Knightfall is coming, Bane is coming… in the new Batman trailer.
After being announced at the 2025 New York Comic Con, the first exclusive trailer for the animated Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall — I know, it’s a mouthful — has finally been released (below). And the Caped Crusader is being voiced by none other than Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ actor Anson Mount. His adversary, Bane, is played by Michael Mando, and it seems that Mount has a destiny all his own, as he is now portraying yet another character staring into the abyss of his darkest hour.
Jeff Wamester sits in the director’s chair for Knightfall Part 1, and the famous comic books’ storyline is being adapted by Jeremy Adams. The animated film’s synopsis reads as follows (per IGN): “When the mysterious behemoth known only as Bane frees Batman’s entire Rogue’s Gallery from Arkham Asylum, the Caped Crusader is pushed to his mental and physical breaking point.”
Most film fans are familiar with Bane thanks to another Star Trek alum’s performance (Tom Hardy) as the Bat’s villain in director Christopher Nolan’s runaway billion-dollar box office hit The Dark Knight Rises. And, yes, Bane is even more deadly and brilliant in the huge collection of Batman comics which came out in 1993 on the heels of the success enjoyed by the Superman versus Doomsday books. Yes, the one where the creature killed the Man of Steel in Superman No. 75.
In Batman No. 497, Bane infamously breaks the Bat’s back after having released all the inmates from Arkham Asylum. While trying and succeeding to capture most of his dangerous opponents, including the Joker, Bruce Wayne is worn down by constantly fighting crime night after night. Beaten, bruised, and powerless, Bruce is caught off guard when Bane shows up at Wayne Manor. He tries to fight, but Bane is too powerful — in large part because of the performance-enhancing venom he uses.
Bane smashes Batman’s weakened body over his knee and breaks the hero’s back at the end. What I find fascinating, though, is that the trailer reveals several scenes which played out in the immediate sequels to the Knightfall comics. Knightquest focuses primarily on the man Bruce entrusts to protect Gotham after the Bat is broken: Jean-Paul Valley, who takes on the persona of Azrael to defeat Bane and is played by Pablo Schreiber in the upcoming animated movie.
The third and final storyline in the Knightfall trilogy, KnightsEnd features Bruce Wayne retraining his body and soul to take up the mantle of the Dark Knight once more. Azrael’s heroics have turned to murder after Bane’s defeat, and it’s up to Bruce to reclaim his rightful place as Gotham’s protector after his replacement has come unhinged.
Personally, I’m most excited for Knightfall and KnightsEnd because I can’t wait to see Mount play all the emotional beats Bruce/Batman must go through to triumph over the darkest hour of his entire crimefighting career. And I think the exclusive trailer looks very promising.
Are you as excited as I am to watch Anson Mount portray Batman? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the casting via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall drops later this year.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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