Jada Pinkett Smith previews ‘Gotham,’ the ‘origin story,’ Netflix lands streaming for 2015

Batman fans are clamoring over the new series Gotham, a prequel of sorts to the iconic franchise. Jada Pinkett Smith spoke about her role in the show and hints at what fans can expect.

“It’s an origin story, and we haven’t seen that,” the actress said at Christian Siriano’s show at Eyebeam Atelier on Saturday. “We just
haven’t seen how Batman came to be, and the Joker and the Riddler, and what the mob families were like during the earlier era of Gotham … so I think that keeps it out of the comparison.”

Smith, who plays the villainous nightclub owner Fish Mooney, says fan boys are already starting to obsess.

“That, to me, is the most exciting part,” she said, laughing, “because you have such an enthusiastic audience already geared in, and that’s fun.”

Of course, most actors relish the opportunity to play the villain.

“Playing a villain is really about diving into your own personal shadows. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but it’s definitely fun,” Pinkett Smith says.

The main star of Gotham is Ben McKenzie in the role of young Detective James Gordon with David Mazouz plays a teenage Bruce Wayne. Selena Kyle will be played by Camren Bicondova with a corp of young versions of Batman’s enemies.

Check out the latest teaser below as Netflix already closed an exclusive deal to stream Gotham.

Deadline reports that Netflix have reached a deal with Warner Bros. and Fox to exclusively feature Gotham on the online streaming service once series has finished airing on TV. This is actually the first time such an agreement has been made before a single episode of a show has aired, a sign perhaps that everyone involved are confident that Gotham will be a success. Netflix have actually paid $1.75 million for each one, and it’s expected to debut there in September 2015.

“Gotham is the most anticipated new series of the fall season and we are thrilled to offer it to our members around the world. The Batman origin story is sure to have massive global appeal so it is fitting that, along with Warner Television, we have created a new model for distributing a show that international and domestic audiences will love,” Netflix said in a statement.

Gotham premieres Sept. 22 on Fox.

Synopsis: The series follows one cop, destined for greatness, as he navigates a dangerously corrupt city teetering between good and evil, and chronicles the rise of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes. The entirely new, untold chapter comes from executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) and stars Ben McKenzie (“Southland,” “The O.C.”), Donal Logue (“Vikings,” “Sons of Anarchy”) and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Hawthorne,” “Collateral”).