Prime Video’s new series, Bat-Fam, offers a fresh take on the iconic Wayne Manor, now home to Batman, Alfred, Damian Wayne, a surprising group of reformed villains, and even a somewhat grumpy cat. True to its name, Bat-Fam centers on this unconventional family, with a particularly charming addition: a little version of Batman learning the ropes of heroism. ComicBook recently spoke with the show’s creators and cast, who revealed the show’s focus on family, the comedic antics of Pap Pap Ra’s Al Ghul, a more playful side of Batman, and the debut of a truly unique midlife crisis Batmobile.
Originally conceived as a movie called Merry Little Batman, which featured Batman (voiced by Luke Wilson), Little Batman (Yonas Kibreab), and Alfred Pennyworth (James Cromwell), Bat-Fam revisits these characters and adds several new residents to Wayne Manor. Showrunner Mike Roth explains how this initially small, everyday story evolved into a much larger and funnier series.
We loved the original movie, but felt it only showed a small part of this world. We wanted to explore Bruce and Damian’s relationship more deeply, and bringing in more family members seemed like the perfect way to do that. We thought it would be interesting to see how characters like Ra’s Al Ghul, Damian’s grandfather and the former head of the League of Shadows, would challenge Bruce’s parenting style alongside Alfred. We also had fun imagining a character like Man-Bat living in the house. Ultimately, we just wanted to expand on everything we enjoyed about the first movie and see as much of that world as possible.
Even with a lot of other characters around, the show remembers this is still Batman’s story. It presents a lighter, more approachable Batman who fits this new setting while still feeling like the Dark Knight we know and love. According to show writer Roth, they kept all of Batman’s core traits – his careful planning, practicality, and adherence to rules – but explored what that would look like as a father. He’s still Batman, but now he’s applying those same skills to raising two kids, dealing with overbearing grandparents, and even a somewhat eccentric scientist (Man-Bat) living in his house.
Besides being Damian’s home, Wayne Manor is also where Claire, formerly the villain Volcana, lives. The show focuses on the sibling relationship between Damian and Claire, and both actors easily portrayed this dynamic, as they are siblings in real life.
Tju, the youngest of five siblings, found it easy to portray the younger sibling dynamic in the character they played. They praised their co-star, saying Yonas naturally embodied the role. Kibreab, who also has an older sister, agreed. He explained that he simply drew on his own experiences as a younger brother – like playfully teasing his sister – to connect with the character, making it a natural fit.
As a movie fan, I’m really fascinated by Claire’s arc in the series. It’s not just about her relationship with Damian – she’s on this huge journey of self-discovery, tied to her history as a villain. Actress Tju explained that the whole series is about Claire learning to trust others, which is tough because her past taught her not to trust anyone. Thankfully, Damian and Bruce are really good at helping her open up and showing her a softer side of life.
According to Roth, introducing Claire Selton brought a much-needed rebellious teenage dynamic that paired nicely with Damian, who’s always longed for an older sibling. He’s eager for their connection to succeed, while she initially seems uninterested, though the series reveals she secretly cherishes him. Roth described the development of their relationship as natural, explaining that the writers knew what they needed for both conflict and comedy. Given the vastness of Batman’s universe, they had plenty of characters to choose from and selected those who best fit their vision.
Adding to the already complicated situation is Ra’s Al Ghul, playfully called “Pap Pap.” Actor Michael Benyaer portrays Ra’s, and he shared that a friend surprisingly predicted he’d take on this famous Batman villain about ten years ago.
It’s actually quite a coincidence – we were just discussing this. About ten years ago, a friend told me I’d eventually play Ra’s al Ghul. At the time, I didn’t even know who that was, since the character wasn’t in the 1960s TV show. When I received the script, I learned he’s the grandfather, but also a former supervillain who still craves recognition. It reminded me that anyone who excels at something doesn’t want to lose touch with their past achievements.
He’s obsessed with his past as the leader of the League of Assassins and wants to be remembered for it, even when he’s old. He also desperately wants his grandson to continue his legacy, which is complicated by the fact that the boy’s father is a superhero. This creates ongoing conflict with Batman, someone he used to fight with regularly. I found the family dynamic really relatable – we all have that older relative who constantly talks about their past accomplishments, and it can be a bit much. I definitely have an uncle like that myself, always reminiscing about his ‘glory days.’
Benyaer expressed hope that Damian would become a supervillain like his grandfather, but acknowledged that Damian currently embodies Batman, making that outcome unlikely. However, he added that anything is possible and suggested Damian is subtly competing with Alfred for his grandson’s affection. He described the dynamic as a blend of family sitcoms and superhero teams, where everyone needs to cooperate, and Damian often helps out of love for his grandson, even when he doesn’t want to.
Of course, Batman needs the Batmobile, and this version doesn’t let fans down. Designer Roth jokingly called it the ‘midlife crisis’ Batmobile, and it’s wonderfully over-the-top and a bit ridiculous.
The initial concept for the large scale of everything came from wanting to visually emphasize how small Damian was compared to his surroundings, particularly his vehicle. While that sparked the idea, there wasn’t one single source of inspiration, according to Roth. They based their portrayal of Bruce Wayne on the experiences of being a parent – drawing from their own lives and the lives of friends. They asked themselves what a Batmobile would look like for a father in the midst of a midlife crisis who is also raising an eight-year-old.
Roth described the new Batmobile as a powerful, over-the-top hot rod, representing a long-held desire for Bruce Wayne to fully embrace his persona. He compared it to a Lamborghini, emphasizing its powerful engine and sleek design. He explained that the film allows them to explore both the intimidating and humorous sides of Batman and his vehicle, creating a dynamic contrast.
Bat-Fam is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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2025-11-14 18:43