Commissioner Gordon drama headed to Fox

US broadcaster Fox has sent a drama based on Batman character Commissioner James Gordon straight to series.

Gotham is based on a DC Comic book and tells the story of Gordon’s police career years before he met Batman and became commissioner.

It comes from Warner Bros. Television and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will handle international sales. The Mentalist showrunner Bruno Heller will write and executive produce the show.

Straight-to-series orders are rare on US network TV. CBS did employ the tactic for Stephen Spielberg-backed drama Extant, which is due to broadcast next year.