“There is still a kind of larger-than-life element”: Bruce Timm Doesn’t Agree With Christopher Nolan’s 1 Batman Aspect That His Fans Swear By
Bruce Timm has been the backbone of DC’s animated ventures, starting from Batman: The Animated Series and eventually bringing Superman: The Animated Series to life on screen. His unique perspectives and groundbreaking ideas stay true to the source material while adeptly adding his personal touch to enrich the outcome.
DC is gearing up to release Batman: Caped Crusader which welcomes Timm back to the DC animated universe as an executive producer. Given the rise of animated projects in recent times, it comes as no surprise that DC wants to pull up its socks and let the maestros do their magic.
Bruce Timm’s Disagrees with Christopher Nolan’s Take on Batman
Filmmakers and showrunners often have different points of view when it comes to creating projects and adapting source materials for the big screen. The same is the case with Bruce Timm and Christopher Nolan, both of whom have worked on the iconic Batman character in their careers. While Timm has mostly contributed towards the animated projects, Nolan has a successful live-action Dark Knight trilogy to his name.
Both creators have a unique perspective on how to portray Batman and his gritty Gotham City world. Nolan is a director who likes his work rooted in reality and easy for the audience to connect with. On the other hand, Timm desires a more faithful adaptation that gives a nuanced nod to the comic books which this world originates from. In a conversation with Collider, Timm noted,
I think the Nolan movies are kind of a deliberate stab at grounding the movies in a kind of more believable reality than say the Schumacher or the Tim Burton movies. For instance, in Nolan’s films, Gotham City looks like a real city. However, there is still a kind of larger-than-life element to his movies even just in terms of what the Batmobile does or some of the gadgetry or even the sequence in Batman Begins where Batman goes to Tibet to learn, you know, the skills to become Batman.
To me, that is like already a step removed from the gritty, down-to-earth realism of Batman: Year One because Year One takes place entirely in an urban environment, there’s very little gadgetry, there’s no Batmobile, there’s no larger than life villains, the villains are just mob guys, you know, like crooked cops. So, that is what I mean by saying it is even more realistic than the Nolan movies.
The basic difference is in the concept of reality for both filmmakers. Nolan’s Batman reality is different from what Timm envisions it to be. His project Batman: Year One was deeply inspired by the comic books and that is what he prides himself on. He did not hamper the source material and kept the story unchanged while adding a few touches to bring it to life on screen. Timm goes on to say that he admires Nolan’s work nonetheless as another major difference comes in the budget they have to work with.
Batman: Caped Crusader Release Date
Timm’s upcoming venture Batman: Caped Crusader is already swirling in debates and discussions as the showrunner has taken some bold steps to ensure the story is not a boring repetition of the character’s lore. In the animated show, the superhero will be more realistic and tackle more inner demons than the criminals in Gotham City. Timm’s interpretation of characters has always hinted at a more nuanced approach that is loved by fans across the world.
The animated show was originally supposed to premiere on HBO Max but will now be released on Prime Video. It is said to have been influenced by the 40s noir film format, showcasing darker, more intriguing plot points. Harley Quinn is set to return to the show, as an antagonist detached from the Joker and establishing her own identity.
Batman: Caped Crusader will be released on August 1, on Prime Video.
