The Best Batman Story of All Time Set for Multi-Part Adaptation

Warner Bros. Animation is bringing one of Batman’s most famous comic stories to the screen.

A multi-part animated adaptation of Batman: Knightfall is now in production, with the first installment set to premiere in 2026. The official release date will be shared at a later time.

The announcement came during the The Art Knight: Batman in Animation panel at New York Comic-Con. Batman: Knightfall is based on the 1993–1994 comic arc widely praised as one of the best Batman stories ever. The story was originally published in three parts: Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd.

The plot follows Bruce Wayne as he faces the physically and mentally formidable villain Bane, who frees Batman’s entire Rogue’s Gallery from Arkham Asylum. Pushed to his limits, Bruce is ultimately replaced by Jean-Paul Valley, also known as Azrael.

Azrael’s increasingly violent methods strain Batman’s reputation, and Bruce must recover and reclaim his role as Gotham’s protector. The events in Knightfall had lasting consequences on Batman’s relationships with allies, the public, and the police.

The animated adaptation will be directed by Jeff Wamester and written by Jeremy Adams. Rick Morales is the supervising producer, with Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau as producers. Executive producers include Sam Register and Michael Uslan.

While Knightfall has been referenced in movies and other media, most notably in The Dark Knight Rises, this marks the first direct adaptation of the full story arc.

Knightfall is known for its dramatic tension and long-term impact on Batman’s world. Bruce Wayne’s experiences during this period shape the modern Batman Family and demonstrate the consequences of working alone.

The original comic serial ran for over a year and has been reprinted in several collections, with some storylines like Knightquest: The Search only fully collected in later omnibus editions.

Adapting Knightfall as a multi-part animated film feels like a perfect way to do justice to such a complex and influential story. Fans will likely enjoy seeing Bane, Azrael, and Batman’s struggles in full detail. If done well, it could be one of the best Batman adaptations in animation yet.

What do you think about Batman: Knightfall being adapted into an animated film? Are you excited to see this classic story brought to life? Share your thoughts in the comments.