As a seasoned fan of Batman and his intricate web of characters, I must confess that the initial idea for GCPD had me intrigued. The prospect of delving into Batman’s formative years as a crime fighter through the lens of the Gotham City Police Department was certainly enticing. However, life sometimes takes unexpected turns, and such was the case with GCPD.
Writer Terrence Winter has disclosed potential details about a Gotham PD series that could have fit within Matt Reeves’ Batman universe. The world Matt Reeves is creating recently grew with the critically acclaimed Penguin spin-off. This series aims to bridge the gap between Batman and the upcoming sequel, The Batman – Part II, slated for a theater release on October 2, 2026. Initially known as “The Epic Crime Saga,” Matt Reeves initially had broader plans beyond The Penguin spin-off, including a Gotham City Police Department series titled GCPD, and an Arkham Asylum series, both of which were eventually shelved.
Terence Winter, who is known for creating HBO’s popular gangster series “Boardwalk Empire” and writing Martin Scorsese’s 2013 hit “The Wolf of Wall Street,” previously developed a project called “GCPD.” This plan was later abandoned. Recently, Winter discussed his concept for “GCPD” and the reasons behind its cancellation on the podcast “The Playlist’s Bingeworthy.” In an interview to promote the latest season of his series “Tulsa King,” Winter shared that he envisioned a 1970s-inspired cop story, focusing on different generations working within the GCPD and delving into the pervasive corruption prevalent in Gotham City. According to Winter:
The concept revolved around creating a 1970s police series, reminiscent of Sidney Lumet’s 1981 crime and police drama ‘Prince of the City,’ but set in the Gotham City Police Department. We aimed to capture that ’70s ambiance. The protagonist was envisioned as a contemporary cop with deep roots in Gotham City, whose granddad, dad, and perhaps even he himself had served there. Notably, Gotham City was depicted as being riddled with corruption. This character is introduced in the present day, grappling with the realization that he might be working for the wrong side of things.
In that world, there existed a figure known as the Phantom Vigilante, yet he remained largely unseen. The narrative primarily revolved around the police force and an enigmatic character.
For some time, I tackled the project, but unfortunately, Matt wasn’t keen on it. Subsequently, I departed, aware that someone else was hired in my place, a fellow whose name escapes me currently. It was Joe Barton who followed, not on Tokyo Vice, but on The Lazarus Project. He delved into the project for a while too, yet it didn’t progress further. I remain unaware of his contributions to the work. Later, I came across ‘The Penguin’, which sounds intriguing, and I wish them success with it.
It appears that although the concept initially seemed promising and could have easily fit into the universe created by Reeves, unexpected events can still cause things not to go as planned. Winter stated:
To clarify, the original concept came from Matt, and I must say, more success to him! Sometimes creativity flows seamlessly, while at other times it doesn’t, or we start on the wrong track, thinking ‘This could work’, then realizing ‘Actually, this isn’t quite fitting’. Additionally, there was another show called Gotham that took place in New York City, within the police department. This show slightly overlapped our idea, even though ours would have been distinctly different. I must admit, I think they did a fantastic job with Penguin in that series.
The Road That Almost Led to the GCPD
The Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) was initially unveiled back in July 2020, a full two years prior to the release of “The Batman” in cinemas. Initially conceived as a prequel to the movie, GCPD aimed to delve into Batman’s first year on the crime-fighting scene by focusing on the events within the police department. Michael Keaton (Winter), who was initially part of the project, eventually left and was replaced by Joe Barton before the entire project was shelved. Instead, the focus shifted towards the Arkham Asylum series, as Warner Bros. expressed a greater interest in examining various Batman villains.
It was unclear how much the fictional police department, GCPD, might have intersected with the city of Gotham, which aired on Fox for five seasons between September 22, 2014, and April 25, 2019. Despite having similar themes on paper, it’s worth noting that Gotham primarily centered around a young James Gordon in the aftermath of Bruce Wayne’s parents’ death, while fans also witnessed the emergence of various Batman antagonists such as the Penguin.
Developing the series titled GCPD presented certain creative challenges, as the public discourse revolving around the portrayal of law enforcement in media intensified, particularly after the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unique selling proposition of delving into Gotham’s corrupt police force at a time when trust in the police was at an all-time low seemed ill-timed and inappropriate for public consumption.
The Penguin
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2024-09-24 01:33