'Batman Beyond': Why the world needs to see Terry McGinnis suit up as Batman again either in a movie or in another series
2019 may have seen Bruce Wayne hang up his suit as the Dark Knight in the DC Animated Universe, but it also marked the 20th anniversary of 'Batman Beyond'. Back in the day, 'Batman: The Animated Series' and 'The New Batman Adventures' were instant successes and WB and DC decided to bring in a new Batman into the fold. What's more, he would be mentored by Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin Conroy).
What followed was a series that garnered positive critical acclaim and lent a new dimension to the series. This year's San Diego Comic-Con sparked hopes of a revival, however, fans were left disappointed when it was announced that 41 of the 52 episodes were fully remastered and that would be it. A revival plan would be made for the near future based on how this remastered series would go about.
And since we're talking about the revival, it makes sense to bring in a new iteration of the Batman. To start with, it would present to the world a new Batman in Terry McGinnis. Sure, he is no Bruce Wayne, but he is still compelling enough as the series didn't mold him in the same cast as Bruce. This one's wise-cracking and stubborn, not to mention, a hero with a bit of a mouth.
To begin with, there's enough backstory to go on with. Terry donned the suit as a teen. School in the morning and savage crime-fighting at night and this gave him a more dual role quality. This also meant he was juggling two lifestyles making it a harder journey as the Bat. The live-action film could also showcased something never showed before— The Bat mantle being passed down to a strapping gen-next teen. This could mean building on the Terry-Bruce dynamic. The creators could probably use the same plot as the animated series. (Refer to 'Rebirth'— the pilot).
The dynamic could also shed light on how the duo worked. Terry's impulsiveness versus Bruce's wait-and-watch method was always a debate in 'Batman Beyond' and this could be explored on screen. Adding to this is the futuristic vibe the movie/series could bring in. Set in the future, this could be a Neo-Gotham time. Portray it with the same grim and dark shades of the old Gotham and the facelift looks more menacing and a perfect starting place for Terry as the masked vigilante. This would also mean immense tech advancements and we'd see Terry rocking a killer Bat suit. Simply put, make this a more cyberpunk world.
The movie also lends scope for introducing deadly, new villains. Like Bruce's many arch-nemesis', Terry could have his own bunch of baddies. For instance, his biggest foe in the animated series was Derek Powers aka Blight. Add the Royal Flush Gang, Inque and Spellbinder to the mix, there's enough for the Bat to get into a scrimmage with. Not to mention, each of these villains are formidable opponents.
Ultimately, a 'Batman Beyond' movie can be a different, single project. The series didn't require a thorough knowledge of Bruce's time as the Batman and basics would be enough to understand the references. This one would be all about Terry McGinnis. With new villains and a new setting to boot, this could work well as a standalone movie.
'Batman Beyond' isn't just about another day in the life of Batman. It doesn't project Terry as Wayne's college-kid self, but what it does do is show the world that Batman has evolved over time and that the moment is right for Bruce's successor to announce himself. Isn't that a good enough reason for a movie?