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Robbie Amell’s Pitch for a Batman Beyond Movie

While fielding questions regarding his role on Fox’s revival of The X-Files as well as his axed CW series The Tomorrow People at his Salt Lake Comic Con panel, Robbie Amell (younger cousin of Green Arrow himself, Stephen Amell) was asked by a fan whether or not he’d be willing to play Terry McGinnis in a Batman Beyond film. 

Terrence “Terry” McGinnis, as you may know, took over the role of Batman after Bruce Wayne retired on the Batman Beyond television series which ran from 1999 to 2001. In fact, in DCAU (DC Animated Universe) continuity, he was Bruce’s son. McGinnis also appeared in various comics from DC Comics, including New 52, in which McGinnis’ Batman returned. 

Amell answered the fan’s question with the following response; “I am a huge fan of that idea,” he said of Batman Beyond‘s concept, before following up with “I think the problem is because they have Batman going on right now, they won’t make the Batman Beyond movie until I’m too old to be Terry McGinnis. By then I’ll probably be the old, crusty Batman. But I’m a huge fan of that idea. I think it would be a great property. I think the smartest idea for them would be to make it like a $30 million movie. Don’t do like a $200 million blockbuster, do a dark, gritty version of Batman Beyond. The visual effects have come so far that you don’t need $200 million to show the technology that they have. Make it a nice, grounded character piece. But I don’t run studios, so that means nothing.”


C’mon, Robbie, who’s to say you won’t look younger than your age when Ben Affleck’s days as Batman are over? But in all seriousness, he’s got a point. DC is clearly focused on Affleck’s Batman, and Affleck’s Batman alone. Having another actor play a different version of Batman while Affleck’s still playing the role would most likely cause confusion among lesser-informed fans. As far as his idea of a Batman Beyond film being more character-based than effects-heavy, I would say he’s got a point there as well. 

Take Gareth Edwards’ Monsters for example. Monsters had a budget of just $500,000, and yet, the effects of the aliens were just as stunning as if they were put together with a film that had a budget of at least $100 million. The film had very little action (and we’d hope for a little more action in a Batman-centric film than Monsters offered), but Edwards proved that you don’t have to be a “$200 million blockbuster” to be a visually spectacular movie. And a lower-budget (yet visually appealing), more grounded take on a Batman movie would be an interesting diversion from Zack Snyder’s expensive DC projects. We just ask that it’s more exciting than this year’s Fantastic Four

But, what do you think? Do you like Amell’s pitch for a potential Batman Beyond movie, or would you be that guy that would stamp “DENIED” if Amell handed you his script for the film? Would you like to see Amell as McGinnis? Let us know in the comments below! 

John Mathews
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Cinephile, gamer, and sports fan. Fortnite is life. You may know me from Letterboxd.