It shouldn't come as a huge surprise, but The Flash and Arrow producer Andrew Kreisberg has confirmed that the Emerald Archer and the Scarlet Speedster won't be stopping by Gotham City or Metropolis anytime soon.
Just like the Smallville TV series wasn't allowed to incorporate Batman or Wonder Woman, but had full access to the rest of the DC universe, it appears that the new DC TV universe created by showrunner Greg Berlanti shares the same restriction. Here's Kreisberg explaining the situation at a recent fan screening of the Arrow/Flash crossover:
"There are things we can do, and there are things we can't," said executive producer Andrew Kreisberg. "I'm a huge fan of Nightwing. But there are cities we can use, and then there's everything else. You won't be hearing Gotham or Metropolis on the show anytime soon."
Obviously Kreisberg only mentions the cities are off limits, but it makes zero sense to forbid the characters from visiting the iconic homes of Batman and Superman unless they're not allowed to hang out with Batman or Superman, period. I feel perfectly safe in making this assumption, although I will happily correct this if I'm wrong.
Not that any of WB's policy here makes sense. Batman and Superman are not allowed to guest star on any of DC's shows. WB/DC can make shows specifically about Batman and Superman, as long as they are set in a time when they are not actively wearing their costumes — e.g., Smallville and Gotham. However, Arrow is allowed to use Nightwing and his city of Bludhaven, because... I have no freaking clue.
What is the deal? Why won't WB/DC let Batman and Superman proper come to TV? Are Batman 1966 and The Adventures of Lois & Clark really going to be the greatest live-action television versions of DC's two greatest heroes? Are Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite behind this somehow?
[Via Comicbook.com]