Variety is reporting that during the 37th Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival (FICG), HBO Max Latin America announced they are unveiling an upcoming animated feature “Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios” (“Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires”). This will be the first-ever collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation, Particular Crowd, Mexico’s Anima, and “Book of Life” producer Chatrone.
The original, Spanish-language animated film places the iconic DC superhero against the backdrop of Aztec Mexico and immerses viewers in the enigmatic culture of Mesoamerica. The tale centers on a young Aztec boy, Yohualli Coatl, whose father, village leader Toltecatzin, is murdered by Spanish Conquistadors. Coatl flees to Tenochtitlan to warn King Moctezuma and his high priest, Yoka, of looming danger. “Using the temple of Tzinacan, the bat god, as a lair, Yohualli trains with his mentor and assistant, Acatzin, developing equipment and weaponry to confront the Spaniard invasion, protect Moctezuma’s temple, and avenge his father’s death,” the synopsis reads.
The feature is being directed by Juan Meza-León with Anima’s José C. García de Letona and Fernando De Fuentes serving as producers alongside Chatrone’s Aaron D. Berger and Carina Schulze. Sam Register and Tomás Yankelevich serve as executive producers. Alejandro Díaz Barriga, an expert on Mesoamerican studies and the ethnic history of Mexico and the Andean region, will work closely with the creative team to make certain that the indigenous representation portrayed in the film is appropriate and relevant.
The animated feature will be produced entirely in Mexico.