THE next anguished teen series — taking off where “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” began — could be a new, live-action version of Batman portraying Bruce Wayne as a wild teen before he put on a mask and cape.

The show, tentatively titled “Bruce Wayne” is targeted to air next fall and picks up years after the young millionaire watches both his parents get killed during a robbery, a source close to the show told The Post yesterday.

The new show follows on the heels of last year’s successful animated WB Kids hit, “Batman Beyond,” which portrayed Wayne, as a bitter, delusional old man.

“It will be dark and light at the same time — like ‘Buffy,'” the source said.

“Wayne” is being produced by Marquee/Tollin Robbins, the creators of HBO’s “Arliss.”

The pilot has been written by Tim McCanlies, best known for writing the screenplay for the recent animated film “The Iron Giant.”