Batman Beyond: DC’s Answer To Marvel’s Spider-Verse Franchise

by

DC Comics hasn’t created an animated movie universe quite like Marvel’s popular Spider-Verse series, but a Batman Beyond movie – which has been discussed for a while – could be exactly what they need. After a difficult ten years with the DC Extended Universe, DC’s reputation is finally improving. With James Gunn and Peter Safran now leading the way, the future of DC looks hopeful for the first time in a long time.

The DC Universe, starting with films like Superman, is now creating a connected world of movies and TV shows that’s just as appealing as Marvel’s established cinematic universe. Shows such as Peacemaker and Lanterns are proving DC is also capable of high-quality television. While DC now rivals Marvel in live-action entertainment, Marvel still leads when it comes to animated films released in theaters.

As a huge movie fan, I can honestly say that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are two of the most incredible things I’ve seen on the big screen in years. What really sets them apart is how visually stunning they are – the animation is so unique and creative, and the colors just pop. But it’s not just about looks; these movies also have really compelling characters and genuinely moving stories. I truly believe these films needed to be animated to achieve their full potential, and they absolutely deserve to be seen in a theater – it’s an experience you just can’t replicate at home.

DC has produced several excellent animated films, including those released in theaters like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Teen Titans Go! to the Movies. However, they haven’t yet created anything that compares to the Spider-Verse films. A couple of years ago, some early concept art surfaced hinting at a potential solution: a Batman Beyond movie that could fill that role.

An Animated Batman Beyond Movie Would Be The Perfect Spider-Verse Replacement

Around the beginning of 2023, news surfaced that Warner Bros. was planning an animated movie based on the popular cartoon Batman Beyond. The project was reportedly intended to compete with the success of the Spider-Verse films, and Daniel Casey was hired to write the screenplay. However, these plans were made during a period of significant change and instability at the studio, just before a new leadership team took control.

A Batman Beyond movie was initially approved by DC Films president Walter Hamada. However, when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over and completely revamped DC’s film plans, the project’s status became uncertain. Around a year later, artists Yuhki Demers and Patrick Harpin shared stunning concept art – inspired by Spider-Verse‘s style – from a Batman Beyond movie pitch that didn’t move forward.

This artwork really shows how incredible a Batman Beyond movie could look. Batman Beyond is set in a futuristic Gotham City – a dark, tech-filled place reminiscent of Blade Runner, now called Neo-Gotham – where an older Bruce Wayne is training a new Batman. Terry McGinnis, a troubled young man who’s also coping with the loss of a parent, seems like the ideal successor to Bruce Wayne’s legacy.

Concept art by Demers and Harpin suggests a Batman Beyond movie would be a classic cyberpunk action film, similar to Ghost in the Shell, but with an American superhero twist. While Warner executives were hesitant about the idea, Demers believes they shouldn’t dismiss it so quickly.

Terry McGinnis And Miles Morales Share A Lot Of Similarities

A Batman Beyond movie could fill the void left by Spider-Verse not only with its unique look, but also because it shares a similar story about one hero taking over for another. Like Miles Morales, Terry McGinnis would have to live up to the legacy of an incredibly famous superhero, and that shared experience creates a lot of emotional resonance.

Both Terry and Miles started in separate universes – animation for Terry and an alternate comic reality for Miles – before becoming part of the main comic book storylines. While they follow in the footsteps of previous heroes, they’ve each uniquely defined the role. Unlike many other sidekicks or successors, like Iron Lad, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk, Terry and Miles directly use the iconic superhero names: Terry is Batman, and Miles is Spider-Man.

DC Has Yet To Capitalize On The Popularity Of Batman Beyond

After some recent setbacks for DC Comics, Warner Bros. has been working hard to capitalize on any remaining positive feelings for its characters. They brought back Michael Keaton as Batman for a role in The Flash, and went even further by digitally recreating lost actors who previously played Superman and Batman, in what many saw as an unnecessary attempt to please fans.

DC has made a series of questionable decisions, including an unnecessary sequel to Joker, finally releasing Zack Snyder’s four-hour director’s cut (in black and white, no less!), and a fleeting, ultimately unimportant appearance by Henry Cavill as Superman in Black Adam. It seems they’re determined to capitalize on fans’ love for their characters, no matter how illogical the choices.

As a huge DC fan, I’ve always felt like Batman Beyond is a seriously missed opportunity. Terry McGinnis is, in my opinion, one of their best successors to an iconic hero, and the fact that he’s so closely connected to Batman himself makes it even stranger that they almost completely ignore him in other projects. It feels like a really valuable story thread they just haven’t pulled on.

The artwork from Demers and Harpin is simply an early idea, and Gunn’s rule is to wait for a script everyone agrees on before starting a project. However, a Batman Beyond movie is worth considering. Once the Spider-Verse trilogy concludes with Beyond the Spider-Verse, there will be a noticeable opening for another animated superhero film, and Batman Beyond could be a great fit.

Read More

2025-11-02 21:35