Batman Beyond Concept Art From Cancelled Film Has Some Serious Spider-Verse Vibes

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Ever since the final episode of the Batman Beyond animated series aired, fans have been clamouring for a potential revival of the property through a big-screen treatment. With how successful Sony’s Spider-Verse films have been, it’s not hard to see the logic that many fans have followed: give Terry McGinnis a shot at shining on the silver screen. Well, we now have an idea of what that might look like, as concept art from a cancelled Batman Beyond animated film has made its way online.

The artwork was shared online by production designer Yuhki Demers and filmmaker Patrick Harpin, creator of My Dad the Bounty Hunter. The duo revealed that they pitched an animated film featuring the futuristic Caped Crusader to Warner Bros. last year.

“We pitched the outline for the entire film, and what started as a ‘never’ turned into a ‘maybe’,” said Yuhki Demers and Patrick Harpin in a post on social media. The artists revealed that they’ve been working their way up the company in hopes of reaching James Gunn.

After releasing the concept art online, Demers is now campaigning for the film’s resurrection. Telling fans to share the artwork, Demers and Harpin are hoping the news makes its way up to Gunn, followed by an official greenlight for the film. The concept art shows moody shots of Batman in Gotham City, with one piece showing that Inque was set to be one of the villains in the film. The art style is very similar to that of the Spider-Verse films, which makes sense considering Demers worked on those films.

Yuhki Demers/Patrick Harpin.

Batman Beyond concept art by Yuhki Demers/Patrick Harpin.

Batman Beyond concept art by Yuhki Demers/Patrick Harpin.

Batman Beyond concept art by Yuhki Demers/Patrick Harpin.

James Gunn recently expressed interest in working with Phil Lord and Chris Miller, writers and producers on the Spider-Verse films, for a project set in the DCU. With Warner Bros. actively developing Elseworld projects set outside the DCU continuity, a Batman Beyond project can fit in perfectly.

Earlier last year there were reports of WB working on a live-action Batman Beyond adaptation, with Michael Keaton reprising the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the project after his debut in The Flash. While that never came to fruition thanks to many managerial changes at WB, an animated feature would probably prove less of a hassle.

Related: Every Superhero Film Coming In 2024

The DCU will get a fresh start with James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy in 2025. Until then, look forward to Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux releasing on October 4, 2024.