DC's R-rated animated Batman movie, releasing later this month, completely rewrites the character's origin story, and it is going to be brilliant. As fans wait for the DCU's Batman, who is set to come to the big screen in The Brave and the Bold, several bat-based blockbusters are planned from the DC Studios, including the upcoming Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires. The new movie is an Elseworlds retelling of the Batman story, set in the 16th century as the Aztecs face the arrival of the ruthless Spanish Conquistadors.
Fans have gotten several glimpses of the new 2025 Batman movie, teasing this epic reimagining of the Batman world, characters, and story. This includes adjusting the Batman character's origins, putting it into the context of the 16th-century world in which it will tell its R-rated story.
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will be released on September 19, 2025, coming in both English and Spanish. The new film from Mexican animation Ánima follows a young Yohualli (the stand-in for Bruce Wayne) as he dons the cape and cowl, becoming the Batman after the death of his father, Toltecatzin.
The Biggest Changes Aztec Batman Makes to the Batman Origin Story
A Different Killer for Batman's Parents
The most significant difference between the classic Batman origin story fans know and love and the one presented in Aztec Batman is the unique way it will tackle Batman's parents' death.
In the comics, Batman's parents are killed by an anonymous criminal, who comes to be known as Joe Chill, igniting a spark within Bruce Wayne. It is this tragedy that sets Bruce on the path to become the Dark Knight, in the hopes that no child ever has to go through what he did, watching his parents being struck down in the street.
However, in the new Batman movie, Yohualli (the Aztec Batman version of Bruce) has his father killed by Hernán Cortés/Two-Face, a ruthless Spanish conquistador who comes ashore and reigns terror on Yohualli's Aztec community.
This gives the character an even deeper connection to his parents' death, not just being scarred by some nameless criminal, but actually putting a face to the man who paved the way for him, the iconic DC hero. However, it does not take away the impact Batman's parents' death has on him, still being the inciting incident for him taking up the Batman name.
Batman Already Knowing the Joker
Another thing the Aztec Batman movie will do differently is build the Batman-Joker connection before Yohualli becomes the Caped Crusader. The new movie's version of the Joker goes by Yoka before he becomes the beloved DC villain.
He is a member of Yohualli's community, works as a priest, and knew Toltecatzin's son before he became Batman.
However, after hearing the voice of Huitzilopochtli (the Aztec solar and war deity of sacrifice) in his head, pushing his psyche to the edge of insanity, he becomes the Joker.
Another way this differs from the source material is that Yohualli is so familiar with Yoka that he actually warns him of the incoming Spanish Inquisition, which led to his father's death and forced King Moctezuma to go into hiding to avoid almost certain death.
Only One Parent Gets Killed
Aztec Batman's version of the Dark Knight also differs from the comic book character, as he is not technically an orphan.
In the new film, Two-Face kills only Yohualli's father, Toltecatzin, leaving this Elseworlds version of Martha Wayne alive.
Like Thomas Wayne, Toltecatzin is a big deal in this alternate DC universe, being the leader of Yohualli's village. This means fans will not get whatever this world's rendition of the broken pearls snapping from the character's neck like so many takes on the Batman origin story have before.
Batman's Final Inspiration
In most takes on the Batman story, the bats that are hidden away in a cave on the Wayne estate inspire Bruce Wayne that bats will be the thing he centers his vigilante persona on.
Aztec Batman puts a slight twist on that. Yohualli gets the bat inspiration from the Aztec bat god Tzinacan, who comes to him during a training session at a local temple dedicated to the wing-bearing deity.
How Batman Aztec's Origin Story Is Similar to the Comics
Batman Is Inspired By His Father's Death
Like the comics, Aztec Batman's version of the Dark Knight is directly inspired by his father's death. While his mother does not die as well, he takes up his superhero alter ego based on the death of a close family member to avenge the family he lost and make sure no one else ever has to feel the pain he's felt.
Fear Is a Major Motivator
This take on Batman is not just motivated by a parent's death. Like the classic Batman origin story, Aztec Batman's Caped Crusader uses fear and the harnessing of fear as a massive motivator. The character channels his fear when taking on his 16th-century foes, scaring them as much as roughing them up.
The Timing of the Batman Decision
Another key element makes its way from the comics into DC's 2025 Batman movie, and that is the specific timing of Yohualli making the decision to become Batman. Just like the comics, it seems as though he is motivated to take on his superhero persona not too long after his father's death, starting to train almost right away.
