We may be one step closer to the classic Adam West Batman TV series coming to DVD. For years, the series has remained one of the most-requested yet still unreleased TV series, due to the very complicated rights issues with the show – not the least of which is 20th Century Fox having produced the TV show back in the 1960s, but Warner Bros (a sister company to DC Comics) now being the home to the character when it comes to film and TV.

Now however, Variety reports that Warner Bros. Consumer Producers have at least resolved the legal hang up on one very important aspect of the series on the corporate (and fan) side – merchandising. For the first time in 40 years, the company will be able to offer official Batman merchandise featuring the likenesses of the show’s stars, including West, Burt Ward as Robin, Julie Newmar as Catwoman, Alan Napier as Alfred Pennyworth, Cesar Romero as The Joker and Burgess Meredith as The Penguin.Variety didn’t mention some other notable cast members, including Yvonne Craig as Batgirl, Frank Gorshin as The Riddler and Neil Hamilton as Commissioner Gordon, but it’s not clear whether means those actors, for some reason, are still not included in the characters Warner Bros. can use or simply were kept off the list for brevity's sake. Previously, the only merchandise Warners could produce from the West series didn’t involve the actors – focusing on imagery like the show’s logo and the iconic Batmobile.Warners will introduce new Batman product opportunities at next week’s Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, with the first products launching in spring. Variety notes that Warners began negotiation with Fox, West and the estates of the other actors in August 2009.Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, tells Variety, “For the first time in over 40 years we will be able to offer fans a full merchandise program that captures the classic, kitschy look and feel of the original 'Batman' TV show. This new licensing program allows our partners to take advantage of the characters, gadgets and humor that made the show a smash hit in its day and a perennial favorite decades later."The timing of this story was notable for me, because I actually spoke to Adam West himself at E3 today, where he was promoting Family Guy Online and during our conversation, I asked West about the possibility of Batman finally making it to DVD. Said the actor, “I can’t say because I’m not privy to the suits and to all those back room discussions about it and who gets what slice of the pie. I think it’s probably a matter of how much money is involved, how much does it cost to pay off the music -- the people involved with that -- how much does it cost to pay off the actors -- the guest stars, the stars, the peripheral actors, the stunt people. All those things, it’s very complicated. So Warners and Fox have to work that out, and I think they’re coming closer.”That optimism West expressed turned out to be backed up just a few hours later by the fact that he obviously knew already that the companies had at least come to an agreement on the merchandising for the series. And if they worked out that aspect, one would hope getting the actual show into stores would be a big topic of conversation.So let’s keep crossing our fingers, Bat-fans….