Though it was originally announced as a Batman TV show that won’t necessarily involve the Caped Crusader, turns out that won’t be the case when Fox’s “Gotham” arrives on the scene either later this year or sometime next year. Which makes sense, since although the idea of a Gotham City show about Commissioner Jim Gordon before he becomes Commissioner is interesting, it’s basically just like a cop show, right?

Not the case, as it turns out. Fox chief Kevin Reilly revealed that Batman himself will definitely appear — albeit at the very end of the series, telling Deadline:

The show will track Bruce from a child (around 12 years old) until he puts on a cape (in the finale). We will see how they get to become what they are as Gotham is teetering on the edge,. It is an operatic soap with a larger than life quality.

Sounds like Gordon will still play a big role, but it won’t be his show anymore. I don’t know if the whole premise got changed between then and now, but it sure sounds like it to me. It also sounds a lot like Frank Miller’s “Year One” storyline from the comics, which tracked the growth of Bats before he finally put on the cape and cowl.

Reilly also promises “all the classic villains” from Batman’s Rogues Gallery, including Riddler, Catwoman, and the Penguin. The Joker isn’t mentioned, but you gotta figure if they’re already including Batman, his nemesis is a no-brainer, right?

Danny Cannon will be directing the pilot, with “The Mentalist’s” Bruno Heller running the show.