R-Rated ‘Batman: Knightfall’ Animated Movie Released as Dark Bane Trilogy Begins
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25.08.2026 13:27
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2 min read
DC and Warner Bros. have released the animated film Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall on digital platforms. The adult R-rated project marks the first chapter of a new trilogy adapting the iconic 1990s comic book arc about the broken Dark Knight.
The digital release launched on August 25, 2026, while 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray physical editions will arrive on September 8.
Bane’s Strategy and the Exhaustion of Gotham’s Protector
The plot adapts the classic 1993–1994 graphic saga: supervillain Bane orchestrates a mass breakout of inmates from Arkham Asylum, plunging the city into criminal chaos. While Batman relentlessly tries to restore order to the streets and catch the Joker, Scarecrow, and other escaped psychopaths, Bane cold-bloodedly pushes the city’s protector to extreme physical and psychological exhaustion.
The runtime of the first installment is 78 minutes. The adult R rating is due to bloody action scenes and realistic violence.
Gotham’s darkest night is coming. Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall on Digital 8/25 pic.twitter.com/oZWuRt19Pi
— Warner Bros. Entertainment (@WBHomeEnt) July 21, 2026
The voice cast includes:
- Anson Mount — Bruce Wayne / Batman;
- Michael Mando — Bane;
- Pablo Schreiber — Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael).
Trilogy Format and Upcoming Release Schedule
According to IMDb, early viewers rated the premiere chapter 8 out of 10, while on Rotten Tomatoes, the project received a warm reception from fans of the original lore.
Warner Bros. Animation is adapting the massive Knightfall storyline for the screen for the first time as a three-part animated series:
- Part One (Knightfall): available on digital starting August 25, 2026;
- Part Two: scheduled for release by the end of 2026;
- Final Part Three: slated for release in early 2027.
