Christopher Nolan’s Batman series is over and WB’s wants to reboot. I feel that WB’s should look towards Batman: The Animated Series for inspiration for this new Batman series. Batman: The Animated Series has been called the best portrayal of Batman in any entertainment medium. The animated series also served as an inspiration for the video game series Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. This new film series should have some influence from the animated series and here are 5 reason of what they should add from it.
Harvey Dent's And His Demons
One of my favorite Batman villains of all time is Two-Face but I haven’t been happy with his portrayal on the big screen. I loved Billy Dee Williams’s performance as Harvey Dent but I wished we could see more of a bond of a friendship between Dent and Bruce Wayne. I wished we could have seen Billy’s portrayal of Two-Face. I like Tommy Lee Jones as an actor but you were pitiful as Two-Face. I loved Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent and Two-Face but I was disappointed how Two-Face kind of became the Venom in The Dark Knight in terms of screen time. The one thing the animated series did well is that they didn’t introduce Two-Face right away; they had Harvey Dent be in many episodes before we saw him as Two-Face. We saw Harvey’s dark side and him go to therapy in the animated series. The films never really explored Harvey’s other side which was called in the animated series as Big Bad Harv. The only time we saw something like Big Bad Harv was in The Dark Knight when Harvey was about to kill that criminal before Batman stopped him but at the same time, the criminal confirmed via his nametag that Rachel was the Joker’s next victim and since Dent is in a relationship with her it’s only common sense that he would try to protect her so that’s more why he did it than Big Bad Harv.
In the new Batman series, Harvey Dent and Two-Face shouldn’t be introduced in the same film. Show people Harvey’s acts as the DA, show Harvey’s demons and his Big Bad Harv side. The way a film should end is having Harvey Dent’s face half burned by a situation and have the audience see his face and then end the film, saving Two-Face for the next film.
Mr. Freeze
One of my favorite Batman villains also is Mr. Freeze. I liked how Joel Schumacher had parts of the animated series in Batman & Robin in terms of Freeze’s wife but I feel he missed the point. I didn’t understand why Freeze would commit crimes and try to freeze Gotham instead of finding a cure for his wife. It didn’t make sense. Mr. Freeze in the new Batman series should be a villain like Sandman or Doc Ock where the audience feels sorry for. Mr. Freeze needs to have 2 goals: finding a cure for his wife & seek vengeance on the men who took Nora and created him. Don’t go by the New 52 Freeze story but I strongly suggest doing a costume similar to the New 52 Freeze because it is awesome. The Heart of Ice episode which was the first episode of Mr. Freeze in the animated series has been called the best episode in the entire series. Mr. Freeze is one of the villains who need to be reintroduced and needs redemption from the pitiful Batman & Robin film. If Bane, who was portrayal way worse than Freeze, could find redemption from that film than Freeze could.
More Modern Robin
I’m talking about Dick Grayson here. When I say older Robin I mean Dick should be Robin around the ages of 17-19. Dick shouldn’t be 25ish and he shouldn’t be 15. 17-19 is a good age to have Dick Grayson as Robin. It worked well in the animated series. Another thing is his suit. Despite it’s not from Batman: The Animated Series, Dick’s Robin suit should look like the one in Arkham City minus the hood and add green on some of the areas where there is black.
Batgirl's introduction
They didn’t get shit right about Batgirl in Batman & Robin. When the time comes to introduce Batgirl she needs to be done right. In the animated series we see her before she turns into Batgirl. It’s important to showcase characters who we know what will happen to them. First off we need in a movie for a situation to happen to Barbara where Batman saves her and she is inspirited by Batman and we see her drawing ideas of a Batgirl suit. In another movie where she will be Batgirl, she needs to be introduced as Batgirl in one situation and one only: a situation where Commissioner Gordon is in danger. It shows a father-daughter bond. In Batman: The Animated Series, she was Batgirl in a situation where her father was being blackmailed by Two-Face. We need a situation like that. In The Batman, Batman and Batgirl have a talk after Batgirl’s first episode and Batman said after Batgirl helped him save Gordon and stop Ivy, “Not every child has the opportunity to save their parents. I think it would be better if you tell him.” Another thing is when Batman figures out who Batgirl is, he shouldn’t tell Dick. This will create conflict and we will see how Dick goes from Robin to Nightwing.
Harley, Harley, Harley Quinn
Did you think that I would mention the animated series without including her? This really doesn’t need to be discussed about any further. One of the many legacies that Batman: The Animated Series has is the introduction of the popular Batman villain: Harley Quinn. Harley is without a doubt the most popular Batman villain that hasn’t been on the big screen. Harley needs to be introduced in the Batman reboot without a doubt. We know Batman’s origin, we know Joker’s origin, audiences kind of know Robin’s origin, but most people don’t know Harley’s origin. A good way to go with the first film is introducing Harley because the Joker is envious at how Batman & Robin always stopping him and when Batman takes Joker back to Arkham, he is met by Harley. Joker tries to make her his sidekick. One thing that needs to happen in a movie like that is having Harley wear her original outfit. Let’s not go with the Arkham Asylum outfit just yet. Also Dini needs to be involved since he created Harley. Harley needs to be in the reboot no questions asked.
So what do you think? Do you like these suggestions? Comment below. Peace.