Batman Beyond - The Classic Nobody Wanted | IGN Inside Stories

Batman Beyond is undeniably a classic entry into Batman lore. Its unique vision of a futuristic Gotham and the young Terry McGinnis taking on the mantle of the Dark Knight from an aging Bruce Wayne forges an incredible new path for the Caped Crusader, but the thing is... nobody thought it was a good idea. So how did an idea nobody wanted turn into a fan favorite that's just as iconic 20 years later? This is the Inside Story of the unlikely and unwanted origins of the Batman of the Future!
With the constant studio shake ups reshaping the studio landscape, it's easy to forget that studio demands don't always lead to failure. Look no further than the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and the cancellation of Batgirl, in spite of a reported 90 million dollars already spent on the project. Back in the 90s, while Batman: The Animated Series cemented itself as THE Batman for a generation of fans, the CW owned the young demographic with shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek. So when they insisted on a teenage Batman cut from the same cloth, Batman animation stalwarts Bruce Timm, Glen Murakami and the iconic voice of Bruce Wayne himself Kevin Conroy set out to make something out of the tough hand they'd been dealt. At the time, it was an idea nobody liked, but more than 2 decades later, it's a classic.
Produced by Clint Gage
Reporting by Mike Avila
Editing by Clint Gage and Tom Jorgensen
Graphics by Kevin Cappiello
Animation by Lowbrow Studios
Illustrations by Amanda Flagg
Special Thanks to:
Stan Berkowitz
Scott Collura
Kevin Conroy
Will Friedle
Gary Miereanu
Glen Murakami
Andrea Romano
Bruce Timm
James Tucker

[@mikeglasswell-gameplay]

The intro with old batman struggling and grabbing the gun and quitting I knew this show was going to be awesome

[@justice_productions_]

Rip Kevin Conroy. The best Batman voice.

[@ajtaylor8750]

This show truly was a huge part of my childhood and ended up being one of my biggest heartbreaks when it got cancelled after 3 seasons. Seeing Terry McGinnis in live-action with Michael Keaton as Old Bruce Wayne would be the film of a lifetime for me, as well as many others who grew up on this show.

[@ilotitto]

Maybe we could wait a few years and do it with an old Christian Bale. That would be awesome.

[@Blballerboy]

Curious though, did you actually know it was cancelled back then? There was no social media or news forums like they’re are now so I had no clue. I just assumed the show moved on to justice league since it was the same Batman. Never thought it was cancelled.

[@varungk3388]

Birdman can do it 👍

[@joelmonteiro1419]

That would be the dream. I hope WB get their shit together sometime soon, but I fear the chance of booking Keaton again probably sailed already after the Batgirl fiasco.

[@carn9507]

I'd prefer Kevin Conroy who actually voiced Bruce. He looked cool as an old Bruce in the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover and I'd like to see him get a chance to play an alternate version, who didn't become a killer. Who did train a successor.

[@arcturionblade1077]

The idea of a teenaged Batman could've been terribly executed but Batman Beyond was brilliant with its design, writing, and the overarching theme of an aged Bruce mentoring a rough around the edges protégé. Plus the opening theme song was a banger!

[@paulhunter6742]

I liked fact Mcginnis was having difficulty adjusting his school and home life with long evening hours patrolling GOTHAM as New Batman. Bruce Wayne didn't give him any breaks or Cottle him.

[@reddays8448]

The show is badass and cool it’s my second favorite behind The animated series

[@TerryKashat]

As a 12 year old boy. This was an amazing series.

[@toren2099]

@@paulhunter6742 yeah that’s what makes him so awesome and Bruce I personally think he’s the softest with terry then he is what others hell in the comics he out right says he loves him he never says that to no one

[@zciliyafilms5508]

One of the things that made the show work so well is that Terry has a completely different fighting style that became instantly recognizable, a lithe, circular motion slicing attack that was satisfying as hell to watch. Terry McGinnis was one of the most inspired new superhero characters of the last several decades.

[@CorbCorbin]

Terry, is the only character I like as Batman, when it’s not Bruce. His story started as Batman, even though criminals knew it couldn’t be the same guy, he eventually became feared and respected, as he went along and showed he could be Batman, without copying Bruce. I got 1989 Batman, at 11, then the animated series, along with Batman Returns. I loved Batman Beyond, as if it was just a continuation of BTAS, at 21. I didn’t have big expectations for it, as I didn’t like comics that did Hero 2099 like stories, so it was an awesome surprise.

[@paulhunter6742]

I loved villains with Cool names like Curare'; Inque, Shreik and many others. For older fans like me, They brought back Mr Freeze, Bane and Royal Flush Gang. It was really sad what happens Bane after years on drug, Venom.

[@tristans_]

Spider-Man 2099 is great you should check out some of the comics. Really excited to see what they do with him in spider verse 2

[@2nd3rd1st]

14:22 "Batman never kills even if it means his career!" Zack Snyder: hold my lethal weapons and general disregard for human life

[@mollywoodshots6503]

Tim Burton: Hold Keaton's dynamite

[@MississippiKaijuMusic]

Joel Schumacher: Hold Killmer's coins

[@lp-xl9ld]

I remember hearing about this back in '99 and thinking "this could be interesting". Then I saw it and was totally blown away. I still think RETURN OF THE JOKER is one of the best animated features of that era, and you could make a case for it being one of the best of all time (or all Timm?)

[@WAMIV]

I remember seeing the first trailer on WB as a 9 year old and I freaked out. It was exactly what I wanted even as a child

[@jamesgarrett8833]

Some of my earliest memories are episodes of this show. Its remains a big part of my childhood into the Static Shock days and into the Justice League Unlimited days. This show is amazing

[@glennwelsh9784]

Still holding out hope for a live-action Batman Beyond film. If they could talk Michael Keaton into returning to play an older Batman in The Flash, then they can convince him to return as an elderly Bruce and mentor Terry McGinnis.

[@Rschr101]

The movie we deserve

[@EndofDays213]

same here brotha!

[@jnogales]

pain

[@anachronologist2017]

When they originally announced The Batman with Robert Pattinson, I sincerely hoped that they were going for a Batman Beyond story, with Pattinson playing Terry McGinnis. I knew that wasn't the case, but I secretly hoped for it. It would have been great.

[@Rschr101]

Anything would have been better than that woke piece of garbage they put put

[@Dr._Nope]

Batman Beyond is easily one of my favorite shows and superheroes! I'm so glad that this thing miraculously came into being! My life wouldn't be quite the same without it!

[@JMac7395]

I enjoyed this version of Batman. What made it even better is they included the Batman from New Adventures. Basically encouraging two generations to come together

[@TraeandSky]

To see this in live action would be incredible.

[@toysmostwanted]

Kinda hated they tried to give this story to Batgirl when Barbara already has her own iconic stories.

[@paulhunter6742]

I think doing Batman Beyond as live action film very bad idea. It would ruin perfectly good anime series.

[@paulhunter6742]

@@toysmostwanted It was logical that Barbara Gordon would eventually take her father's place as GOTHAM City's Police Commissioner.

[@MrTheDarkKnightFan]

With the pace of current DC movies, 2039 will be its release date for sure

[@matthewboer8279]

I think a good movie could be done. Maybe Joe Keery as an older Terry , Michael Keaton as Bruce.

[@grapeshot]

Yes I always did like this cartoon. I also like the villain Inque.

[@grapeshot]

@@chsstrr9577 Yeah

[@amritbalraj6049]

Fuck! you just unlocked a deep dark buried memory. Thank you.

[@Rschr101]

Classic show that still holds up well to this day. Michael Keaton should come back and play an old man Bruce in a movie adaptation of this. Maybe someday.

[@caitlyn9972]

I grew up with Batman the animated series and Tim Burton batman, yet this is the live action version I've always wanted.

[@Rschr101]

Same

[@jamesclement8985]

15:09 As I recall, the Jokerz didn’t kill Terry’s father as retaliation. It was Blight that killed him, no?

[@serenadesilhout]

This show was beyond nostalgic for me. Its really frustrating how DC has never chose to revisit this era. Batman Beyond ended up becoming canon and yet we never see a DCAU follow up or anything outside of the epilogue episode. This show still holds up well. Definitely deserves to be revisted.

[@oscarwright179]

Reupload? I'm 95% sure I've watched this before.

[@SpaceWizardCosplay]

You're not the only one who sees the similarities to an earlier story.

[@GunmanJag]

Totally agree. I was like.... wait, haven't I seen this somewhere before?

[@Raientai]

Terry is the best Batman successor, I hope they do something with him in movies or TV again

[@blackstallion7927]

No they will ruin it and make him gay and black.

[@ashleytuchin7693]

Batman Beyond (or Batman of the Future, as it was known in my country), is one of the greatest pieces of Batman media ever. It's a great example of how creativity and passion can create something wonderful, even under duress.

[@boltzenberg6836]

Huge part of my childhood, but not the way you would imagine. The show didn't air in the TV in the country where I'm from so even though I adored Batman the Animated Series (and Batman in general) I had no idea about it until I went to stay in one of my friends. He had the VCD of the Return of the Joker, needless to say 2 minutes in and I was mesmerized. We couldn't finish the movie at the end but I was determined to see the whole of it. The next day I insisted my mom to take me to a video store, which she did. We got the VCD (or at least so I thought), I put the CD into the player and nothing, no video, just some (banger) electronic music... I was devastated. We accidentally bought the damn soundtrack... But alas it was something, I listened to it all day and the next day and the day after. We got the movie at the end but the soundtrack was the real catch for me. Whenever I hear the intro to the main title and that guitar riff its just pure joy and an instant flashback to a time to a 6 year old me raving in my bedroom, jumping around in a frenzy. (PS. The UI that they made to the soundtrack when you opened it in your PC was mind blowing as a kid as well.)

[@paulhunter6742]

I would LOVE find whole soundtrack. In the re issues of Dvds there were few tracks used Special Features section. But, I like have complete soundtracks season I and II.

[@Asummersdaydreamer14]

Hope for the sake of Clint & the team that this video does not get buried. Feels like so much work was put into it especially with the outreach to many of the creatives that worked on Beyond. I might not remember it as much as BTAS, but it really was an interesting show.

Great video!!! Really like this format with interviews and stories, keep it up!!

[@ArvinCastro]

Netflix should make the next one, "The Cartoons that Made Us" series

[@garyg7145]

Yes please.

[@invincibleluis]

Batman Beyond was always cool as hell.

[@SaturdayWinter]

Still is, definitely worth a re-watch!

[@Miixx-yi6rk]

I was very sad when this show was cancelled and im still ssd thst it wasnt revived so many years later.... there were so many more plots and stories they could have explored. Its one of my favorite if not the favorite show of my childhood. I even rewatched ot a few years back and im still hoping this will get revived.... And oh man... Return of the Joker.... what a masterpiece.

[@ben87graves]

Still have such good memories going home from school, making grilled cheese sandwiches and watching BATMAN BEYOND

[@gerdz101]

Love Batman Beyond. I wish they could continue with a new season. Will watch for sure.

[@andymcguire237]

Why WB never did a Batman Beyond movie with Michael Keaton as older Bruce, is beyond my understanding.

[@bascal133]

Such a classic show, I consider it to be cannon

[@ReaperspearX]

Batman Beyond is so good, I love the villains ESPECIALLY Blight.

[@instastoump]

Not only the show was amazing but it has the best opening in animation history.

[@Jesterclown17]

I was nine years old when this first aired and thought it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Nearly 25 years later, I still think it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

[@Rschr101]

Show holds up very well.

[@paulhunter6742]

I am in my early 60s but I really enjoyed series. Although was targeted much younger audiences that could relate troubled high school kid.

[@danieltuben]

Fantastic work! More of this!

[@mgm3649]

When I was a kid this show aired weekdays around 11 am (I' from Mexico). It sucked because I rarely got to watch it. I remember enjoying getting sick with a cold so I could stay at home and watch the show. Good times.

[@PatrickWDunne]

CineFix is making Batman Beyond videos now? I didn't expect it, but I'm here for it.

[@yomommacello]

great video essay cinefix. really interesting to see the BTS for this batman animation classic.

[@iLikeCrabrangoons]

This show was awesome growing up, one of my favorites. Discovering this was on HBO Max when it launched was more than a welcomed surprise!

[@MartinFelice]

Hey WB, forget the Flash, make a Batman Beyond movie once and for all

[@abhishek1569]

RIP KC, you'll always be Batman

[@Chris.Cook.]

Great video! Love hearing about those early days of pre-production. One small note, though: The frequent VFX edits during the interviews is a bit distracting. The little sound effect chirp and changing the interview audio quality when switching between full-screen, animated, and on an animated display, along with how often those visuals switched, seemed to be just a bit too much. I think a few here and there wouldn't have been noticeable, but a couple of interview clips had like 5 or 6 edits, for a 15 second snippet.

[@porksterbob]

This is a cut down version of a previous hour long documentary

[@eyespliced]

Thank you for keeping this channel alive Clint!

[@clintstewart5545]

Just recently finished watching , GREAT SHOW LOVED IT !!!

[@gk_knight]

Really enjoyed this thanks!

[@malcolmar]

Excellent job IGN! I was right there when this show aired and I LOVED it! It was more than just a "cartoon". It was quality television and the way it connected with Justice League Unlimited was masterfully done. That intro still kicks some serious butt. Again, well done IGN.

[@sphakamisozondi]

Batman Beyond felt criminally underrated imho.

[@lknanml]

EPIC series. Still waiting for the movie.

[@CyberDragonEX13]

I personally loved Batman Beyond so much that I recorded every episode I could so I could watch it after I got up on the weekends and flipped out when Epilogue aired on Justice League Unlimited since it gave me a sense of closure due to not being able to get anymore new Batman Beyond. I also thought it would have been awesome for the end of the Nolan batman trilogy to have Gordon-Levit's character's real name to have been McGinnis as a type of nod to the series' conclusion as well as an excellent way to setup a possible new trilogy of films had they decided to go in that direction.

[@MrMcTavishOBS]

I recently just rewatched this series. I forgot how much I loved it. It seriously need an Arkham city style video game where you can free roam throughout the city

[@Rschr101]

Show holds up well. Same with the og batman.

[@SaturdayWinter]

Just re-watched it too and it's still a masterpiece of a show I wish there were more episodes

[@thamsanqajantjies2228]

Batman Beyond is one of my favorite DC shows of all time

[@gavinhenderson7250]

Didn’t y’all upload this a while ago?

[@panelsandbars1529]

I’m confused…hasn’t this been uploaded before?

[@CreepySasquatch]

Thought the same thing, so I went looking for it. Uploaded on IGN's main channel on December 5, 2020. Link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHTVq5-PpLKIe5Y

[@DiegoMS]

Is this a re-upload from another channel or from sometime last year? Either that or I know way too much about Batman Beyond and this all sounds too familiar...

[@yodadback]

It was really a big part of my childhood as well. I was a little bit younger and I do remember they used to have it on syndication and cartoon Network even years after they canceled it. That in Batman the animated series for some of the best shows as cartoons during that time. those are some of the best cartoons still to the state

[@seppuku-]

THIS VERY SHOW i wouldn’t change a single thing. i grew up watching all types of batman movies shows TV you name it. Batman Beyond is untouchable in my opinion. (Rotten Tomatoes which is a TV/ Movie rating service has this at 100% that’s unheard of) everything is blended so smoothly for a kids show. i like to compare the aura and vibe of this show to if Stephen King wrote a futuristic dystopian novel where Batman does badass Batman things.

[@boythatis1]

One of my favorite shows as a kid, along with BTAS and JLU

[@TraceyOfficial]

I enjoyed how you used animation when the guests were speaking

[@joye4632]

Batman beyond influenced my art style. It’s so iconic!

[@calebgonzalez599]

Kevin Conroy is my favorite batman

[@may.k_me]

Grew up watching this one and was obsessed. Although I never read the comics of Batman Beyond

[@gerardorodriguez7500]

I wish DC and Warner Bros brings back this show with new season (Season 4) and the other 90’s DC Animated shows like Justice League Unlimited

[@Psysalis]

This was a solid series. Really liked the new characters like Ink and also when they brought back Mr. Freeze with that new suit. This show also kind of reminded me of that Spider-man Unlimited show because of the futuristic setting, from what I remember though that show didn't do as well.

[@munk3ymxn587]

I saw the first episode on T V and I was hooked then and I still watch reruns today in anticipation of a live action movie

[@jesster9532]

The first show I "wasn't allowed to watch" epic theme song, Terry was awesome. Had an awesome Batman voice

[@derheadbanger9039]

I hope the new management at WB will finally give us a live action Batman Beyond!

[@mrdude88]

I grew up with the Animated Series everything that follows afterward, and Terry McGinnis is my alternate Batman. I just love that it's a continuation of TAS. And I enjoy Will Friedle acting since I watched a lot of TGIF on ABC.

[@jovis2]

I don't understand how this was posted 9 hours ago I watched this a couple months ago I am so confused. Are the interviews with Bruce Tim and everyone else from something else? Is that why I think I've seen it before?

[@adamx6000]

I loved how they made Batgirl the new commissioner and had biter feelings with Bruce. This makes more sense now to me as a movie franchise then the reboot going on now with “The Batman”.

[@mayln163]

One of the best intros of all time

[@edcarrascal4072]

Why do I feel like I've seen this exact video before? Is this a re-upload?

[@SpaceWizardCosplay]

Same here. Another channel did the same story a few years ago, although I forget who it was.

[@GunmanJag]

@@SpaceWizardCosplay I've been looking for the original, because this feels like a straight ripoff of that earlier one. Like.... they just stole it. Unless the original uploader is working with them **EDIT** I think THEY are the original uploader from like... maybe year ago? They just re-up'd it and didn't say anything for some reason?

[@edcarrascal4072]

@@SpaceWizardCosplay I found the first upload. I was right, it is the same exact video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHTVq5-PpLKIe5Y

[@edcarrascal4072]

@@GunmanJag Found it kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHTVq5-PpLKIe5Y

[@BlueFoxXT]

I haven't rewatched BB in ages but I always just liked it. I thought the rogue's gallery was usually less interesting than TAS but the whole vibe was rad. Loved Friedle's Terry

[@v-rex6262]

Fantastic show. Nuff said.

[@holymackenaw]

knew nothing about it until i saw it accidently. liked it from the start. felt different, but in a fresh and good way.

[@bravehome4276]

This process reminds me of a great quote by Leonard Berstein: Two things are necessary for great achievement: a plan and not quite enough time.”

[@JustCreepyPizza]

i would watch this series right after i got home from school and i thought it was great watching all of the episodes. Sadly they stopped airing it less than a year later

[@osirisatot19]

This is one of the best animated shows of all time, and Terry is still my favorite Batman. I love minimalist costumes like his. The theme song also slaps. It is also the first cyberpunk media I ever saw. The opening of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is the darkest and most brutal animated Batman stuff we got until the newer movies; and I'm amazed they were allowed to do it. I hate the retcon that he's Bruce's son; it would make sense if Waller made Terry's dad's death and him stumbling on the Batcave happen, but those are all just massive coincidences now because she didn't follow through with her plan (according to her, I headcannon that she lied, because it would be really dumb to admit to killing Batman's dad). I really want to see more of Terry outside of comics, a live action movie would be amazing; but I'd be happy with more animated stuff.

[@Belbecat]

As someone who definitely did not want Beyond.... I started hating everything about it but I was sucked in and found myself unable to stop watching it until I gave up and just enjoyed it for what it was, which is a really good future Batman show.

[@Badvision]

this belongs on the bonus disc of my physical copy of the series. such great content! thanks folks

[@ramses1134]

kevin conroy IS BATMAN. to me he will forever be batman to me. GOAT.

[@Groaker]

Motion picture adaptation with Michael Keaton as old Bruce Wayne, please.

[@Rschr101]

Bring back Tim Burton to direct. Licence to print money.

[@mattschwarz3553]

I love the Intro

[@anon-yw4wd]

But that opening theme music. Like Trent Reznor and Rob Zombie made a song together. So freaking bad ass!

[@--Avi--]

When Will Friedle deepened his voice to sound like Batman, I got chills

[@ArthurKannibal]

I was those naive kids who liked everything for what it was so this quickly became a favorite because it allowed me to self-inset myself in fantasies where what if I was chosen as the next Batman? Also, the Burger King toys were great.

[@BushidoBrownSama]

I was like 12 in 99 but i remember being hyped for the premiere

[@michaelpalmer5995]

Glad they note the Spider-Man connection, because it really does feel like Batman's Spider-Man.

[@VicRodriguez2]

I loved this show. I would love to to see this movie.

[@salvadorslim3234]

Great show great video

[@miKeYdOEsNtLiKeiT508]

I watched the show as a kid and loved it. And that was after the animated series.

[@SuperLordQ]

Man the nostalgia…

[@kraftthisile9113]

Batman beyond could totally work today with its apathetic feel towards humanity and advancement in tech. But old batman was so darn grumpy and he never had kids or a wife. But I guess it suited his damaged persona from his early trauma. Not much character development. Anyway,it's worth watching Beyond series today.

[@ALVIN3X69]

I do believe it's gonna be a fantastic project for warner bro. And DC comics and inc. that we Wana see the Live movie of Batman Beyond.

[@nicholasdickens2801]

A brilliant series.

[@shunndarby2634]

What a awesome show bring it back & make a live action movie

[@tstan6827]

As a man in his early 20s when BB came out, I was riveted every time it came on, and used to record it on VHS to watch every weekend. My cousin Terry McGinnis was fantastic in every episode. I bought the DVD box set as soon as it came out. Way back before Amazon was the go-to. I think I bought it at Best Buy, in peson.

[@vice1157]

Loved this show

[@LegendaryJew]

Necessity breeds innovation

[@lipranditoys]

The premise didn't sound very original nor creative, even at the time. What made this show unbelievable is its execution: the writing, the animation, the direction, everything was top notch