Even with The Batman opening with enormous success, the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) prequel series for HBO Max has been canceled. This was one of two planned series spin-offs of Matt Reeves’ film for the streaming service, with the other one centered on the rise of Colin Farrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin. While the latter series is still moving forward, this planned prequel series about corruption in the GCPD and the initial rise of Batman has now been shelved. Reeves revealed this news in an interview on Monday’s Happy Sad Confused podcast episode.
Reeves had announced this possible spin-off at DC FanDome in 2020, saying it would have primarily been based on Frank Miller’s comic Year One, which is one of the most acclaimed Batman comics of all time. However, the good news is that there will still be another Batman HBO Max series alongside the Penguin-focused series. The series is now looking to be focused on Arkham Asylum. This could be an opportunity to focus attention on some significant Batman villains, and there are many acclaimed comics focused on Arkham Asylum that could serve as inspiration, such as Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth which was the source material for the critically-praised Arkham Asylum video game from 2009.
The Batman has garnered high box-office success, and critics and moviegoers have praised the film, particularly for its impressive visuals and strong performances from the cast.  Zoë Kravitz and Paul Dano, in particular, have been praised for their performances as Catwoman and the Riddler, respectively. If you want to know what we think, check out our review of The Batman.
Are you disappointed that this GCPD prequel series to The Batman has been canceled? Or are you excited to see the HBO Max focus more on Arkham Asylum? Share your thoughts at The Nerd Stash Facebook page or @TheNerdStash on Twitter. And don’t forget to like and follow.