‘Batman: Knightfall’: The Story That Broke Batman Returns in Animated Form

Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios have unveiled details of its industry showcase, reports THR, which will include the world premiere of Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall, the new DC Studios’ multi-part animated film event, as well as exclusive first looks and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into DC Universe series including Mister Miracle, My Adventures with Green Lantern, Starfire!, Creature Commandos and Batman: Caped Crusader.

Batman: Knightfall is a three-part animated series based on the iconic 1993–1994 Batman story arc focused on the Batman villain Bane, which partly inspired Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012). It is produced by WB Animation, DC Studios and Warner Home Entertainment.

Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall adapts the classic “Knightfall” storyline, in which Gotham City faces escalating chaos after the ruthless villain Bane orchestrates a campaign to physically and psychologically exhaust Batman before confronting him directly.

As Batman struggles to contain a citywide crime wave and mounting threats from Arkham’s escaped criminals, Bane seeks to prove himself the superior force by breaking Gotham’s protector both mentally and physically, forcing Bruce Wayne to confront the limits of his endurance, his mission, and what it truly means to be Batman.

The mid-1990s “Knightfall” arc arrived in the wake of Superman’s highly publicized death and initially seemed like another major-event sales push from DC. Instead, it evolved into one of the most influential stories in Batman history, cementing Bane as one of Batman’s defining adversaries… arguably his greatest modern nemesis outside of The Joker.