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Frank Miller, along with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley, crafted “The Dark Knight Returns,” a monumental Batman comic that has set the benchmark for mature storytelling within the Batman universe. Despite its iconic status, this didn’t deter “Batman: The Animated Series” from weaving its own interpretation, a move that garnered Miller’s enthusiastic endorsement.
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The homage unfolds in “Legends of the Dark Knight,” the 19th episode of “The New Batman Adventures,” which follows the acclaimed “Batman: The Animated Series.” In a standout segment, Carrie Kelley, voiced by Anndi McAfee, envisions herself as the Robin to an older Batman, portrayed by Michael Ironside, battling Gotham City’s notorious Mutants gang. This scene is a direct nod to the original narrative found in “The Dark Knight Returns.”
Bruce Timm, co-creator of the show, revealed that Miller’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive. “After I sent [Miller] the episode, he called back three times,” Timm recounted in “Modern Masters Volume 3: Bruce Timm” (via /Film). “He was ecstatic. Each message was more enthusiastic than the last. ‘Wow, I just watched it again, and Lynn [Varley] was thrilled, saying, ‘Oh, my God! There’s Carrie Kelley!’”
Beyond this tribute in “Batman: The Animated Series,” “The Dark Knight Returns” has inspired a two-part animated film adaptation. Elements of the story also influenced Zack Snyder’s portrayal of Ben Affleck’s Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
Zack Snyder wants to do a live-action version of The Dark Knight Returns
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Indeed, Snyder seems an ideal fit for such an adaptation. Known for his preference for darker, more intense narratives, “The Dark Knight Returns” aligns perfectly with the themes prevalent in Snyder’s films, cementing his status as a natural choice for bringing Gotham’s gritty underworld to life on the big screen.
Snyder has never been shy about his love of the source material either. In fact, while discussing the 10-year anniversary of “Batman v Superman” with “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Snyder admitted that’s one comic book movie he’d still like to do. “I would still make ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ as a film if that opportunity arose,” he said. “Did I steal, or borrow, or homage as much as I could within the context of the mythology that I was creating? Yes. But the thing about ‘Dark Knight Returns’ is it is a closed loop of awesomeness that owes nothing to anything except for a masterful deconstruction of gods that we all grew up with.”
Truth be told, Snyder would be a perfect director. On top of knowing who he’d want to star in his adaptation, “The Dark Knight Returns” is a grim and violent affair that proves Gotham will never turn into a beacon of sunshine, which is in line with the narratives and themes found in Zack Snyder’s movies.
