Posted in: Amazon Studios, Preview, streaming, TV | Tagged: Batman, caped crusader, dc studios, dcu, max

Batman: Caped Crusader: J.M. DeMatteis Confirms Writing Season 2 Ep

In his 2024 Summer newsletter, writer J.M. DeMatteis confirmed writing an episode for Prime Video's Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2.

Less than a day after being introduced to the voice cast for the eagerly anticipated animated series and with more than a month to go until executive producers Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, Ed Brubaker & Sam Register's Batman: Caped Crusader shits Amazon's Prime Video screens, we've already got some news on the second season to pass along. In his Summer 2024 newsletter, legendary writer J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League International, The Amazing Spider-Man: "Kraven's Last Hunt," and so much more) confirmed that he wrote an episode for the second season of the streaming series. "I've been spending quite a bit of time in Gotham City lately. Along with 'Robin Lives!' [DC Comics project], I've just completed an episode for the second season of Amazon's new Batman series, 'Caped Crusader,'" DeMatteis wrote for his animation update. "Details are top-secret for now, but from what I've seen, this is going to be another memorable show from Bruce Timm, James Tucker, and Company—the same folks who brought you 'Batman: The Animated Series,' 'Justice League Unlimited,' and so much more."

Earlier this week, a rundown of the big names who've joined the voice cast for the animated series was released via a teaser, confirming Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass) as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Jamie Chung (Lovecraft Country) as Harley Quinn, Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) as Catwoman/Selina Kyle, and Diedrich Bader (Office Space) as Harvey Dent/Two-Face (courtesy of Vanity Fair). In addition, the cast includes Minnie Driver, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, McKenna Grace, Jason Watkins, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment, and Toby Stephens. With the series set to premiere on August 1, here's a look at the casting announcement teaser for Batman: Caped Crusader:

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly's interview with Timm, we're learning some details about what viewers can expect when the series hits Prime Video screens this August (and getting a chance to check out the amazing animation style with the release of preview images). One thing that the Batman: The Animated Series co-creator wants to make clear to fans of the original animated series is that "Caped Crusader" is taking things in new directions. "James [Tucker, character designer] and I are both really big fans of movies from that era, so we decided to really lean into that in terms of the clothes, the cars, the architecture, and the level of technology," Timm shared about the '40's-set series. "Early on, we decided there would be no computers and no cell phones. That changed everything."

In terms of their reference points & inspirations, Timm & Tucker looked to '40s noir films as well as the Batman comics that were published during that time period. But in wanting to present viewers with yet another unique take on The Dark Knight's universe, Timm & Tucker also went down some new paths with a number of familiar characters. For example, Harley Quinn is now Dr. Harleen Quinzel, an Asian-American private psychiatrist in Gotham City – no Arkham Asylum assignments here. And guess who is one of her patients? Yup, Bruce Wayne – so just imagine the possibilities there. In fact, Timm teases that this take on Harley will see the character utilizing some of the psychiatric tools her daytime persona has up her sleeves.

Another promising change is that this Harley isn't coming onto the animated series' scene with any Joker baggage – allowing her to be her own person right out of the gate. "I co-created the character, so I have a lot of love and affection for her, but I thought there might be something interesting about bringing her on the show, just not as Joker's girlfriend," Timm shared. "So how do we do that? A big part was just doing a basic flip. The original Dr. Quinzel was a little bit more serious, and then when she became Harley, she got really goofy and weird. So we thought, what if we reverse that? When she's Dr. Quinzel, she's a little bit more whimsical and fun, and then when she's Harley Quinn, she's scary."

"'Batman: The Animated Series' helped pioneer in the evolution of superhero storytelling and defined the Dark Knight for a generation," said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon & MGM Studios, in a statement when the two additional Batman universe series were announced back in April. "'Batman: Caped Crusader' will no doubt continue that tradition and, alongside 'Merry Little Batman' and 'Bat-Family,' we're thrilled to collaborate with Warner Bros. Animation to offer a variety of takes of the Batman mythos to our global Prime Video customers." The animated series is based on characters from DC and is produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions, and 6th & Idaho.

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