Amazon extends revival trend to save JJ Abrams’ ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ after HBO Max cancellation

Batman: Caped Crusader

Amazon has saved another show, this time landing former J. J. Abrams’ Batman: Caped Crusader, which had been set for HBO Max.

The animated series had been picked up by HBO Max in 2021 but the project was among six animations to be canned last year as Warner Bros. Discovery cut costs.

The show will reunite Abrams with Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm, who previously worked together on Felicity. Timm was also behind Batman: The Animated Series, which debuted 30 years ago.

Amazon has ordered two seasons, with Warner Bros. Animation producing alongside Bad Robot Productions and 6th & Idaho. The story will be based on the characters from the DC Comics, although little detail of storylines has been revealed.

Netflix, Apple and Hulu were also reportedly interested in the show, which was sold to third parties as part of WBD’s recently installed approach to distribution.

Amazon has made a series of interventions to save canned shows over the past 12 months, picking up Jeff Daniels-starring American Rust following its cancellation by Showtime and extending Almost Paradise, which originated on NewsNation (fka WGN America). It has also ordered new episodes of Australian soap Neighbours after the UK’s Channel 5 pulled the plug.