History WhatCouldHaveBeen / BatmanTheAnimatedSeries

* Bruce Timm had created a character sketch of [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/batmananimateduniverse/images/2/2e/Zsasz.gif/revision/latest?cb=20120210194259 Victor Zsasz]] in case if they were able to add him to the show, but this was turned down by Paul Dini who would then say that Zsasz [[AdaptedOut would never be used]]. This is quite justified, as Zsasz all by himself is one of Batman's darker villains, having no quirks apart from being a StrawNihilist SerialKiller who keeps his KillTally by carving a tally mark into his skin. The story that introduced Zsasz in the comics, ''The Last Arkham'', featured in the comic book ''Batman: Shadow of the Bat'', was adapted as the episode ''[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE28DreamsInDarkness Dreams in Darkness]]'', but with Zsasz AdaptedOut and replaced with Scarecrow likely for this reason as well.

* Bruce Timm had created a character sketch of [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/batmananimateduniverse/images/2/2e/Zsasz.gif/revision/latest?cb=20120210194259 Victor Zsasz]] in case if they were able to add him to the show, but this was turned down by Paul Dini who would then say that Zsasz [[AdaptedOut would never be used]]. This is quite justified, as Zsasz all by himself is one of Batman's darker villains, having no quirks apart from being a StrawNihilist SerialKiller who keeps his KillTally by carving a tally mark into his skin.

* Bruce Timm and Paul Dini considered to adapt ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' at some point of the show, but ultimately realized that the story was too violent to be adapted, so they decided to not feature Jason Todd and incorporate some of his characteristics in Tim Drake. Dini and Alan Burnett would end up adapting a version of the story in the comic book continuation ''Batman: The Adventures Continue''.

* In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE54Zatanna Zatanna]]", Gentleman Ghost was meant to be the antagonist, but producer Alan Burnett shot the idea down, due to being too supernatural, and as a result was replaced by the somewhat forgettable Montague Kane. This would've made him a RoguesGalleryTransplant (due to him normally facing Hawkman), long before ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' did so. He eventually appeared in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' in a small cameo fighting Green Lantern and Hawkman.

* Batgirl would have lived in Gotham and would have had a crush on Batman and would only have become Batgirl to try and impress him. Changed for... obvious reasons. (Bruce Timm apparently had a Babs/Bruce shipping thing going on. He finally introduced it in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', but making it explicit in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke'' put off a lot of viewers.)

* Writer Rich Fogel [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDoY8tCg0Ag had the idea]] of bringing back Cassidy as a new Firefly, being driven insane by the experiences from "Torch Song" and becoming the thing she was afraid of. The show ended before that episode was proposed.

* Nocturna as a vampire was considered and Bruce Timm created a [[https://batmantheanimatedseries.fandom.com/wiki/Bruce_Timm?file=Nocturna.png character design]], but was nixed by the networks. The character in Timm's design has a cameo in ''The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries'' comic book.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_the_animated_series_14_2.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:An early design of the [[Characters/BatmanThePenguin Penguin]] before ''Film/BatmanReturns'' came out.]]

* As detailed in ''ComicBook/DarkNightATrueBatmanStory'' and comments in an article of [[https://www.tor.com/2014/12/17/neil-gaiman-sandman-morpheus-casting/ Tor]], there were plans for an episode where Batman meets [[ComicBook/TheSandman Morpheus and Death]] during a near-death experience with the idea of Creator/JohnHurt or Creator/AlanRickman for Morpheus.
* Bruce Timm had created a character sketch of [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/batmananimateduniverse/images/2/2e/Zsasz.gif/revision/latest?cb=20120210194259 Victor Zsasz]] in case if they were able to add him to the show, but this was turned down by Paul Dini who would then say that Zsasz would never be used. This is quite justified, as Zsasz all by himself is one of Batman's darker villains, having no quirks apart from being a StrawNihilist SerialKiller who keeps his KillTally by carving a tally mark into his skin.

* In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE64ReadMyLips Read My Lips]]", the Ventriloquist was going to make most of his money by fixing gambling and sporting events and would have a base on a barge.

* ComicBook/ThePenguin was initially planned to be more of a [[Film/{{Psycho}} Norman Bates]] type character, taking orders from an unseen mother, with Batman going so far as to call him MommasBoy. Warner Brothers, however, insisted they make him more like his [[Film/BatmanReturns movie counterpart.]][[note]]Or rather, his ''design'' was based on that film, his ''personality'' was closer to the comics.[[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:350:This is an early design of the [[Characters/BatmanThePenguin Penguin]] before ''Film/BatmanReturns'' came out.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:This is an early design of The Penguin before Film/BatmanReturns came out.]]

* Batgirl would have lived in Gotham and would have had a crush on Batman and would only have become Batgirl to try and impress him. Changed for... obvious reasons.

* The bible's enclosed description of Poison Ivy's criminal persona, a lovesick StalkerWithACrush obsessed with using various plant derived love potions to turn Batman into her infatuated slave, while very inline with how Ivy had been in the comics from the Silver Age into much of the Bronze Age, doesn't synch up with her actual characterization in the show proper. She does act [[TheTease flirtatiously]] towards Batman but there's no indication of her wanting to enslave his heart. Whatever's going on between them is purely [[FoeRomanceSubtext subtext]].

* The bible's enclosed description of Poison Ivy's criminal persona, a lovesick StalkerWithACrush obsessed with using various plant derived love potions to turn Batman into her infatuated slave, while very inline with how Ivy had been in the comics from the Silver Age into much of the Bronze Age, doesn't synch up with her actual characterization in the show proper. While she does act [[TheTease flirtatiously]] towards Batman there's no indication of her being fixated with enslaving his heart. Whatever's going on between them is purely [[FoeRomanceSubtext subtext]].

* The bible's enclosed description of Poison Ivy's criminal persona, a lovesick StalkerWithACrush obsessed with using various plant derived LovePotions to make Batman become her infatuated slave, while very inline with how Ivy had been in the comics from the Silver Age into much of the Bronze Age, doesn't synch up with her actual characterization in the show proper. While she does act [[TheTease flirtatiously]] towards Batman there's no emphasis placed on her being fixated with enslaving his heart. Whatever's going on between them is only [[FoeRomanceSubtext subtext]].

* In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE54Zatanna Zatanna]]", Gentleman Ghost was meant to be the antagonist, but producer Alan Burnett shot the idea down, due to being too supernatural, and as a result was replaced by the somewhat forgettable Montague Kane. This would've made him a RoguesGalleryTransplant (due to him normally facing Hawkman), long before ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' did so. He eventually appeared in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' in a small cameo fighting Hawkgirl.

* Bruce Timm and Paul Dini considered to adapt ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' at some point of the show, but ultimately realized that the story was too violent to be adapted, so they decided to not feature Jason Todd and incorporate some of his characteristics in Tim Drake.

* Bruce Timm and Paul Dini considered adapting ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' at some point of the show, but ultimately realized that the story was too violent to be adapted, so they decided to not feature Jason Todd and incorporate some of his characteristics in Tim Drake.

* Bruce Timm and Paul Dini considered adaptatin ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' at some point of the show, but ultimately realized that the story was too violent to be adapted, so they decided to not feature Jason Todd and incorporate some of his characteristics in Tim Drake.

* In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE7POV P.O.V.]]", Montoya, Bullock and Wilkes told their accounts of what happened in a coffee shop instead of police headquarters, and their careers weren't on the line. The episode proper also would have delved into Bullock and Montoya's backstories, revealing that Bullock was once a high school sports star with an abusive father who drilled respect for the rules into him, explaining his intense dislike of Batman, while Montoya would have been revealed to grow up in Crime Alley and is a reformed teenage punk, who cleaned up her act and dedicated her life to helping people. Their backstories were axed by the censors, and were one of the main reasons why writer/story editor Sean Catherine Derek left the show in frustration.

* "The Demon's Quest" originally had Ra's Al Ghul openly admit he kidnapped Robin, and force Batman to help him steal a jeweled statue of Kali, leading Ra's's assassins to begin a crime spree, forcing Batman to try and outwit Ra's to stop them and save Robin, with the help of Talia, who had other plans for him.
* In "Two-Face", Harvey Dent would be disfigured when Batman chases a thug into the middle of the stakeout. Acid meant for Batman would hit Harvey, turning him into Two-Face. Two-Face, after going on a crime spree, plans to lure Batman into a trap to make him pay for his failure.

* Mr. Freeze's origin was going to be completely different, and more faithful to the original comics. He would have been created in a freak accident in the cryogenics lab and would then use the lab as a front for his thefts of 'ice' aka jewels and diamonds, eventually creating an 'arctic smuggling operation'. It's safe to say that scrapping this idea and going for something new, a tragic origin for what many saw as a forgettable, gimmicky villain, ended up saving the character.

* Clayface would have been a small time criminal, not a well known actor.
* Hugo Strange would have been able to use his mind altering devices to brainwash people into simple-minded brutes.

* Creator/PaulDini thought [[https://mobile.twitter.com/Paul_Dini/status/1162499521525342208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1162499521525342208&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2F2%2Ftwitter.min.html%231162499521525342208 of]] doing a team up between Ra's Al Ghul and Poison Ivy, but it was shelved when the show staff moved on to work on ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.

* The Penguin was initially planned to be more of a [[Film/{{Psycho}} Norman Bates]] type character, taking orders from an unseen mother, with Batman going so far as to call him MommasBoy. Warner Brothers, however, insisted they make him more like his [[Film/BatmanReturns movie counterpart.]][[note]]Or rather, his ''design'' was based on that film, his ''personality'' was closer to the comics.[[/note]]

* Creator/KevinConroy initially auditioned for the role of Detective Harvey Bullock. Conroy believed that voicing the titular character would be boring and read for the part only at the behest of the crew.
* Creator/TimCurry was originally chosen to voice the [[Comicbook/TheJoker Joker]] before the casting of Creator/MarkHamill. However, Curry was replaced from the role due to him coming down with bronchitis, his voice being too similar to Captain Hook in ''WesternAnimation/PeterPanAndThePirates'', and being considered '''TOO''' scary for younger viewers.
** Creator/JohnGlover auditioned for the role of the Joker as well before the casting of Hamill. Glover would eventually go on to voice the [[Comicbook/TheRiddler Riddler]] in the series.

* Creator/LeonardNimoy and Creator/AnthonyHopkins were offered the role of Mister Freeze before the casting of Creator/MichaelAnsara. Hopkins was later considered for the part in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''.

* Creator/DianePershing [[https://lrmonline.com/news/how-an-illness-gave-diane-pershing-the-voice-of-poison-ivy-on-batman-the-animated-series/ almost]] didn't get the part of Comicbook/PoisonIvy. A different, unknown actress was originally cast while she would've played an incidental character, but ended up with Ivy when the original actress got sick.

* The 'The Demon's Quest'' two parter originally had Ra's Al Ghul openly admit he kidnapped Robin, and force Batman to help him steal a jeweled statue of Kali, leading Ra's's assassins to begin a crime spree, forcing Batman to try and outwit Ra's to stop them and save Robin, with the help of Talia, who had other plans for him.
* In ''Two-Face'', Harvey Dent would be disfigured when Batman chases a thug into the middle of the stakeout. Acid meant for Batman would hit Harvey, turning him into Two-Face. Two-Face, after going on a crime spree, plans to lure Batman into a trap to make him pay for his failure.

* Due to their roles in the Creator/TimBurton films, Joker, Penguin, and Catwoman wouldn't have gotten proper introductions, as the audience would already know them, so all the other villains introductions would have been the first Batman, and the audience, would have met them as well. This is true for Joker and Penguin, not so much for Catwoman, whose first appearance is the first time Batman meets her. Her design was also a bit different, with long, flowing black hair coming out of her mask.

* Mayor Hill would have hated Batman for being out of his control, but wouldn't make a firm stand on him due to fear of losing pro-Batman voters. "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE9BeAClown Be a Clown]]" when Jordan was returned to him, Hill would have made a cold comment that if Batman had never existed, Joker wouldn't have kidnapped the boy at all. He and Bullock would have had a mutual friendship over their dislike of Batman.

* Renee Montoya would have been a major character, as opposed to the minor recurring character she is in the final show. She would have lost her husband to Gotham's criminals, shot and killed in the line of duty. She grew up in crime alley, so knew first hand what criminal lifestyles did to good people. While she would have had mixed emotions about Batman, she was to find herself working with him often and he would become fond of her due to their similar pasts. The irony being that she hated Bruce Wayne and all he stood for, thinking he was everything wrong with the wealthy and that he was deaf to the problems the poor faced. She also would have been a volunteer at a Catholic church and had ambitions to have children of her own, as she loved kids. She was to secretly dread the day she might have to arrest Batman.

* In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE7POV P.O.V.]]", Montoya, Bullock and Wilkes told their accounts of what happened in a coffee shop instead of police headquarters, and their careers weren't on the line. The episode proper also would have delved into Bullock and Montoya's backstories, revealing that Bullock was once a high school sports star with an abusive father who drilled respect for the rules into him, explaining his intense dislike of Batman, while Montoya would have been revealed to grow up in Crime Alley and is a reformed teenage punk, who cleaned up her act and dedicated her life to helping people. Their backstories were axed by the censors, and was one of the main reasons why writer/story editor Sean Catherine Derek left the show in frustration.