New DC Release Will Finally Give us What Ben Affleck’s Cancelled Batman Movie Couldn’t

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While Ben Affleck’s planned Batman movie won’t be made, elements of its story will appear in a new project. Fans were hoping for a solo film starring Affleck’s version of the Dark Knight, but it never happened. Details of the original plot revealed that Batman would have been imprisoned in Arkham Asylum, struggling to escape.

Although a certain movie won’t be made, a new comic book series might satisfy fans who’ve been hoping for a similar story. At a recent comics conference, DC announced several exciting upcoming titles, including new Absolute editions like Absolute Green Arrow. They’ll also be publishing Barbara Gordon: Breakout, a story by Mariko Tamaki and Amancay Nahuelpan. In it, Barbara Gordon is arrested and imprisoned in Supermax, a dangerous prison full of criminals and untrustworthy guards. She’ll have to rely on her own strength and resourcefulness to escape.

Barbara Gordon: Breakout is the Idea We’ve Been Waiting Years to See

This comic feels like it’s inspired by a lot of abandoned projects, beyond just Ben Affleck’s unreleased Batman movie. I’m getting strong vibes from the never-made HBO Arkham Asylum series, and even the scrapped Green Arrow: Escape from Supermax film – it even uses the same ‘Supermax’ name and a similar premise of wrongful imprisonment. While the creators, Tamaki and Nahuelpan, undoubtedly have their own unique ideas, it’s neat to see how much this comic echoes these previously unrealized visions.

It’s strange to me that while other DC “Next Level” comics are giving characters exciting new stories, Barbara Gordon is currently imprisoned. It’s true that Vandal Savage has been steadily targeting the Bat-Family, and it seems like their situation will only worsen. Even if Barbara escapes – and I believe she will – what happens next? Will she remain on the run, or is DC setting up a larger story arc for her?

This comic isn’t a retelling of Ben Affleck’s unmade movie, but it really captures the same thrilling and dramatic feeling those canceled DC projects would have delivered. Beyond the storyline of Barbara Gordon being in prison, I’m really curious to see where this goes. I’m hoping the creators have some exciting ideas, because there’s a lot of potential in putting a hero in such a precarious situation. While we might not have seen this story on the big screen, Barbara Gordon: Breakout could bring that vision to life.

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2026-02-21 19:40