Warner Bros. Animation have been adapting numerous classic DC comics for the screen for the past few years, but they’ve still got many more to go. They might be about to tick another seminal storyline off the list, though, as We Got This Covered has been informed that an animated adaptation of Batman: Death in the Family is in development.
Written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Jim Aparo in 1988, the arc’s infamous for featuring the kidnapping, torture and eventual murder of Jason Todd, the second Robin, at the hands of the Joker. Fans will know that the gruesome end for the sidekick was voted for by bloodthirsty readers. Although, of course, Todd was eventually resurrected and became the anti-hero Red Hood.
If you don’t believe us that a Death movie is coming, let’s not forget the words of Batman and the Joker themselves. Back in 2016, Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy teased those at Canada’s Fan Expo that both Hush and Death in the Family adaptations were in the works. The Batman: Hush movie finally came out last month, so it makes sense that this long-gestating Death animated effort is next on the agenda.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that Hamill and Conroy might not be involved with the project. Neither featured in Hush despite being the ones to first announce it was on the way, nor have we heard that the legendary voice actors are currently attached to Death in the Family. That said, there’s nothing to say they won’t be starring in it, either.
In any case, the DC Animated Movie Universe line continues with Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, which will be released this October. And as soon as we learn more about the Batman: Death in the Family film, we’ll be sure to let you know.