Batman in film & Robin". The commercials also featured the Danny Elfman Batman theme from Tim Burton's two films. Actor Bruce Thomas portrayed Batman in these ads, while Michael Gough reprised his role of Alfred Pennyworth in one of the ads. "Baywatch" actress Brooke Burns played Vicki Vale in an ad as well. Actor Brian Stepanek played the Riddler in one ad and Curtis Armstrong played the Joker in another. Following a rejected "Batman" origin story reboot Joss Whedon pitched in December 2002, Warner Bros. hired Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer to script "Batman Begins". The duo aimed for a darker and
Batman: The Animated Series premiered on The WB, featuring a teenager named Terry McGinnis taking on the duties of Batman under the guidance of an elderly Bruce Wayne. Then in 2001, the "Justice League" animated series premiered on Cartoon Network, featuring Batman as one of the founding members of the League. This was continued in 2004 by "Justice League Unlimited", featuring a greatly expanded League. Many DC cartoons unrelated to the larger DC animated universe, such as "Teen Titans" and "The Batman", also featured character designs strongly influenced by those of Bruce Timm. The dramatic writing and stylized art of "Batman: The Animated Series"