Warner Bros. has released a new trailer for Batman: Knightfall — Part 1: Knightfall, confirming that the R-rated animated feature will hit digital platforms on August 25, 2026, ahead of a 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on September 8. The film will also screen at San Diego Comic-Con in the days leading up to its digital debut, following an earlier premiere at the Annecy International Film Festival and Market.
The Story
Knightfall Part 1 opens with Arkham Asylum destroyed and its inmates loose across Gotham City, forcing Batman to round up his rogues gallery while being pushed toward his physical and mental limits. That gauntlet builds to a final confrontation with a new arrival in Gotham: Bane, the man who orchestrated the asylum breakout. The trailer also features glimpses of other villains along the way, including the Riddler, Mister Freeze, and the Mad Hatter.
The film is rated R for strong bloody violence and runs approximately 78 minutes, a notably harder edge than most Batman animated projects have carried in the past.
Cast and Crew
Anson Mount voices Batman, marking his second time in the role after previously playing the character in the animated film Injustice. Michael Mando, currently also on screens as Scorpion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, voices Bane, while Pablo Schreiber plays Jean-Paul Valley, the vigilante known as Azrael, who steps into the Batman mantle after Bruce Wayne is taken down.
The film is directed by Jeff Wamester, whose animation credits include Justice League: Warworld and Green Lantern: Beware My Power, from a screenplay by veteran DC writer Jeremy Adams, known for Justice Society: World War II and Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons.
Adapting a Batman Classic
Knightfall is drawn from the 1993–1994 DC Comics storyline of the same name, in which Bane breaks Batman’s back and Jean-Paul Valley takes over as Gotham’s protector while Bruce Wayne works to rebuild his strength. The arc is one of the most influential stories in Batman’s history and served as a key inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.
Warner Bros. is adapting the saga as a three-part film event, with Part 1 covering the original “Knightfall” arc, Part 2 set to adapt “Knightquest,” and Part 3 adapting “KnightsEnd.” According to Warner Bros.’ release plans, Part 2 is expected later in 2026, with Part 3 following in early 2027.
Where to Watch
Once it debuts, Knightfall Part 1 will be available across major digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango, before arriving on physical media in September. With two more installments already mapped out, the trilogy positions itself as one of Warner Bros. Animation’s more ambitious DC projects to date, bringing one of the character’s darkest stories to the screen with an R rating to match.
