Batman Unburied sees the Dark Knight return to the audio format, and now some voice actors have been confirmed to be joining the cast. Batman Unburied is not to be confused with another Batman podcast that is being produced concurrently: Batman: The Audio Adventures. The latter will release exclusively on HBO Max and will strike a more comedic tone, while updates on Batman Unburied promise a podcast that will take a darker look at the hero.
In 2020, Warner Bros. signed an expansive deal with Spotify to bring many of their intellectual properties to the podcast format, including the DC superheroes. For a long time, DC remained tight-lipped about which characters would be the initial focus, but it is perhaps no surprise that Batman Unburied represents the first outing from this deal. Once again, DC is following in Marvel’s footsteps as they had success with a scripted Wolverine podcast back in 2018 and have further plans to pursue to format.
Rather than casting Bruce Wayne as a billionaire playboy, Batman Unburied will reimagine him as a forensic pathologist working in Gotham Hospital, seeking justice with his day job as well as in his nighttime excursions. When a serial killer, The Harvester, begins to fill the hospital with his victims, the dual character of Bruce Wayne will come to the fore as he must face his own demons, donning the Batsuit to save the city. Here’s everyone associated with the project so far.
Batman Unburied will star Winston Duke in the titular role. One of many actors set to take on the cowl in upcoming projects, Duke appeared in Jordan Peele’s Us. However, he made a name for himself in comic book adaptations before that when he rose to prominence portraying M’Baku, the leader of the Jabari in Black Panther, returning to the role for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He is expected to return to the role of the potentially villainous M'Baku for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Duke is also familiar with the mystery setting, as before appearing in Black Panther he had taken on TV roles in the crime dramas Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Major Crimes.
Where would Batman be without Alfred? Listeners of Batman Unburied won’t have to find out as Jason Isaacs has been announced for the role. Many will know Isaacs from his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise, but his acting credits are extensive. He’s had experience in crime dramas before as he played the protagonist, Jackson Brody, in the adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories. Jason Isaacs is also often cast for voice acting, particularly for DC properties, having voiced Superman in Superman: Red Son and Lex Luthor in Justice League: Gods and Monsters. Outside of DC properties, Jason Isaacs voiced Commander Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The very first name attached to Batman Unburied was one with a long history with DC: David S. Goyer as creator. Goyer penned Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, as well as many other DC adaptations, including the Constantine TV show. The series will be directed by Alex Kemp, with episodes written by Saladin Ahmed (Foundation), Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Rebecca Klingel (The Haunting of Hill House), and Graham Westerson (Stranger Things).
