(EW.com) -- Fox chose an auspicious moment to greenlight a Batman prequel show. The same day the network announced "Gotham," eternal rival Marvel saw its multi-punctuated "Avengers" spin-off "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." deliver a dominant series-premiere ratings performance. "S.H.I.E.L.D. 's" success is proof-of-concept for a new Superhero-Adjacent genre: A show set in a familiar super-universe that focuses on the less-super (and decidedly cheaper) heroes. "Gotham" is superficially similar. Like "S.H.I.E.L.D.," it transforms a supporting character into the lead: The show will apparently constitute an origin story for Commissioner Gordon, the chief lawman and Friend-of-Batman played by Gary Oldman in the "Dark Knight" trilogy.
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Fox has greenlit a Batman prequel show
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"Gotham" will give an origin story for Commissioner Gordon
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Fox has indicated that iconic villains will also appear
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