Surprise! Batman: Caped Crusader is alive and well and will premiere this summer

By James On May 9, 2024

Like the strange creature of the night after which it is named, Batman: Hooded Crusader has been shrouded in mystery since its announcement, with only a neat teaser poster reminiscent of radio serials and a noir-esque feel. Executive produced by the powerhouse trio JJ Abrams, The hitter director Matt Reeves, and Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm, Hooded crusader should be the most dazzling animated version of Batman ever. The best part is that we don’t have to wait long for it: Prime Video has announced Hooded crusader premieres on August 1.

The news included an overview of Hooded crusader‘s cast of characters – which I’m including here because there are a lot of Here are clues as to the kind of tone and storytelling the series is going for: extremely old-school noir with a modern twist, with visual inspiration straight from Detective comics #27. It appears that co-creator Bruce Timm was at it for the first time Batman: The Animated Seriesjust with fewer concessions to being a children’s show.

BATMAN A cold, ruthless avenger of evil, seemingly more machine than man. Forged in the fires of tragedy, every fiber of his being is dedicated to eradicating crime.

BRUCE WAYNE – To the general public, Bruce Wayne is a superficial dilettante, who apparently squanders his parents’ vast fortune on frivolous pursuits and hedonistic pleasures. In fact, he is an elaborate facade, carefully constructed to distract from his activities as Batman.

SELINA KYLE / “CAT WOMAN” – Selena Kyle is a cheerful and spoiled heiress whose family lost their fortune after her father was imprisoned for embezzlement. Despite having the silver spoon pulled from her mouth, Selina refuses to stop living in luxury and becomes Catwoman as a “fun” way to maintain her lavish lifestyle.

DR. HARLEEN QUINZEL / “HARLEY QUINN” – Despite a personal and cheerful attitude, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a brilliant psychiatrist who treats some of Gotham’s elite. As Harley Quinn, however, she is a completely different person. A creepy, silent, calculating menace who secretly metes out her twisted justice on the truly despicable among her elite clientele.

COMMISSIONER JIM GORDON – Gordon, a former police officer nearing retirement, is hired to play along with the corrupt system and run out the clock until he can get a pension. But they seriously underestimated Jim Gordon. His untouchable character brings him into conflict with both dirty cops and corrupt politicians. Not to mention, he has to deal with a deranged vigilante beating up Gotham’s criminals.

CLAY FACE – Thanks to his ‘unique’ facial features, film actor Basil Karlo has forever been characterized as a heavy B-movie. Frustrated by the limitations his appearance placed on both his career and personal life (he fell hopelessly in love with his co-star), Karlo turned to an experimental serum that promised to transform his face. However, this serum not only eventually disfigures his face, but it also tears apart the last of his sanity, creating the tragic, vengeful villain Clayface.

First announced in 2021, Hooded crusader was pitched in the early days of HBO Max as a “thrilling, cinematic and evocative tale of Batman’s noir roots,” before it was rebranded as Max and waves of highly questionable cost-cutting left the show in limbo. In March 2023, the series was saved from cancellation by Amazon’s Prime Video, with at least two seasons in the works.

Batman: Hooded Crusader will premiere its ten-episode first season on Prime Video on August 1. Check out the sample images below.

Image: Primevideo