Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires

{{Infobox film

| image = Aztec Batman Clash of Empires poster.jpg

| caption = Teaser poster

| director = Juan Meza-León

| producer = {{Plainlist|

José C. García de Letona
Fernando De Fuentes

}}

| writer = Juan Meza-León

| based_on = {{Based on|Batman|Bill Finger|Bob Kane}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Horacio García Rojas
Omar Chaparro
Álvaro Morte

}}

| music = Ego Plum

| cinematography =

| editing =

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Ánima
Warner Bros. Animation
DC Entertainment
Chatrone
Particular Crowd

}}

| distributor = Max Latin America

| released = {{Film date|2025}}

| runtime =

| country = {{Plainlist|

United States
Mexico

}}

| language = {{ubl|English|Spanish}}

}}

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (also known as Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios{{cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/hbo-max-latam-unveils-batman-azteca-at-giff/ | title=HBO Max LatAm Unveils 'Batman Azteca' at GIFF |website=Animation Magazine | date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616081019/https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/hbo-max-latam-unveils-batman-azteca-at-giff/ |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |url-status=live}}) is an upcoming animated superhero film. It is a collaboration between Ánima with Warner Bros. Animation, with Juan Meza-León as director and writer. The film will premiere on Max Latin America.

Plot

The father of Yohualli Coatl, a young Aztec boy, is murdered by Spanish conquistadors. As an adult, Coatl is a priest in the court of King Moctezuma II and works with his fellow clerics in the temple of Tzinacan to develop weaponry, and equipment, to face the Spanish invaders using the masked persona of the "Batman".

Cast

Horacio García Rojas{{cite press release |date=September 6, 2022 |title=HBO Max presents the actors who will voice the main characters of 'Batman Aztec: Clash of empires' with the first images of their characters |url=https://www.hbomaxlapress.com/news/1882 |location= |publisher=WarnerMedia Direct Latin America, LLC |agency=HBO Max |access-date=April 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906162635/https://www.hbomaxlapress.com/news/1882 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |url-status=live}} as Yohualli Coatl/Batman, a privileged boy who is part of the priesthood of the Aztecs, whose life crumbles when Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés murders his father. His alter-ego is Batman, and he is dedicated to protect his home from Cortes and avenge the death of his father.
Omar Chaparro as Yoka/Joker, well known for being a stern and strict priest, who is told by the god Huitzilopochtli to engage in human sacrifices, causing him to lose his sanity.
Álvaro Morte as Hernán Cortés/Two-Face, the conquistador aiming to conquer Tenochtitlan. He is marked by an injury that left him facially disfigured, which he usually keeps covered.

Production

On June 13, 2022, at the Guadalajara International Film Festival, HBO Max Latin America announced that production on the film had begun. The first collaboration of Ánima and Warner Bros. Animation, the film is directed by Juan Meza-León and produced by Anima's José C. García de Letona and Fernando De Fuentes.{{cite web |last=de la Fuente |first=Anna Marie | url=https://variety.com/2022/global/news/batman-azteca-hbo-max-1235293042/ | title=Batman Comes to Aztec Mexico in Animated Film for HBO Max Latin America (EXCLUSIVE) |website=Variety | date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627015955/https://variety.com/2022/global/news/batman-azteca-hbo-max-1235293042/ |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |url-status=live}} The film is based on Batman-centric characters and is completely produced in Mexico.{{cite web|last=Mishra|first=Shrishty|url=https://collider.com/batman-azteca-animated-movie-hbo-max-latin-america/|title='Batman Azteca': HBO Max to Take the Superhero to Mexico With New Animated Movie|website=Collider|date=June 14, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615143750/https://collider.com/batman-azteca-animated-movie-hbo-max-latin-america/|archive-date=June 15, 2022|url-status=live}} Sam Register and Tomás Yankelevich served as executive producers, while Alejandro Diaz Barriga served as a cultural consultant.{{cite web|last=Dodge|first=John|url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-azteca-choque-de-imperios-announced-hbo-max/|title=DC's Next Batman Film Reinvents the Dark Knight as an Aztec Warrior Battling Spanish Invaders|website=CBR|date=June 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615110536/https://www.cbr.com/batman-azteca-choque-de-imperios-announced-hbo-max/|archive-date=June 15, 2022|url-status=live}}

Some reviewers said that the collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and Latin American companies is likely "one of many", noting that HBO Max Latin America is aiming to "release 50-70 Latin America-branch originals" by 2023.{{cite web|last=Shotwell|first=Alyssa|url=https://www.themarysue.com/animated-aztec-batman/|title=16th Century Batman Is the Perfect Reason for a New Animated Batman Movie|website=The Mary Sue|date=June 16, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617031038/https://www.themarysue.com/animated-aztec-batman/|archive-date=June 17, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=de La Fuente|first=Anna Marie|url=https://variety.com/2022/global/global/hbo-max-latin-america-luis-duran-1235208496/|title=HBO Max Latin America Production Ramp Up – Broken Down by Top Exec Luis Duran (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706090943/https://variety.com/2022/global/global/hbo-max-latin-america-luis-duran-1235208496/|archive-date=July 6, 2022|url-status=live}} In June 2022, Horacio García Rojas was cast as Yohualli/Batman.{{cite web|last=Woinski|first=Bart|url=https://screenrant.com/batman-azteca-movie-animated-image-hbo-max-details/|title=Batman Will Battle Spanish Conquistadors In New HBO Max Movie|website=Screen Rant|date=June 14, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624230608/https://screenrant.com/batman-azteca-movie-animated-image-hbo-max-details/|archive-date=June 24, 2022|url-status=live}} By September 2022, Aaron D. Berger and Carina Schulze joined the film's production team.

Release

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires is set to be released on Max Latin America in 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.nexuspointnews.com/post/warner-bros-reveals-an-exciting-slate-of-animated-projects-at-annecy-animation-festival |title=Warner Bros. Reveals An Exciting Slate of Animated Projects at Annecy Animation Festival |first=Demet |last=K. |website=Nexus Point News |date=June 13, 2024 |access-date=June 21, 2024}}