21 Batman Movies That Almost Happened

7. Bruce Wayne TV Series

Years before the upcoming Warner TV Gotham project was even a concept, Warner Bros were involved in making this TV show - pitched by Tim McCanlies - following an 18 year old Bruce Wayne before he became Batman. If it sounds a lot like Smallville, that's because the concept was ultimately recycled and repurposed to become the adventures of young Clark Kent as Warners moved on to concentrate instead on Year One.

After seeing his The Iron Giant script released as a film, McCanlies pitched a pilot script to Warner which would focus not really on the Batman's origins, but what happens in the intervening years between the death of Bruce Wayne's parents and his decision to pull the cowl on. As McCanlies said, everyone knew the origin, they just didn't know the "why and how".

HBO were in talks to broadcast, and Warner Bros. TV recognised it could be a winner, but the presence of Year One on the slate meant Warners withdrew their support and the show was shelved, with X-Men's Shawn Ashmore allegedly in talks to play Bruce. David Krumholtz was rumoured for Jim Gordon, and Michael Rosenbaum was considered for Harvey Dent, before someone remembered him and cast him as Lex Luthor on Smallville.