‘Gotham Knights’ Gets Pilot Order At The CW

The CW’s love affair with the DC Multiverse continues.

TVLine reports the network has given a pilot order to Gotham Knights. The project, from Batwoman writers Natalie Abrams, James Stoteraux, and Chad Fiveash, takes place in a Gotham City where the Batman is dead and his “rebellious adopted son” forms an “unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s enemies” when they are all framed for killing the Caped Crusader. Now wanted by the GCPD, the group must fight to clear their names in a Gotham with no Dark Knight hovering over it. Arrowverse uber-producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden are all aboard as executive producers, which suggests the program will exist within the Arrowverse framework, but potentially not set on Earth-Prime, where Batwoman will presumably continue.

Also of note, the identity of Batman’s adopted son is still unknown. It could mean Dick Grayson or Jason Todd — although both predominately featured in the most recent season of Titans. Maybe it will be a chance for Duke Thomas to take the lead. And yes, Tim Drake could be considered an adopted son, but when was he ever truly rebellious? Previously, we suggested Damien might get the spotlight in the series, but it is still anyone’s guess.

Although a pilot has been ordered, Gotham Knights is not a sure bet, particularly as The CW is for sale and Warner Bros. Television may call home the DC characters to HBO Max. Additionally, not every DC project makes it to air with Green Arrow and the Black Canaries, Painkiller, and Wonder Girl all falling by the development wayside in recent years. The network is also developing Justice U, with David Ramsey set to return as Arrow‘s John Diggle. Will there be room for both programs and the current DC slate in a post-Warner/Viacom controlled CW? We’ll have to wait and see.