I found out the other day that there was actually supposed to be a TV series based on Batman's "lost years"; the time he spent as  a young man, learning the skills that would eventually lead him to dawn the cape and cowl. This drama was going to be called Bruce Wayne, and was in development stages back in 1999.

If this sounds familiar, it's because the show ended up becoming Smallville. 

Sort of.

Like Smallville, Bruce Wayne would have chronicled the young man's adventures growing into hero mode, with familiar supporting characters like Alfred and a not-yet-Commissioner Gordon. The most notable cast member to me would have been law student Harvey Dent. The man who would become Two-Face would have a relationship with Bruce very similar to that of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor on the WB's show.

Other cast members planned for the series included Selina Kyle, Vicky Vale, and Jack Napier, the supposed Joker (an idea I hate because it would muck up the continuity/history of the characters, a mistake that is inevitably Smallville's biggest flaw). Even Clark Kent would have popped up here and there.

Bruce Wayne would have had Bruce dealing with his father's company, learning martial arts, and honing his detective skills. A novel idea that back in 99, hadn't really been explored before. But Warner Brothers wanted another Batman movie at the time, and the TV project never saw the light of day. A shame because when Batman Begins finally was made (2005) the Bruce Wayne series could have been on the air for at least 5 years already.

Was that a blessing in disguise? Would Bruce Wayne have worked? I personally feel there is more milage to get out of a Batman origin story than Superman. Clark Kent is such a boy-scout that he doesn't make for an interesting character when he isn't fighting the "monster-of-the-week." Bruce is a tortured soul, with much to learn about the criminal mind. I invision the series as a Lost or Alias-type drama with focus on character studies and thrilling action. Not campy special fx.

Batman basically knows how to do everything. How cool would it be if there was a show that explored how he learned that stuff from all over the globe? The series would be based on fact, with "MacGyver-isms" that would even teach the viewers a thing or two. Or maybe this is all ridiculously cheesy. And I'm as crazy as the guys who came up with this.

Here's the full story: http://tv.ign.com/articles/888/888047p1.html