Batman & Bill

Batman & Bill is an American documentary film that premiered on Hulu on May 6, 2017.[1] Directed, written and produced by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce, the film explores the creation of the Batman, how Bob Kane was accepted as the sole creator, and how Bill Finger was never credited for his work despite creating much of the Batman mythos.[2]

Batman & Bill
Directed by
Based onBill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman
by Marc Tyler Nobleman
Produced by
  • Don Argott
  • Sheena M. Joyce
CinematographyDon Argott
Edited byDemian Fenton
Music by
  • Brooke Blair
  • Will Blair
Production
companies
  • 9.14 Pictures
  • Thruline Entertainment
Distributed byHulu
Release date
  • May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Premise

"Everyone thinks that Bob Kane created Batman, but that's not the whole truth. One author makes it his crusade to seek justice for Bill Finger, a struggling writer who was the key figure in creating the iconic superhero, from concept to costume to the very character we all know and love. Bruce Wayne may be Batman's secret identity, but his creator was always a true mystery."[1]

The documentary focuses on the efforts of Marc Tyler Nobleman to find out about the history of Bill Finger, his involvement with creating the Batman mythos, how Bob Kane got all the initial and subsequent credit and then refusing, until his later years, to acknowledge Finger as being a key contributor, and Nobleman's efforts to find Finger's descendants and the legal battle to get Finger recognized as a co-creator of Batman. His efforts become rewarded with finding Finger's granddaughter, and DC Entertainment reaching an agreement with Finger's family in 2015, wherein all future Batman media will list the character as "created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger."

The documentary features interviews with Marc Tyler Nobleman, Michael E. Uslan, Roy Thomas, Kevin Smith, Todd McFarlane, Charles Sinclair, Thomas Andrae, Fred Van Lente, Arlen Schumer, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Robinson, Bob Kane, Travis Langley, Athena Finger, Benjamin Zaido Cruz, Stacey C. Friends, and Alethia Mariotta.[1]

Production

For more than 75 years Bob Kane had been the sole legally acknowledged creator of Batman. The 2012 book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-creator of Batman by Marc Tyler Nobleman challenged that notion by pointing out how Bill Finger is actually the person behind Batman and its mythos.[3] Upon the release of the book, other comic book historians and industry figures also offered their thoughts about Finger.[4] In 2015, DC Entertainment and the family of Bill Finger reached an agreement that recognizes Finger's contributions to the Batman family. Finger received credit in season 2 of the TV series Gotham as well as 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,[3] and now receives on-screen credit for the co-creation of Batman in DC films and television projects.

Nobleman's book served as the inspiration for the documentary.[5] The development of the documentary was announced in 2016.[6] The first trailer was released on April 21, 2017.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 88% based on eight reviews and an average rating of 7.1/10.[7]

See also

References
  1. Trumbore, Dave (April 21, 2017). "First Trailer for 'Batman & Bill' Unmasks Hulu's Batman Documentary". Collider. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  2. Moore, Rose (April 21, 2017). "Batman & Bill Trailer: Hulu's Documentary Spotlights Bill Finger". ScreenRant. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  3. McMillan, Graeme (September 18, 2015). "DC Entertainment To Give Classic Batman Writer Credit in 'Gotham' and 'Batman v Superman' (Exclusive)". TheHollywoodReporter. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  4. Marnell, Blair (April 21, 2017). "BATMAN AND BILL Trailer Makes the Case For Dark Knight's Lost Creator | Nerdist". Nerdist. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. N'Duka, Amanda (January 7, 2017). "'Batman & Bill': Marc Nobleman's Crusade To Unearth Uncredited Creator Of DC Superhero – TCA". Deadline. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  6. Arrant, Chris (August 8, 2016). "HULU Documentary on BATMAN Co-Creator BILL FINGER". Newsarama. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  7. "Batman & Bill". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
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