HBO Max has flipped the Bat-Signal to full-power for a series commitment to a drama set in the Gotham police department from Matt Reeves and Terrence Winter.
Set in in the universe that Reeves is creating for his THE BATMAN film, the untitled series is meant to serve as a springboard for a new Batman universe across multiple platforms. Details about the series are scarce at this time, though the project is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City. It's also the first announced under Reeves’ new overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. (via Variety)
“This is an amazing opportunity, not only to expand the vision of the world I am creating in the film but to explore it in the kind of depth and detail that only a long-form format can afford — and getting to work with the incredibly talented Terence Winter, who has written so insightfully and powerfully about worlds of crime and corruption, is an absolute dream,” Reeves said.
Winter will write and executive produce the series. Meanwhile, Reeves will executive produce via his 6th & Idaho studio alongside the company’s Daniel Pipski and Adam Kassan. Dylan Clark will also executive produce with 6th & Idaho’s Rafi Crohn, who is set to co-executive produce.
“We are so fortunate to have such great partners in Matt, Dylan, and Terry and unprecedented access to a wealth of IP from our partners at Warner Bros. and DC,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max.
As you're likely to know, Reeves is currently directing and producing THE BATMAN, which is scheduled to swing into theaters in October 2021. Other films directed by Reeves include CLOVERFIELD, LET ME IN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, and WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES. As for Winter, previously served as a writer, executive producer, and director on a little show you might have heard of for HBO called THE SOPRANOS. Winter had been nominated for 12 Emmys thanks to his work on the Mafia-related drama, winning four. He then focused his efforts on creating the period drama series BOARDWALK EMPIRE for HBO, in addition to co-creating HBO's VINYL. He had served as showrunner for both shows as well. Oh, and if you dug Martin Scorsese's THE WOLF OF WALLSTREET, it was Winter who wrote the screenplay for that bad boy.
“Our collaboration with Warner Bros. and DC allows us to elaborate and grow fan connections across these powerful brands for years to come,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer of HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS, and truTV.“ This is Batman as most audiences have never seen before and we know fans will want to spend more time in this new world inspired by the film.”
Holy prime opportunity, Batman! Have any of you ever read DC's Gotham Central comic book series? Created by Greg Rucka (THE OLD GUARD), Ed Brubaker, and Michael Lark, Gotham Central presents a hard-boiled look at officers working for the Gotham City Police Department and the struggles they face while working in Gotham City, and alongside the Batman. Trading superhero shenanigans for a gritty crime thriller approach, the series follows detectives Marcus Driver, Romy Chandler, Renee Montoya, Crispus Allen and Josephine "Josie Mac" MacDonald, as well as their superiors Commissioner Michael Akins, Captain Margaret "Maggie" Sawyer, and Lieutenant Ron Probson.
My educated guess is that whatever Reeves and Winter are cooking up will bear a strong resemblance to Gotham Central. To be clear, I say this in hope and not with any inside knowledge about the upcoming project. I'm of the mind that Gotham Central is one of DC's unsung heroes of their publishing line, and I would love to see something like it land on HBO Max.