From the official poster for ‘Batman: Caped Crusader.’
In August 2022, following the abrupt cancellation of the already-completed Batgirl film, HBO Max continued its massacre on the DC Universe by scrapping several in-development projects, including the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader.
The other HBO Max originals — which were also animated — that got the boot were:
- Merry Little Batman
- The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
- Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical
- Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story
- The Amazing World of Gumball: The Movie
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The much-anticipated animation received a straight-to-series order from HBO Max nearly two years ago, so what happened? Why was Batman: Caped Crusader canceled at HBO Max? Keep reading for all the known details. Plus, stick around to find out how the show landed a deal with Amazon.
From the official poster for ‘Batman: Caped Crusader.’
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Why was ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ canceled at HBO Max?
On Aug. 22, 2022, Variety reported that HBO Max canceled six animation projects, including Batman: Caped Crusader. The show initially received a straight-to-series order in May 2021, with Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves set to executive produce.
For those unaware, Batman: Caped Crusader would’ve functioned as a spiritual successor to the esteemed ’90s animated series Batman: The Animated Series. The animation, which Bruce Timm co-developed and co-created, is considered one of the greatest animated shows ever and arguably the best superhero show overall.
So, what went wrong? Why did HBO Max cancel Batman: Caped Crusader?
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Batman in ‘Batman: The Animated Series.’
If you recall, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav previously announced that HBO Max would shift away from kids and family programming; by Aug. 18, the streaming service scrubbed nearly 40 titles, most of which were animated shows.
Unfortunately, Batman: Caped Crusader no longer corresponded with the image David Zaslav was trying to create for the DC Universe on HBO Max. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean the animated series won’t work elsewhere.
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‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ received a two-season order at Amazon.
Although Batman: Caped Crusader didn’t move forward at HBO Max, the series will have the opportunity to reach audiences on a new network or streaming service. In fact, the series recently received a two-season order at Amazon!
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On March 9, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter relayed the news and stated that the show was “sold to a streaming rival as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to monetize content by selling projects to third-party buyers.”
The outlet also noted that formal deals have not yet closed.
“We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City,” J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves said in a joint statement when Caped Crusader was first announced for HBO Max. “The series will be thrilling, cinematic, and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.”
Here’s to new beginnings, and we can’t wait to see Batman: Caped Crusader when it drops on Prime Video!
Source: https://www.distractify.com/p/why-was-batman-caped-crusader-canceled-hbo-max
