When the green light was given for a Batman-free Gotham series, it’s understandable why a lot of fans were upset since the potential for a Batman series is strong (though I still think Arrow is essentially giving it to us, playing off the Batman Begins script in a lot of ways). Doing something similar to Gotham Central but focusing on Jim Gordon can give us a Gotham CSI series which could frustrate fans but provide something rather fun and accessible outside of fandom. But now things seem to be changing for the Warner Bros. series that will air on Fox as some casting news has surfaced that reveals the timeline of the series. While most people expected Batman to operate in the shadows and be talked about, this is a pre-Batman series according to the casting information:
“A 10-year-old Bruce Wayne is among the roles that are now being cast as series regulars on the upcoming Fox TV series “Gotham” which explores the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham City famous. Under development for over a year, the project has now been given a direct-to-series order by the network, which won an intense bidding war for the Warner Bros. Television rights to the show. Shooting on the pilot episode will get underway in March, 2014 and will center on Gotham City PD rookie homicide detective James Gordon who investigates the double murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.”
Not surprisingly, a lot of comics fans are reacting badly, but there’s a good bit of potential here based on what they do with it. Seeding a city full of villains from Batman’s world before they became “super” villains works well since a significant number of his opponents are all real world, crime based types that can be going through their first tastes of evil here. Though it won’t go quite as far, it’s easy to imagine the series working a kind of Seven film style crime drama here, while bringing in young Bruce in the background gives a chance for a bit of humanity and to show a side of him that has rarely been dealt with in the comics over the years. And that could add some interesting nuance to it.
[Source: TV Show Auditions]
