The potential "Smallville" replacement "The Graysons," focusing on Dick Grayson and his family pre-Batman, has been scrapped, Variety reports. Apparently WB studio had Jeff Robinov had gave his blessing on the series -- only to take it away over the last couple of days. The reason? There is speculation that director Christopher Nolan, who has made it clear he doesn't want a Robin in his Batman movies, might have played a role. But Variety quotes sources as saying that the decision was all Robinov's, not Nolan's.
In particular, insiders claim that Robinov has ordered the WB to "rethink its DC Comics strategy."
From the official Warner Brothers statement:
"The studio has opted not to go forward with the development of 'The Graysons' at this time as the concept doesn't fit the current strategy for the Batman franchise. Warner Bros. Television is currently working on several replacement options for the CW."
How is the WB rethinking this strategy of adapting DC Comics characters for both the big and small screen? Were they afraid that having a Batman-themed (however tenuous the connection) TV show would water-down the movie franchise? Was Robinov afraid of alienating Nolan? And did proposed events in "Batman RIP" -- which might change the status quo of Dick Grayson and Robin forever -- have an impact on the decision?
Or, if WB is aiming for perfect synergy between their movies, TV shows, and other entertainment properties, does "Batman RIP" itself pose a problem?
Stay tuned: same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel. Or not.
story found via Blog@Newsarama
maybe because of this
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shortpacked.com/d/20081007.html
they didnt do the series.
I don't know what entertainment execs are thinking sometimes.
ReplyDeleteA show about Robin not being Robin? BRILLIANT!!!
Sorry for the sarcasm but honestly... the most compelling aspect of Robin's character is Batman and the screwy Father/Son relationship with Bats. There doesn't seem to be much more to dick grayson than that. Unlike Clark Kent who is so much more than just Superman, but a symbol of everyman (something morrison illustrated brilliantly in All Star Superman).I guess that's why Smallville has worked (?).
Instead, a weekly show should be developed to showcase one of the most important characters of the Batman mythos... Gotham City.
The city itself is so much more than just a backdrop, but an actual living, breathing entity (something dearly missed from the dark knight movie). With the city as a main element, any and all characters could be brought in and storys developed.
Something like that could run for a long, long time if carefully handled in a 'smallville' manner.
I'm sure it's been done in print, but I've been in a comic book coma for 11 years so i wouldn't know.
Thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteThe "rethinking DC Comics Strategy" bit sounds ominous, but I can see where they're coming from, given Robinov's statements about darkening their franchises following Dark Knight.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...would that be "darketing"?
Anyways, I'm sure the hook was just to try to capitalize on the youth market with an established character (in the same way that Smallville did). Robin isn't quite ideal for that in the same way "Superboy" was. Honestly, though, given the companies' histories, I doubt if the editorial efforts of DC Comics drive WB's decisions in any way. If a deal was in the making, even if Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, Stephanie Brown AND Jason Todd were to be simultaneously assassinated in the comics, they would still go forward with the show if they thought it was going to be successful.
Hell, characters can always be resurrected if there's money to be made. If I remember correctly, Alfred was dead in the comics when the Batman TV show came on the air. Only when he turned out to be a popular character on the show did they bring him back in the books.
-greyman24
Terrible idea.
ReplyDeleteMake a "Question" series using Renee Montoya and set it in Gotham.
GOOD!
ReplyDeleteThis show was THE dumbest idea. As Matty said there's nothing compelling about Dick Grayson before he becomes Robin.
If they were gonna do that kinda Year One show, it should be about Bats himself. I could so totally see a Batman TV show working in his formative years, when he first puts on the costume. They could basically take the roots from Year One and expand it.
The first season could take what Begins did and draw it out over a seris of episodes, like the first one or two he doesn't have a costume until he realizes he needs it to instill the proper fear. There could also be the subplot of Gordon coming to Gotham and dealing with the corrupt PD, and his relationship with Bats beginning to form.
Second season can go on into the restructuring of Gotham after taking down the crooked administration and more psychos per capita. INCLUDING the Joker, played by someone but voiced by Mark Hamil. I'm sorry, but there just isn't any other Joker voice for me.
And, just to keep up the town naming theme, it could be called Gotham.
I don't think anything Robinov does is done for anything other than insanity anymore.
ReplyDeleteJeff Robinov is the new Jon Peters.
Um.... why don't they make a backdoor pilot of the Graysons on Smallville, like they did with Aquaman?
ReplyDeleteSee how the fans react.
Ooooh... what if Superboy saved the Graysons during that fatal trapeze act?
Adair,
ReplyDeleteAre you serious?
I'm late on this, but I agree with Lysan. Thank Goodness! We don't need to burn out this comicbook craze, we have to try and instill and a norm in entertainment like eastern asia with it's manga and toons.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I forget who said, I like Renee, but ya, do Denny's Question series. That would be incredible.
I think WB is realizing that they don't have to do a superhero series through the backdoor a la "Smallville." The success of "Iron Man" and "Dark Knight" show that audiences will watch people with crazy powers AND crazier costumes.
ReplyDeletePlus, the idea sucked. Although I would've watched if Dick was part of a circus like the one in "Freaks." A to the W to the E to the SOMEZ!
Maybe they just realised it'd be hard to promote a show where everyone knows that the main character's parents are going to get murdered sometime in the vague future.
ReplyDelete