THE BATMAN: Original HBO Max Spinoff Writer Joe Barton Recalls Being Fired By Warner Bros.

THE BATMAN: Original HBO Max Spinoff Writer Joe Barton Recalls Being Fired By Warner Bros.

Joe Barton was tasked with taking charge of that HBO Max series focusing on a corrupt cop in Gotham City, but with it scrapped since The Batman's release, he's now reflecting on being fired by Warner Bros.

By JoshWilding - Jun 11, 2022 02:06 PM EST
Filed Under: The Batman
Source: The Telegraph

Original plans for The Batman's first HBO Max spinoff called for the show to focus on a corrupt cop in the Gotham City Police Department. Set during "Year One" of the Dark Knight's vigilante career, Jim Gordon was expected to appear, though many fans questioned why Warner Bros. was developing a project that sounded so similar to FOX's Gotham.

Since the DC Comics movie arrived in theaters, the streaming service has decided to prioritise a show focusing on Colin Farrell's Penguin, while that GCPD project has now shifted focus to Arkham State Hospital (with the expectation being that The Joker and The Riddler will take centre stage).

Terence Winter was first tasked with developing the corrupt cop idea, though Joe Barton was later chosen as his replacement. With the show now scrapped, Barton opened up on his unceremonious firing during a recent interview with The Telegraph.

"The Wire set in Gotham City, is the lazy pitch," he said of the show's premise, adding: "I gave the script over in November and HBO called to say they loved it and they were really excited. And then in January my agent called to say I’d been fired."

"If you’re going to get fired from a massive franchise, don’t do it two months before the film comes out. I saw Batman everywhere," he continued, recalling having to take notes on a script over the phone in the rain, with only one place to take shelter. "Underneath a f***ing Batman poster. It was like being haunted by Fathers 4 Justice."

It's a shame for Barton that his vision for Gotham City will go unseen, but between those similarities to Gotham and his comparisons to The Wire, we can't help but think the story would have been an overly familiar one. Either way, with that Penguin show now a priority, we simply don't know when that new take set in Arkham will find its way onto HBO Max. 

The Batman 2 has been officially announced, but there's no word on a release date yet.

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regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 6/11/2022, 2:20 PM
Kind of OT but watch WE OWN THIS CITY if you need a Wire fix. Jon Bernthal gave what might be his best performance and it’s just an all around crazy story.

Only 6 episodes.

Forthas
Forthas - 6/11/2022, 2:27 PM
I am on board with the grounded approach that they are taking and should take with EVERY DC Character. So it is a shame that he did not get a chance to show off the corrupt Gotham City. What they should have done is make it based on the Dark Knight world. Then they would have had marquee actors like Gary Oldman and they would certainly green light it. In addition if they began to tie it to Man of Steel with cameo's from the people the worked for the the Daily Planet and this would have been the biggest hit on HBO Max Ever.

But no! We are still mired in mediocrity. The Batman really has not gotten anyone excited about the world it created so it makes sense that they would realize a Gotham series with no marquee actors and no established world building would have likely not worked. Which is why I have my doubts about a Penguin show.
Nightmare
Nightmare - 6/11/2022, 3:01 PM
Barton went on to reveal that he had to receive notes on a script in the pouring rain and the only place he could find shelter was "Underneath a f—ing Batman poster. It was like being haunted by Fathers 4 Justice."


DCasAhobby
DCasAhobby - 6/11/2022, 3:24 PM
He dodged a bullet.

Give Feige a call bro
JFerguson
JFerguson - 6/11/2022, 5:06 PM
These series don't exactly get me excited.
The fact that they connect to The Batman movies is a great feat, but the lack of fantastical elements in this universe doesn't make it seem like these are series for me.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 6/11/2022, 5:43 PM
Very unprofessional from HBO of all places to terminate like that one of their employees. And tbh I was never that excited about their quick-cash grab that was this GCPD show.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 6/11/2022, 7:52 PM
That’s [frick]ED UP.
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