Batman fights a dangerous masked vigilante within the first 10 minutes of the new animated movie. Batman: Knightfall Part 1 wastes little time putting Bruce Wayne into another brutal battle. The fight also introduces a character who will become important to Batman’s future.
The story starts after Bane destroys Arkham Asylum and releases its inmates. Bruce has been fighting for days and is already exhausted from trying to stop the criminals. The opening fight introduces Jean-Paul Valley, a masked vigilante who operates under the name Azrael.
Batman clashes with him in a martial arts sequence that highlights their very different approaches to fighting crime. Azrael uses much harsher tactics against criminals than Batman does. Their encounter quickly shows why the two vigilantes are not natural allies.
Batman: Knightfall Part 1 sets the stage for Batman’s showdown with Bane
The film is the first part of a planned animated trilogy. It follows Bruce as his physical and mental condition begins to deteriorate. The story sets up events that will test Batman’s limits and alter his legacy.
Jean-Paul Valley also has a major connection to Batman’s future. In the Knightfall storyline, Valley eventually assumes the Dark Knight mantle after Bruce is left unable to continue as Batman. Meanwhile, Bane takes a different approach to defeating the Dark Knight. He keeps Gotham’s criminals active and forces Bruce to keep fighting without giving him enough time to recover.
Batman: Knightfall Part 1 arrived digitally on August 25, 2026. The 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD editions will follow on September 8. It adapts the famous Knightfall comic-book storyline and runs for 79 minutes.
Anson Mount voices Bruce Wayne/Batman, while Michael Mando plays Bane. Pablo Schreiber voices Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael. Bruce Boxleitner plays Commissioner Gordon, and Jack Giffin voices Tim Drake.
Jeff Wamester directs the movie, with Jeremy Adams writing the screenplay. The film has an R rating for strong bloody violence.
