Batman will not appear in Fox's Gotham series

California — Yes, the new Fox series Gotham will feature a young Bruce Wayne, but don't expect him to turn into the caped crusader.

Creator Bruno Heller told journalists Sunday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that "If there is a superhero on this show, it's Gotham."

"To me, heroes are more interesting than superheroes," he said, "because the difference is superheroes do the impossible, and drama is really about the physically possible. This is about people and people trying to overcome real problems versus trying to learn how to fly."

Gotham stars Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon. Heller says he's "the moral lynchpin of the show. If you look at the mythology, he's the guy that creates Batman or gives Batman permission to exist in that world."

We also meet the future Penguin, future Riddler, future Catwoman and future Joker.

There's a new villain called Fish Mooney, played by Jada Pinkett Smith. The possibility she will evolve into another character from the story's mythology was teased at Sunday's panel.

Season one, says Heller, will focus on the rise of the Penguin, played by Robin Lord Taylor, and his power struggle with Fish Mooney.

Gotham is scheduled to premiere on 22 September on Fox.

Watch the trailer here: