Batman Series | Gotham PD | Terrence Winter | HBO Max

[Mister Pink]

 

 

Great news that Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos producer is doing a Batman TV series for HBO Max. 

 

HBO Max has given a series commitment to a drama set in the Gotham police department from Matt Reeves and Terrence Winter, Variety has learned. The untitled series will be set in the world Reeves is creating for the feature film “The Batman,” with the intent being to launch a new Batman universe across multiple platforms. It is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City. It is the first project announced under Reeves’ new overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

 

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/gotham-pd-series-hbo-max-the-batman-matt-reeves-terence-winter-1234703127/

 

Terrence Winter is a HBO legend. Anyone that's read my posts here knows how Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos are two of my favourite shows. Terrence Winter was Executive Producer and writer on The Sopranos and also creator of Boardwalk Empire as well as having Executive Producer and writing credits. Needless to say this man knows how to write crime TV series. He also wrote the screenplay for The Wolf of Wall Street for Martin Scorsese, the connection being Boardwalk Empire where Scorsese was also an Exec Producer. 

 

This is why I'm thrilled he'll handle Batman, even though I'm not a superhero fan but Batman is my favourite. Love the games, the movies, some of the animated films and series and to a lesser extent comics. We know Terrence Winter will make this mature, dark, very humorous at times but never at the expense of seriousness of the show. 

 

Because it's Terrence Winter, I expect it's going to be a series that shares some of the same DNA was Nolan's Batman films. It will definitely be more of a crime-drama than some mindless action superhero film. I actually don't know Matt Reeves, so I'll look him up. 

 

Some scenes from episodes Terence Winter wrote.. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by Mister Pink

[Lonely-Martin]

This could be a bit of a game changer, IMHO. I can't help but have higher than usual expectations as, like you Mister Pink, Terrence Winter's past work is so high on my list with both The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire particularly. 

 

I love how dark the Batman world can be though, and a proper series can really lend itself to fleshing out not just a main storyline but sprinkle in many side stories and characters that fully bring a world to life.

 

I did enjoy the Gotham TV series largely about Jim Gordon, but i did like how that show paid a bit of tribute to the older more campy characters from the Batman TV show with Adam West, but this time it could be that dark but far more serious. 

 

And after movies like The Joker and even Deadpool, and shows like the darker Marvel series' on Netflix or even The Boys, I hope this one goes for it and really embraces the adult/more mature superhero culture that's growing. (Maybe then Marvel will go all in in future with characters like Blade if they resurrect/reboot those movies, lol).

 

HBO often when they get hold of a subject really do those shows so well. The aforementioned gangster series of course, The Wire, True Blood/vampires and Deadwood/the western genre etc. I'm looking forward to this one and seeing it's not only HBO but a reliable team that have only helped their shows become such favourites, I'm gonna have to keep reminding myself as it nears to keep expectations reserved, lol. Bring it on!

[Creed Bratton]

That sounds very promising. I'm especially interested in how the villains will be written, considering how well they were written in Boardwalk Empire. Characters like Gyp Rosetti and Arnold Rothstein already feel like they belong in DC universe.

[Mister Pink]

15 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

I love how dark the Batman world can be though, and a proper series can really lend itself to fleshing out not just a main storyline but sprinkle in many side stories and characters that fully bring a world to life.

 

I did enjoy the Gotham TV series largely about Jim Gordon, but i did like how that show paid a bit of tribute to the older more campy characters from the Batman TV show with Adam West, but this time it could be that dark but far more serious. 

Yes, it's a very unique world that I think shines when it leans towards darkness. I just love the art-deco city as backdrop. I know it's mostly New York but it has this almost mythical charm and very ominous presence. 

 

I've yet to check out Gotham. Would you recommend it? 

 

15 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

HBO often when they get hold of a subject really do those shows so well. The aforementioned gangster series of course, The Wire, True Blood/vampires and Deadwood/the western genre etc. I'm looking forward to this one and seeing it's not only HBO but a reliable team that have only helped their shows become such favourites, I'm gonna have to keep reminding myself as it nears to keep expectations reserved, lol. Bring it on!

Yes, I was a bit skeptical of HBO doing superhero stuff. I'm not a superhero guy with the exception of Batman of course. But I think if anyone can make enjoyable for me a superhero series it will be the production of HBO.  I can all ready see amazing set design in my head. The amazing production value. 

 

14 hours ago, Yokelsson said:

That sounds very promising. I'm especially interested in how the villains will be written, considering how well they were written in Boardwalk Empire. Characters like Gyp Rosetti and Arnold Rothstein already feel like they belong in DC universe.

2 of my favourite characters. And yeah, I can really see you mean. They could easily belong to the DC universe. 

[Zello]

A Batman TV show without Batman. No thanks.

 

Yes the people behind this show are good and have a great track record. But after Gotham which I didn't watch because of the same thing a Batman TV show without Batman I'll pass.

Edited July 13, 2020 by Zello

[Lonely-Martin]

4 hours ago, Mister Pink said:

Yes, it's a very unique world that I think shines when it leans towards darkness. I just love the art-deco city as backdrop. I know it's mostly New York but it has this almost mythical charm and very ominous presence. 

 

I've yet to check out Gotham. Would you recommend it? 

I would, but also would say it has its flaws too and to treat it more as a gap fill/guilty pleasure really. I feel it's more fun for the sake of it as it hams it up in places a bit with some characters and their quirks and some of the actors are really enjoying their roles and do their characters justice though. Donal Logue and Sean Pertwee are good here particularly, but so are some of the villains too. Great production values though.

 

It tries to mix a bit of modern teen drama with a bit of action, murder and police procedural and a bit of gangster/crime drama stuff too. It tends to keeps the superhero stuff hardly used really as it's more all about Jim Gordon pre-Batman and how Gotham starts to come apart and is made to lead it all into needing Batman. It's definitely darker and more violent though, an easy 15 and not really for the young'uns with some themes for sure, lol.

 

It was created by Bruno Heller who had some success with HBO and the Rome TV series, which I did enjoy. It was a fun show and I'd say it's well worth a try and as you're less a superhero fan as such, you'll find more here to enjoy I think while not being put off by all the typical superhero fare.

Edited July 13, 2020 by Lonely-Martin

[Creed Bratton]

15 hours ago, Zello said:

A Batman TV show without Batman. No thanks.

 

Yes the people behind this show are good and have a great track record. But after Gotham which I didn't watch because of the same thing a Batman TV show without Batman I'll pass.

Batman tends to be the most boring part of anything he's in, though.

[Lonely-Martin]

15 minutes ago, Yokelsson said:

Batman tends to be the most boring part of anything he's in, though.

Can't really disagree with that, lol.

 

With each Batman flick, it's the villains that are often so memorable when looking back. Naturally, The Joker of course (both Burton's and Nolan's, even voiced roles by Luke Skywalker). But even with the more ridiculed Forever and Returns with Val Kilmer and George Clooney, it was Tommy Lee Jones's Two Face/Jim Carrey's Nigma or even Uma Thurman's Ivy that stole the show in those. Even Arnie's sh*te turn as Freeze is more memorable than the Bat, lol. (For all the wrong reasons mind you).

 

But Penguin (Burton's), Bain (Nolan's), Catwoman (Burton's), Scarecrow (Nolan's) etc all pose such a threat in their outings all too often. Though I will say, Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman was a good turn too, good intensity in those Nolan flicks and they really are well done all round.

 

Even with Gotham I mentioned above, Bruce Wayne is nothing compared, although it is a pre-Batman show of course. But it really is a show where many villains shine and are the more memorable.

[Mister Pink]

On 7/13/2020 at 8:17 AM, Zello said:

A Batman TV show without Batman. No thanks.

 

Yes the people behind this show are good and have a great track record. But after Gotham which I didn't watch because of the same thing a Batman TV show without Batman I'll pass.

I hear what you are saying and we enjoy a lot of the same TV, so I respect your views, always man. But...   

 

"It is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City."

 

Gotham City is a very interesting city.  And Batman is a product of the corruption and crime of that city. So examining the city's corruption could be really exciting. And would be nice to see from a human point of view Batman as a mythical figure that you don't really see but people are afraid of and people knows he exists. 

 

We know Batman is we've seen all the films and shows. But I think it could be interesting to experience his existence as most people would in Gotham City, a mystery. And that might make Batman a bit more believable in a way. 

 

The common superhero narrative of good guys vs bad guys is tired and overdone. Here's the villain, here's our superhero. Guess what happens. Now we have chance to actually see Gotham. Not just from Batman's perspective but from world which produced him. Maybe Gotham City will be the star of this show like Baltimore is to The Wire. 

[Zapper]

So basically it's a crime-noir set in the seedy underbelly of Gotham City, you son of bitch I'm in. I wonder to what extent Terrence would incorporate sci-fi and fantasy elements. 

Maybe it's the next best thing now that the Netflix Marvel shows are cancelled. Is there any news if those shows will continue on Hulu?

[Jason]

I'm iffy on this. I think the idea is really cool but setting a show in a Gotham where Batman is active means Batman will be this looming threat to the criminals except he'll probably never appear. It depends how they play it I guess.

 

12 minutes ago, Zapper said:

Maybe it's the next best thing now that the Netflix Marvel shows are cancelled. Is there any news if those shows will continue on Hulu?

The Marvel Netflix shows? Those are dead in the water, Marvel Studios are doing their own thing now and will probably bring those characters in at some point in the future. It's for the best for me, those Netflix shows suffered greatly IMO cause they were basically in their own universe for all intents and purposes.

[Zapper]

16 minutes ago, Jason said:

The Marvel Netflix shows? Those are dead in the water, Marvel Studios are doing their own thing now and will probably bring those characters in at some point in the future. It's for the best for me, those Netflix shows suffered greatly IMO cause they were basically in their own universe for all intents and purposes.

That's true to some extent. Same as Deadpool not being a part of the mainstream MCU is understanble but disheartening.

I liked those NF shows because of their grimy portrayal with very much street level heroes compared to MCU. Thus they were able to explore themes that the mainstream MCU couldn't. R rated films would work well, like Deadpool, but they'll still be somewhat secondary to the mainstream flicks.

Edited July 19, 2020 by Zapper

[Zello]

On 7/18/2020 at 9:23 PM, Zapper said:

I liked those NF shows because of their grimy portrayal with very much street level heroes compared to MCU. Thus they were able to explore themes that the mainstream MCU couldn't.

I really miss them. I wish they'd come back

 

The Marvel Netflix shows were awesome.

Edited July 20, 2020 by Zello

[Mr. Scratch]

On 7/13/2020 at 10:10 AM, Mister Pink said:

 

I've yet to check out Gotham. Would you recommend it? 

 

Not really, but I would definitely recommend Pennyworth.

 

 

[Zello]

On 7/14/2020 at 10:33 AM, Mister Pink said:

I hear what you are saying and we enjoy a lot of the same TV, so I respect your views, always man. But...   

 

"It is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City."

 

Gotham City is a very interesting city.  And Batman is a product of the corruption and crime of that city. So examining the city's corruption could be really exciting. And would be nice to see from a human point of view Batman as a mythical figure that you don't really see but people are afraid of and people knows he exists. 

 

We know Batman is we've seen all the films and shows. But I think it could be interesting to experience his existence as most people would in Gotham City, a mystery. And that might make Batman a bit more believable in a way. 

 

The common superhero narrative of good guys vs bad guys is tired and overdone. Here's the villain, here's our superhero. Guess what happens. Now we have chance to actually see Gotham. Not just from Batman's perspective but from world which produced him. Maybe Gotham City will be the star of this show like Baltimore is to The Wire. 

Superhero shows are my guilty pleasure so I judge them a bit differently than I would other shows. DC Comics/Warner bros tends to have a problem with their big heroes and sharing them between the movies and TV. If they are using a particular character in a movie they say f*ck all to the TV shows and don't allow them to use them on TV going as far as to kill them off on the show. That has been a problem for years though they have been lightening up their stance recently. The shows we do get from them are not that good and are relegated to Network TV and all that comes with that like the CW (The channel with beautiful actors who can't act which has always catered to teen girls) though that looks to be changing too with their DC Universe and HBO Max shows.

 

I just want a show with Batman in it. Too many times they've done this a show without their main hero. Smallville a show about Superman without Superman, Gotham a show about Gotham without Batman, Krypton a show about Superman's planet but no superman, or they use an established character and take traits and storylines from another like what they did with Arrow turning Green Arrow into budget Batman.

 

If you ever want to dip your toes into superhero shows I'd say check out the Marvel netflix shows but a viewing order is recommended since they are all in a way connected.

Edited August 13, 2020 by Zello

[Mister Pink]

2 hours ago, Zello said:

Superhero shows are my guilty pleasure so I judge them a bit differently than I would other shows. DC Comics/Warner bros tends to have a problem with their big heroes and sharing them between the movies and TV. If they are using a particular character in a movie they say f*ck all to the TV shows and don't allow them to use them on TV going as far as to kill them off on the show. That has been a problem for years though they have been lightening up their stance recently. The shows we do get from them are not that good and are relegated to Network TV and all that comes with that like the CW (The channel with beautiful actors who can't act which has always catered to teen girls) though that looks to be changing too with their DC Universe and HBO Max shows.

 

I just want a show with Batman in it. Too many times they've done this a show without their main hero. Smallville a show about Superman without Superman, Gotham a show about Gotham without Batman, Krypton a show about Superman's planet but no superman, or they use an established character and take traits and storylines from another like what they did with Arrow turning Green Arrow into budget Batman.

 

If you ever want to dip your toes into superhero shows I'd say check out the Marvel netflix shows but a viewing order is recommended since they are all in a way connected.

I understand where you are coming from now. I suppose that idea is a bit tired, given you've come across it a lot - much more than me. I'm biased because I don't watch superhero stuff, except I do like Batman. 

 

And yeah, you know, I did watch a couple of episodes of Jessica Jones and really enjoyed them. I just got distracted by other things. What's the viewing order?  

[Zello]

13 minutes ago, Mister Pink said:

I understand where you are coming from now. I suppose that idea is a bit tired, given you've come across it a lot - much more than me. I'm biased because I don't watch superhero stuff, except I do like Batman. 

 

And yeah, you know, I did watch a couple of episodes of Jessica Jones and really enjoyed them. I just got distracted by other things. What's the viewing order?  

Usually just by order of release lol. Daredevil S1 Jessica Jones S1, Daredevil S2, Luke Cage S1, Iron Fist S1, Defenders, Punisher S1, Jessica Jones S2, Luke Cage S2, Iron Fist S2, Daredevil S3, Punisher S2, Jessica Jones S3.

 

Out of all them I think Iron Fist is the weakest. They all have their issues and are far from perfect but as far as superhero shows go they are pretty good.

 

 

I guess I'll wait and see if this Batman/Gotham City show ends up any good. Maybe it surprises me.

Edited August 14, 2020 by Zello

[Mister Pink]

On 8/22/2020 at 12:18 PM, RenegadeAngel said:

I heard he also produces a new mob show with Nicolas Pillegi(Goodfellas and Casino co-writer). Is is true?

I read this is true. Whether it comes into fruition is another story. I think Pillegi is about 88 now. I just hope it happens. It's one of the best bits of TV news I got in a while. Double-whammy from Winter!  

 

We got some news for this show.... 

 

"Reeves said the series is a prequel to his Batman Year Two movie, with the show set in Batman Year One when a “masked vigilante…starts to unsettle the city”. The series will zero in on the city’s corruption that “goes back many years,” said Reeves and is told from the POV of a crooked cop."

https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-batman-hbo-max-series-matt-reeves-teases-details-batman-year-one-1203020965/