producer Yuhki Demers (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse).”
In the world of DC animation, Batman is due to return in the “spiritual sequel” to the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Caped Crusader, which is now due to debut on Prime Video. And someone who would love to see a similar revival for Batman Beyond is lead voice actor Will Friedle, who has said he would “love to do more episodes.”
“One of the joys of being a voice-over actor is your voice doesn’t necessarily age. It does a little bit, but you can be 45 and still play 17 if you can hit the register. It’s a character who is so important to me, I would love to do more episodes. Not just because I know the fans would really love to see it, but a) I’d get to step back into the cowl again which would be incredible and b) I’d get to work with Kevin Conroy again. He and I are close friends and he’s such a wonderful actor and someone who was a mentor on this side of the acting industry. Knowing we would get to sit down in the booth together again would be phenomenal.”
