Arkham Asylum tv series not moving forward at Max

The planned Arkham Asylum TV series at Max has been canceled, though a future project in Gotham City remains possible

The planned Arkham Asylum TV series is no longer proceeding at Max, as reported by Variety. Antonio Campos, who was set to serve as writer and showrunner, will not continue with the project. However, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, a new project set within Gotham City's infamous asylum could still be developed in the future.

The series has faced a complicated development path. Initially announced in July 2020 with a focus on Gotham PD as seen in “The Batman,” Terrence Winter was attached to write and executive produce but left in November 2020 due to creative differences. Joe Barton was then brought in to write, but Warner Bros. parted ways with him as well. In 2022, Matt Reeves stated the Gotham PD show had evolved into the Arkham Asylum series, describing it as akin to a “horror movie or a haunted house that is Arkham.”

Campos joined the project later, but with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over DC Studios to reboot its film and TV universe, the project's future became uncertain. In December 2023, Gunn posted on social media that the show was still in development, set within the new DCU rather than the world of “The Batman.”

Despite the cancellation, the world of “The Batman” continues with “The Penguin,” a crime drama series starring Colin Farrell, set to debut on Max in September. Reeves is also working on “The Batman Part II,” though its release date has been pushed from October 2025 to October 2026.

Meanwhile, Gunn and Safran are progressing with the DC relaunch, including a new Superman film starring David Corenswet and a recently greenlit Green Lantern TV series, which will be branded as an HBO original. This decision aligns with a new content delineation revealed by HBO & Max boss Casey Bloys to Variety in June.