Credit DC Comics
What Matt Reeves has in store for Batman features a rogues gallery of villains that forces him to live up to being the World’s Greatest Detective in a noir-inspired film that sounds a lot like The Long Halloween.
Anytime there’s a Matt Reeves interview, DCEU and Batman fans alike hold their breath. Batman is arguably the fave of DC, which explains why fans are eager for any news regarding The Batman.
In a recent interview, Reeves answered some questions about The Batman. During the interview with THR, Reeves revealed The Batman will feature a rogue of villains:
"“There will be a Rogues Gallery. The casting process will begin shortly. We’re starting to put together our battle plan.”"
For fans following the development of The Batman predating Matt Reeves involvement read rumors about multiple villains making an appearance. With casting beginning soon any sane fanatic will wonder: Which villains will pop up in The Batman and who will play them? What story arc will we see from Reeves’ noir film?
Why not Arkham Asylum?
Reeves revealed that his film will also feature multiple Batman villains. It’s easy to assume that multiple villains mean an inside look into Arkham Asylum.
It makes sense. The game was a smash hit while Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s graphic novel, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth was an epic tale.
With that said, don’t expect an overload of baddies. After all, it’s not a formula that’s proven successful.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy found a way to include multiple villains, without making the film feel crowded. We saw Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Carmine Falcone, and Victor Zsasz all in Batman Begins.
The Dark Knight featured Joker and Two-Face, while its follow-up featured Catwoman, Bane, and Talia al Ghul. Of course, that was Nolan’s vision, and Reeves has his own.
Reeves’ detective film noir will surely give fans a different, more unique depiction of Batman. The enemies he faces are particularly important.
A number of Batman’s villains already made their live-action debut in the DCEU in Suicide Squad, with a few more making their debut in Birds of Prey.
Unfortunately, Reeves didn’t name drop any big bads. However, Penguin’s name has floated around the project for some time. At least now we know he’s not alone. It’s time to explore the arc that has unique rogues for Reeves to depict.
Credit DC Comics
The Long Halloween makes more sense
Reeves was adamant about The Batman being a noir film set during the early exploits of Batman. He promises a Batman film that’ll dig deep into the hero’s psyche, an arc that sees Bruce Wayne transforms as he tracks down criminals:
"“It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.”"
The Batman feels like a thriller/crime drama. Gotham City is all about corruption and demands someone with elite detective skills to save it. What better story than The Long Halloween? There’s no Batman story that hits every nail on the head like The Long Halloween. It explores the early years of Batman and draws inspiration from noir films:
"“The Long Halloween follows the crusade of Batman, Captain James Gordon and Harvey Dent to topple mobster Carmine Falcone’s crime family. At the same time, however, a mysterious assailant begins killing mafiosi members: hitmen, crime lords, and other important figures.”"
The arc forces Batman into the role of detective in the early years of his heroics. There’s the female lead is Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.
Additionally, there are multiple villains from Batman’s rogue gallery with Solomon Grundy, Mad Hatter, Two-Face, Calendar Man, Carmine Falcone, and Sal Maroni.
While characters like Joker, Riddler, Grundy and Calendar Man play their roles, the story focuses on other rouges.
It’s all about the organized crime and the serial killer, who makes Batman put on his detective cap. Let’s explore which rogues should appear and who should play them.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 27: Dave Franco attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 480543 (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Turner)
There’s no Long Halloween without The Holiday Killer
Holiday is a serial killer who delivers a dead body, every holiday, thus, stripping away the brute force of Batman. Instead, Batman must become a detective to stop Holiday.
While all the good guys in Gotham are distracted by the Falcone’s, Holiday is leaving a trail of bodies that spans an entire year.
However, his victims are members of Gotham’s crime syndicate, mostly members of the Falcone and Maroni family.
No Batman villain brings out the detective like The Holiday has. Who is he? Well, not even Batman solved that mystery.
Though there were several suspects, the main suspect was Alberto Falcone. Gloria Dent, however, admitted being Holiday.
Dave Franco as Alberto Falcone
In the comics, Alberto Falcone is one of the suspected Holiday killers. In fact, he’s the only one who went down for it. Naturally, he has to be in the movie, and he’s a never before depicted character that Reeves can play with.
Alberto was the youngest Falcone who “dies” on New Years by the hands of Holiday. Several months later, it’s revealed he faked his own death. Batman and Jim Gordon caught him and he confesses to the murder.
Alberto says that he did it because he wanted his father’s acceptance into the family. When he didn’t get it, he made a name for himself as the Holiday Killer. Alberto received the death penalty for the murderous spree.
There’s nothing Dave Franco can’t do. He’s played in everything ranging from comedy to action. Playing an estranged spoiled son wanting acceptance from his father isn’t a problem.
While Franco isn’t an A-List name like his brother, he’ll bring some amazing qualities to a character that deserves it.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 13: Actress Gemma Arterton attends ‘Their Finest’ photocall during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at The Mayfair Hotel on October 13, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI)
Gemma Arterton as Glidia Dent
There haven’t been any true depictions of Gilda Dent in any format. In Batman: The Animated Series, a version of Glidia existed, Grace Lamont. While in Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Rachel Dawes also shares some of Glidia qualities.
Glidia admits to being the first Holiday killer in The Long Halloween. There are inconsistencies in her admission, but her love for Harvey was a major reason.
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She wanted to start a family, but Harvey was caught up in taking down the Flacone family. So, she did it herself, but didn’t continue.
Dent leaves the door open for more appearances across the DCEU. Her character is vague enough to warrant creative freedom.
In some ways, she’s an anti-villain. She just happens to display sociopath behavior. Dent gives Batman, her husband, and the GCPD the slip.
When thinking about Gemma Arterton, you think of an underrated actress with fantastic range and engaging on-screen presence. It’s easy to see Arterton playing a woman with a double life, a woman, willing to do what it takes for her husband.
By day, she’s the fiance of Harvey Dent. By night, or at least on holidays, she’s taking out bad guys. Her voice is amazing ,so who wouldn’t want to listen to her voice during a monologue confession?
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 08: Oscar Isaac attends “Operation Finale” film Premiere on September 8, 2018 in Deauville, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Oscar Issac as Harvey Dent/Two-Face
Reeves said in the past that he wants to explore the early days of Bruce Wayne as Batman. What’s that without Harvey Dent aka Two-Face? Finding a unique Batman villain doesn’t mean ignoring the great ones.
Yes, Two-Face made a couple of live-action appearances, Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever and Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight.
Nevertheless, we haven’t quite seen a full-fledged Two-Face arc. Batman Forever is forgettable, while The Dark Knight told a different origin story.
The early days of Harvey Dent aren’t sinister. In fact, in The Long Halloween, he’s one of the good guys. Dent and Gordon teamed up to clean up Gotham and take down the Falcone and Maroni families.
Does Two-Face work as a standalone villain? Probably not. However, a story following a do-gooder district attorney turned deformed bipolar sociopath after taking down a crime boss is a great story.
If anyone can transform into the character that is Harvey Dent it’s Oscar Issac. From A Most Violent Year to Ex Machina, to Star Wars; each of his characters have felt different and unique. Issac is the man of many faces, so two faces is simple enough.
As a matter of fact, his name made its way around the interwebs regarding a role in The Batman. Of course, they were just rumors, but it’s something Walter Hamada and Warner Bros should make happen.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: John Leguizamo attends the The 63rd Annual Obie Awards at Terminal 5 on May 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for The American Theatre Wing)
John Leguizamo as Sal Maroni
Sal Maroni is a big-time player in the mythos of Batman, courtesy of The Long Halloween. In the pages of DC Comics, Salvatore Maroni is one of the most powerful bosses in Gotham, second behind only Carmine Falcone.
The Falcone and Maroni family had an understanding and a strong working relationship. During The Long Halloween, it changed. The arrival of Holiday caused friction between the Maroni‘s and Falcone’s
Both thought the Holiday was a hired gun, working for the respective family. They’d eventually come to an agreement that the hungry DA, Harvey Dent was behind the killings.
Maroni sets Dent up by saying he’ll dime out Falcone. However, his real plan is to harm Dent. During their meeting, Maroni threw a vile of acid into Dent’s face, giving birth to Two-Face.
John Leguizamo is a tremendous actor with excellent range. To have him in a comic book movie is a major steal. In fact, the last comic book movie he starred in was Spawn.
As Sal Maroni, he would tap into his Carlito’s Way character, Benny, and reunite with the number one person on the list.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 08: Actor Al Pacino speaks onstage during American Film Institute’s 45th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to Diane Keaton at Dolby Theatre on June 8, 2017 in Hollywood, California. 26658_007 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Al Pacino as Carmine Falcone
This is the driving force behind the Holiday murders and king of Gotham City organized crime. He controlled most of Gotham including having the Gotham City Police Commissioner, Loeb, in his pocket. Carmine Falcone escaped justice from the Dark Knight during Batman’s early exploits.
In The Long Halloween, Falcone, as stated earlier plays a pivotal role. He’s the reason why Harvey and James Gordon team up. And inadvertently he gives birth to the Holiday killer.
We saw Nolan tap into this arc but not in the form of a crime drama. The series, Gotham, has a comic book accurate arc, but it’s Jim Gordon who takes down Falcone.
Furthermore, with Reeves looking for a female lead, there’s a chance we could see Catwoman. In the pages of DC Comics, both Batman and Catwoman make Falcone’s life a living hell.
Warner Bros. hasn’t veered away from big names. Robert De Niro has a role in Joker, so why not Al Pacino for The Batman? We didn’t get The Godfather Part 4, but seeing Pacino as Carmine “The Roman” Falcone is good enough.
A one-off role in a comic book movie, especially one that explores what defines Batman, calls for the greatness that is Al Pacino.
So many rumors point to Reeves adapting this arc for his story and many others. We’ll have to wait and see.
There’s a chance Warner Bros. dropped a nugget, with DC releasing a two-part animated film adaptation of The Long Halloween. The arc hasn’t received live-action treatment so the story feels fresh. It has everything we’ve heard about The Batman throughout the interwebs.
Whatever it is, Warner Bros is clearly happy with the script. The Batman glides into theaters Jun. 25, 2021.