The New Batman Movie Brings a Fan-Favorite Story to the Screen
It’s a fantastic time for Batman fans. The Batman series, directed by Matt Reeves, continues, and The Penguin series is on the way. But the biggest surprise came from New York Comic-Con: Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios officially announced that they will bring Batman: Knightfall, one of the most unforgettable Batman stories in comic book history, to life as a multi-part animated film. The first film will be released in 2026.
Batman: Knightfall Returns in Animated Form in 2026
According to information announced at the event, the first film will be titled Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall and will be directed by Jeff Warner and written by Jeremy Adams. The film is based directly on the original comic book story, published in the early 1990s. During Knightfall, Batman must simultaneously battle all the criminals in Gotham and ultimately be broken physically and psychologically by his new nemesis, Bane. This story became one of the most iconic moments in pop culture with the scene where Bane “broke Batman’s back.”
The second installment of the series, Knightsquest, follows Batman as he recovers, and a new hero—Jean-Paul Valley, aka Azrael—becomes Gotham’s protector. Azrael’s Batman identity is far more ruthless, violent, and deadly, plunging Gotham into a darker era. The third installment, Knightsend, tells the story of Bruce Wayne returning to the spotlight and confronting his own legacy. Warner Bros. has yet to confirm plans for three films, but fans believe the story will be fully adapted.
Knightfall has only been partially adapted for the big screen. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises brought some of this story to the big screen with Bane, but characters like Azrael had never been seen in live action. This new animated project will be the first time the comics have been visually brought to life in their entirety.
In recent years, Warner Bros. Animation has successfully adapted cult Batman stories such as The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, Under the Red Hood, and The Long Halloween into animated form. Knightfall’s addition to this list is seen as a new milestone for DC fans.
For now, there are no plans to integrate Knightfall into the DCU. Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II will focus on a different villain, while The Brave and the Bold will focus on the Bat-Family. This means Bane’s story will live on in the animated universe for a while longer. For fans, this alone is incredibly satisfying: in 2026, Batman is preparing for his most challenging challenge yet.
