A new animated series called *Bat-Fam* is coming to Prime Video this November. It will feature a villain originally planned for a live-action Batman movie in the 1990s. Announced in 2023, the series is a spin-off from the 2023 holiday special, *Merry Little Batman*. Luke Wilson will return as Batman, alongside Yonas Kibreab as Little Batman and James Cromwell as Alfred, and the show will also introduce brand new animated DC characters.
A new character joining the series is Man-Bat, a villain who first appeared in DC Comics back in 1970. Actor Bobby Moynihan (known from *Saturday Night Live* and *The Secret Life of Pets*) will voice the character, who will surprisingly live in the belfry of Wayne Manor as the younger Bruce Wayne’s grandfather figure, despite being a longtime enemy of Batman. Man-Bat has appeared in animated DC projects before, but this marks his first time being adapted for live-action, after being considered for the role on multiple previous occasions.
Man-Bat Was part of 2 Scrapped Batman Movie Pitches
The character Man-Bat first appeared in a script for a potential *Batman Unchained* movie, a sequel to the 1997 film *Batman & Robin* starring George Clooney. However, Man-Bat was cut from that script in favor of a story featuring the Scarecrow and Harley Quinn, and *Batman Unchained* was never made. The following year, in 1998, Man-Bat was included in a script for *Batman: DarKnight*, which drew inspiration from the comic book *The Dark Knight Returns*. In this version, Jonathan Crane would accidentally turn Kirk Langstrom into Man-Bat, whose violent actions would damage Batman’s reputation and force him out of retirement.
A planned Batman movie called *DarKnight* could have been a fascinating look at the line between humanity and monstrousness, focusing on both Bruce Wayne and the villain Man-Bat. Though Warner Bros. cancelled the project in 2001, the script became available online in 2015. Man-Bat has never appeared in a live-action movie or show, but DC Studios head James Gunn recently shared on Bluesky that he’s interested in introducing the character into the new DC Universe. After being considered for the animated *Creature Commandos* series, Man-Bat may finally get his chance in live-action, possibly even in *The Brave and the Bold*.
Man-Bat isn’t planned for the upcoming DC Universe project, though I did think about including him. I would still like to see the character appear in the DCU at some point, though.
— James Gunn (@jamesgunn.bsky.social) 2025-02-01T18:02:18.179Z
The upcoming DCU film, *The Brave and the Bold*, will feature a fresh take on Batman and Robin, introducing a new Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian. The movie might explore a dynamic similar to the *Bat-Fam* animated series, hinting at a surprisingly comfortable relationship between Damian and the character Man-Bat, even with his frightening appearance. Man-Bat, a long-time Batman foe in the comics, is finally expected to appear in a live-action movie, something fans have wanted for years.
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2025-10-08 16:10