Nearly 30 years ago, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight became the first DC Elseworlds title, as it introduced readers to a Dark Knight that inhabited a Victorian-era Gotham City. Now, word has emerged that Gotham by Gaslight is finally getting an animated adaptation from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Via ComicBook.com, the special features of next month’s Batman & Harley Quinn movie include an advance preview of the Gotham by Gaslight animated feature. That means it may be released as soon as this fall, or perhaps in early 2018. The original Gotham by Gaslight graphic novel was published by DC in 1989, and it featured a story by Brian Augustyn, with artwork by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and inks by P. Craig Russell. Since Hellboy‘s emergence, Mignola has rarely drawn anything outside of his own creations, but his depiction of Batman helped make this story an immediate hit with fans.
In the original graphic novel, Victorian-era Batman found himself on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. However, that story will have to be significantly expanded upon for the animated feature. It’s possible that the new movie could also draw upon the sequel, Batman: Master of the Future, which was written by Augustyn and drawn by Eduardo Barreto. Within that adventure, the Batman went up against a sky pirate named Alexandre LeRoi, who attempted to disrupt Gotham City’s turn-of-the century celebration.
It’s also possible that the Gotham by Gaslight animated movie will open the door to more Elseworlds adaptations. DC has several fan-favorite Elseworlds tales that could become really fun films. Although to be honest, many of them do feature Batman. So if you’ve been waiting for something like Superman: Speeding Bullets, where the Man of Steel became Batman, then it could potentially happen.
Are you excited about the Gotham by Gaslight movie? And what other Elseworlds tales should become animated movies? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: DC Comics
