For many fans, Bruce Timm’s DCAU gave the most definitive version of Batman. Matt Reeves’ The Batman took inspiration from Timm’s dark and gritty tone of the character in Batman: The Animated Series. Timm proved that he could develop feature-length animated movies, debuting with the Batman movie, Mask of the Phantasm. However, Timm never once got the call from DC or WB to create a live-action Batman film.
Timm knows that he missed his chance, admitting that he was too lazy to pursue the live-action project. He was even confident that he could come up with a decent movie, that was better than George Clooney’s Batman & Robin and reached somewhere near Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
Bruce Timm Says He Never Got The Call For A Batman Live-Action Film
There is no questioning the quality of a potential Bruce Timm live-action Batman film. It would’ve certainly revolutionized the DC cinematic universe, perhaps way before Christopher Nolan came along with Batman Begins. Timm’s Batman projects in the ’90s to the early 2000s, from Batman: The Animated Series to Batman: Beyond, were unique visions of the creator that influenced many live-action films later.
Did Bruce Timm ever think about making live-action films? Well, the answer is yes. While promoting his 2021 animated film, Batman: Soul of the Dragon, Timm told Syfy that Beyond is a concept “ready-made” for a live-action adaptation. As to why such a film never happened, Timm believed that he had never once gotten a call regarding a live-action film. If WB or DC wanted it from Timm, they would’ve definitely had it.
However, Timm shared with Den of Greek that he was not ambitious and never went looking for that opportunity. Timm shared that he would’ve hired an agent and seriously considered the option if he was a little less lazy about pursuing it. He told Den of Greek:
“I have never once gotten a call that said we would like you to make a live-action whatever. If they did, I would definitely think about it. I have never pursued it. Maybe if I had been a little more ambitious and a little less lazy, I would have hired an agent and actively explored that option, but I am kind of lazy and I like doing what I’m doing.”
Despite the abundant amount of Batman movies over the years, Timm would have undoubtedly picked a movie with the Dark Knight as the central character. According to Timm, many of the films out there were “crappy” ones. He shared:
“So my theoretical Batman movie might fall somewhere in between there. Better than Batman and Robin and maybe not as good as The Dark Knight.”
With Matt Reeves exploring the dark, gloomy side of Bruce Wayne in the Elseworlds Universe and James Gunn going for an older version in The Brave and the Bold in the DCU, there’s probably no space for a Timmverse live-action version.
Bruce Timm Can Be A Part Of The Planned Live-Action Projects
If a Bruce Timm live-action film is unlikely to happen, the second best option for Batman fans is for the creator to get involved in the currently planned projects. James Gunn and Peter Safran could just seek help from Timm to bring an even greater version of The Brave and the Bold to the screens.
But two major issues are stopping this amazing collaboration from happening. For one, Timm is used to having a lot of creative control in the DCAU. He may not necessarily have them under Gunn and Safran. Second, thanks to David Zaslav, fans will never see Timm’s planned animated series Batman: Caped Crusader (via Variety). It is unlikely that Timm would be jumping in excitement to work with the DC CEOs.
WB currently has Timm where he’s needed — at the DCAU — and they may not want to take away the master from his art.
