It has recently been announced that HBO Max Latin America is moving forward with an animated feature film titled ‘Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios’ aka ‘Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires’. The movie will be based on DC’s iconic superhero character – Batman. An interesting aspect about the HBO Max film is that the latest take on the Dark Knight is being localized and is set amidst the backdrop of Aztec Mexico.
The Spanish language Batman movie follows the story of a young Aztec boy named Yohualli Coatl, whose father is the village leader Toltecatzin, who is killed by Spanish Conquistadors. He runs away with the bad news to warn King Moctezuma. Later, the protagonist Yohualli is trained by his mentor Acatzin in the bat God temple of Tzinacan to avenge his father’s death and challenge the Spaniard invasion. The movie would be helmed by ‘Harley Quinn’ director Juan Meza-León.
Now that this fresh take on Batman’s character will be set and produced in Mexico and will feature top local talent, it makes us wonder whether a culturally rich country like India will ever get its own Batman movie soon. And if yes, then when could that be practically possible? Imagine an Indian superstar like Hrithik Roshan or Prabhas playing the vigilante superhero caped crusader – Batman. Feels like a distant dream, right? Perhaps not.
Around a year ago, HBO Max was launched in 39 new regions outside the US and that included Latin America as well. It was reported that HBO Max Latin America would make more than 100 original productions.
Incidentally, HBO Max is ostensibly eyeing its OTT platform launch in India very soon. The news came to light last year when HBO Max Indian plans were reportedly leaked. So, if we consider the same template which HBO Max Latin America is following, Indian OTT audiences might soon witness a slew of Indian original films and shows getting greenlit by HBO Max. Yes, and that could very well include a film or series based on Batman featuring Indian actors and helmed by Indian filmmakers.
If HBO Max Latin America can set a feature film on Batman based in Mexico, then why can’t there be a superhero Batman movie based in an Indian city like Mumbai or Delhi. Few months back, we had made our readers aware that ‘Kai Po Che’ actor Amit Sadh had lent his voice as Bruce Wayne aka The Batman for the Indian version of the ‘Batman Unburied’ podcast series. And Batman’s Indian fans have been wanting for more since then.
We have also been hoping for a mainstream Marvel Indian superhero film for a long time. Hopes went high when Stan Lee had expressed an interest to make a live-action superhero film on ‘Chakra’ in collaboration with Phantom Films, which was owned by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena. But the project apparently got shelved.
Now, it remains to be seen whether or not India can get its own localized version of the Batman movie in the near future. Like we said earlier, a probable and practical route might be the official launch of HBO Max OTT platform in India. And it’s a waiting game until then.