A new Batman series entitled Gotham is currently in the works. With a Smallville-meets-Christopher Nolan backdrop, the FOX series will bring the origins of the Caped Crusader to live-action.

When Fox announced Gotham in September, the channel described it as the story of Commissioner James Gordon. At Monday's Television Critics Association press tour, however, Kevin Reilly, Fox's chairman of entertainment, revealed the true backstory of the upcoming series.

"This is an origin story for young Bruce Wayne," Reilly said. "[The show is about] Gotham on the brink...how they all became who they were, what events led up to these characters becoming Catwoman [etc.]"

Other enemies of Bruce Wayne slated to appear include Riddler, Penguin and Joker. In addition, Commissioner Gordon will still get a role in the show.

Similarly to Smallville (WB's live-action series depicting Clark Kent's high school years), Gotham will show Bruce Wayne making his way to the cape. Reilly estimates that Bruce Wayne's story will begin starting at the age of 13. It will not be until the last episode, however, that Bruce Wayne will put on his cape, IGN reports.

"The actor will grow-up," Reilly said. "If we do our job well, he'll be a young man and ready [to be Batman] by the end. Which isn't to say we might not skip ahead."

The series will take inspiration from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, with dark tones and themes. Both the villains and Bruce Wayne himself will see slow, detailed character development.

"We're arcing to that," Reilly explained. "We're not starting in that world where the villains are in costume. You see markers for it that are kind of delicious. You begin to see the evolution of the eccentricities that become those characters, but you really sort of arc there. We don't start out in capes and costumes."

Reilly stated that Warner Brothers is hoping for 22 episodes, but it has yet to be determined how many episodes there will be or when Gotham will premiere.

According to Deadline, Danny Cannon will direct, and the show will set up its writer's room in mid-February.

Related