Items marked with () come from reliable sources who document their facts. Items with () are rumors from outlets that don't name their sources. Items marked with () are opinions expressed by Comics2Film.

Stax, script reviewer to the superheroes, recently turned his attention to the pilot script for the Bruce Wayne TV show. Although there is some debate as to whether or not the show will ever see the light of day, Stax gives the script high marks in his Stax Report column at IGN FilmForce.

Bill Ramey over at the Batman on Film site has obtained a copy of the series bible and pilot script for the proposed Bruce Wayne TV series. Ramey tells us "it really kicks ass!" Although many believe that the series has been squashed in favor of the film franchise, Ramey's site includes some speculation that that the series is not a dead issue and that the two can peacefully co-exist. A review and synopsis of Bruce Wayne can be found on Ramey's site.

Fabio2 of the Batcave web site wrote to Comics2Film recently to respond to recent rumors about various Batman projects.

First up, in spite of rumors that Darren Aronofsky has said he would rather adapt The Dark Knight Returns than Year One for a Batman sequel, Fabio2 insists it is not happening.   Just to keep it in perspective, the report on Dark Knight did say that the director only mentioned it in a casual conversation.  No claims were made that the notion had gone further than that.

Fabio2 also insists that Year One is the only project Lorenzo DiBonaventura is considering.  Should Aronofsky get the directing job, that's the movie he'll have to make.  However Aronofsky hasn't signed and he is just one of many directors being considered for helming duties.

Steadfast that Year One will be the next Batman movie, Fabio2 also claims that the Bruce Wayne TV show is "D.O.A."  Fabio2 states, "There's no way both [Year One] and [Bruce Wayne] will co-exist, despite what others may say. As for waiting until Warner's Batman 5 plans become more concrete...plans aren't expected to properly solidify for another year. Tollin-Robbins Productions, obviously, won't wait that long."

While recent reports indicate that Warner Bros. is talking to Darren Aronofsky (Pi) about directing the next Batman movie, Ain't it Cool News has added a new wrinkle to the story.  A spy, whom AICN vouches for, claims to have overheard a conversation between Aronofsky and another party.

According to the spy, Aronofsky is looking to direct Batman, but is not too keen on the concept of following the Year One storyline.  Allegedly the director feels the concept of Wayne whipping himself into crime-fighting shape leans heavily on Rocky-esque clichés.   The scooper claims that the filmmaker let drop that he would rather adapt Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns story instead.  Aronofsky and Miller are also collaborating on a big-screen version of Miller's Ronin. 

When the trades reported that Aronofsky was in talks with WB, they also reported that the Bruce Wayne TV show was on hold.  However, JettD60 of the Batman 5 website checked in with us to share his insights.  Jett told us, "A source very close to the [Bruce Wayne TV show] contacted me after the story ran that the TV series has been put on hold. He did acknowledge that they are waiting for WB to make a decision on the movie series, but was steadfast that [Bruce Wayne] has in no way been killed.

" He goes on further saying that the 'bat-war,' between WB Film and TV, has been exaggerated," Jett told us.  However the source does concede that while " WB big-wig Lorenzo DiBonaventura may be against the TV series, he may not have the final say-so towards it being greenlit."

Other sources for JettD60 tell him that if the next Batman feature is a Year One story, then chances for the TV show will be greatly diminished.

Hot on the heels of recent internet rumors, The Hollywood Reporter ran an article confirming that Darren Aronofsky (Pi) is a possible candidate to direct the next Batman movie.  The article refers to the next Batman movie as a "dark, moodier prequel," fueling speculation that this installment will be based on the Batman: Year One storyline from the comics.

The article also states that plans for the Bruce Wayne TV show are on hold until final decisions are made about the movie franchise.

Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News reports that he's received a copy of Tim (Iron Giant) McCanlies' script for the planned Bruce Wayne TV series.  According to the report, Bruce Wayne is depicted as still trying to find his way in life.  He's a martial arts expert who can kick any bad guy's ass at will, but he hasn't yet been driven to his war on crime.  The initial script also features a mentoring Alfred, police detective James Gordon, a 13 year old Barbara Gordon, a young Selina Kyle and a still-in-law-school Harvey Dent.

Ain't it Cool News reports that there is a tug of war happening between Warner Bros. feature films and Warner Bros. television over the future of Batman.  WB production chief Lorenzo DiBonaventura is said to be trying to put the kibosh on the planned Bruce Wayne TV program, which could conceivably compete with the Dark Knight movie franchise.

AICN bigwig Harry Knowles says he's been contacted by unnamed persons at DC Comics asking him to get behind the planned Bruce Wayne TV show.  Never having seen scripts for either, Knowles refused to endorse the show or the movie franchise.

JettD60 of the Batman 5 website checked into this story with a source that is said to be very closed to the Bruce Wayne show.  According to the source it is quite conceivable that, if WB films was considering a Batman: Year One movie, they would not be too happy about a similarly themed TV program.

JettD60 did learn that the show will focus exclusively on a young, non-Batman, Wayne.  Contrary to some rumors, the character will not don the cape and cowl at any point during the run of the show.

Over at Ain't it Cool News, El Cosmico has shed much light on the previously rumored Bruce Wayne live-action TV show.  El Cosmico currently presides over AICN's TV section.  According to his sources the Bruce Wayne show is written by Tim McCanlies (Iron Giant, Dancer, Texas Pop. 81).  Cosmico claims that McCanlies is a big Frank Miller fan and the story for the show backtracks from Year One.  

Tollin-Robbins is the production company on the effort.  Their credits include Arli$$ for HBO and Keenan and Kel for Nickelodeon, as well as the theatrical hit Varsity Blues.

Supposedly Warner Bros. is said to be "thrilled" with the pilot script.

Rob Allstetter of the The Comics Continuum reports that a live-action television pilot called Bruce Wayne is under consideration at the WB network.  Unnamed sources claim such a show would feature young Wayne traveling the world and training for his role as a crime fighter.  According to the report, the show may be tied in with plans for the much-rumored Batman: Year One feature.