FOX’s Gotham TV Series will not connect to the film universe

While many were hoping that WB had learned from Marvel and planned to use Fox’s Gotham TV show to help tell the bits of their new Batman’s origin without having to recap anything on film it seems that isn’t the case.

Speaking with IGN, FOX’s Kevin Reilly revealed that there will be no connection with the show and the film’s universe:

“We own all the rights.That’s what we’re licencing,” he said. “They brought us the entire franchise for a very healthy licence fee. We’re not negotiating this piece meal. We have all of the underlying Batman rights for the entire franchise for this series.”

“That’s what I like about this, it’s not some sort of adjunct companion series. This is the Batman franchise, just backing it up. I think that gives it a real focus as to what the show is about and what stories we’re telling.”

“Warner Brothers manages the entire franchise and its one of their top global franchises of all,” Reilly said.”So there will be an awareness of both and we’ll have to coordinate when we’re in the market place, but the productions are not piggy-backing off one another.”

While I personally feel like this is a huge mistake and a massive missed opportunity to create a thriving symbiotic relationship between the show and the films (not to mention the obvious marketing boost it would get) it seems once again FOX lays down their hammer and nobody is left happy.