For Warner Bros. -- which saw its Batman series fizzle when 1997's $110 million ''Batman & Robin'' grossed a mere $107 million domestically -- the answer has been to be very cautious about putting on the cape again. But three years after the nipples and neon extravaganza that was ''B&R,'' Warner is sending up the Bat signal. In a departure, though, Warner exec Lorenzo Di Bonaventura has opted to develop two separate Bat flicks and has smartly recruited two young Hollywood turks: Darren Aronofsky, helmer of ''Pi'' and ''Requiem for a Dream,'' is on board to cowrite and direct comic book scribe Frank Miller's ''Batman: Year One,'' a retelling of the hero's origins. Meanwhile, Boaz Yakin, who earned indie cred with 1994’s ''Fresh'' and box office stripes with ''Remember the Titans,'' will go bat to the future for a live action version of the WB series ''Batman Beyond'' (which follows a young turk who takes over for Bruce Wayne).
Not surprisingly, specifics are as tough to crack as the Dark Knight's secret identity. While the studio is keeping mum, a source close to the projects says neither has the inside track to get a green light first. In either case, production won't begin until after the projected industry strikes this summer -- and given the previous films' long preproduction time, a 2002 release seems a long shot.
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