The Batman director Matt Reeves and lead actor Robert Pattinson have the chance to take the Dark Knight to places no Batman film has gone before, kind of.
Filming hasn’t begun yet, but Matt Reeves’ The Batman already has fans and media outlets buzzing. Warner Bros. and Walter Hamada understand the value Batman holds. The Dark Knight warrants attention and is always a polarizing topic when it comes to casting.
Since 1966, we’ve had nine different actors play the role of Batman throughout 13 feature films (animated and live-action) in which the character played a major role. The Batman director Matt Reeves and Batfleck replacement Robert Pattinson are reportedly signed on for a trilogy.
Thankfully, even with Batman’s cinematic history, there’s still meat left on the bone. Matt Reeves has a chance to make his trilogy to feel fresh, and he’s already taken the first step to making that happen.
4. The World’s Greatest Detective
Those of us obsessed with the development of The Batman know what Matt Reeves’ plans are. It’s been reported over the years that he plans to highlight arguably Batman’s greatest strength: his detective skills.
Highlighting Batman’s ability to solve crime is something we haven’t seen, which is surprising considering the amount of attention put on his ability to do so in the pages of DC Comics.
In fact, check out some comic book threads and you’ll see the fanfare behind Batman’s intellect. Many have argued, for better or worse, that no one does better with “prep-time” than Batman.
Not only is Matt Reeves planning to highlight a strength we haven’t seen depicted on-screen but, as he explained to THR, he’ll do so in a noir-film format that made films like Devil in a Blue Dress, Out Of Sight and Drive so great:
"“[The Batman] is very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale… It’s told very squarely on his shoulders… a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films.”"
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy had a noir film feel to it, but it wasn’t as hardcore as Reeves’ film promises. Another way Reeves can differ from his predecessors is delivering a hero that’s just as iconic.
Credit: DC Comics The Bat-Family
3. Comic Book’s Number One Sidekick
To say we haven’t seen Dick Grayson and/or Robin on the big-screen is dismissive. There are actors who either played Robin or some form of the hero. The first was Burt Ward in 1966’s Batman: The Movie. 31years later, Chris O’Donnell played Robin in Joel Schumacher’s, Batman Forever, and again in Batman & Robin.
Ward’s portrayal of Robin was great for what it was. He was the first to dawn the old-school classic digs in campy classic. O’Donnell did his best in a film that featured both Robin and Batgirl. Unfortunately, Batman Forever didn’t do him justice and Batman & Robin left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises teased Robin with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s original character, John Blake. Other than his looks, and his “real name” being Robin, nothing else about Gordon-Levitts’ John Blake was Dick Grayson like. Although, there was a cool scene where Blake presumably takes on the mantle of the Dark Knight.
So it’s safe to say fans are thirsting to see Robin in a Batman film. With the rumors flying around, it does appear that we’ll see Dick Grayson make his highly anticipated return. Forbes’ Mark Huges recently spoke on the possibility of a new Robin:
"“I was told months ago that Penguin, Riddler, and possibly Catwoman are expected to appear, as well as other rogues and mobsters — and additional characters including Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, and potentially Robin, we should be hearing additional casting information soon.”"
With Reeves’ script set for a noir-film feel, introducing Robin is an easy feat. In fact, Bam Smack Pow previously explored how Reeves could make this happen. Of course, it doesn’t stop at Dick Grayson, as there’s an entire Bat-family waiting for some screen time — if Reeves dares to be ambitious.
There’s Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Stephanie Brown. Barbra Gordon is expected to make her DCEU appearance soon, and what better way to introduce Batgirl than a prequel Batman film that predates Birds of Prey? Just by adding Robin, specifically Dick Grayson into the mix, Reeves separates his Batman from all the others, but it isn’t enough.
Credit: DC Comics Hush
2. Exploring the depths of Batman’s Rogues
The addition of Robin and/or the Bat-family, while great, is only the tip of the Batarang. Who the dynamic duo faces is more important. We’ve had our fair share of Batman Rogues on the big screen. From Riddler and Mr. Freeze to Scarecrow and Ra’s al Ghul. Some of them twice or three times over. We’re looking at you, Joker.
Reeves should strive for freshness, and there’s no better way to do that than introducing villains who haven’t been overly exploited. Again, we’re looking at you, Joker. Apparently, Reeves’ initial script features some rouges we’ve seen before in Penguin and Catwoman.
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One can argue that the aforementioned duo had their fair share of live-action screen time. The Fox series Gotham did an excellent job telling their origin stories, thanks to Robin Taylor (Penguin) and Carmen Bicondova (Selina Kyle). Likewise, Danny DeVito (Penguin) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Catwoman) brought the characters to life in arguably the greatest Batman film, Batman Returns.
There are plenty of interesting villains ideally suited for the big screen. Hugo Strange is a complex villain scientist who could work well in a film with Solomon Grundy.
Riddler, while explored on Gotham and played by Jim Carey in Batman Forever deserves his own movie; which suites Reeves noir-film style. Hush would take Batman to another level and truly explores the depths of the hero. Meanwhile, Red Hood has the potential to do what the Winter Solider did for the MCU.
The list goes on. There are some reports that suggest Reeves will introduce a Rouges’ Gallery of Batman villains. So it’ll be interesting to see how he tells that story. And hopefully, it’s an arc we haven’t seen play out on the big screen.
DC Comics Batman
1. Story arcs we haven’t seen play out
Having fresh villains and the Bat-family naturally opens the door for Matt Reeves’ trilogy to tell unique stories. As mentioned before, there are a number of stories fans have wanted to see play out on the big screen. A story like All-Star Batman and Robin is an arc that has potential in the new trilogy. Not only does it explore Batman beyond the mask and cape, but it’s also a Dick Grayson origin story.
Batman: A Death in the Family is another story that fans have been dying to see on the big screen. The story features Nightwing, Jason Todd’s Robin, and Commissioner Gordon. Additionally, it features roguesJoker, Black Mask, Ras al Ghul, Talia, and Red Hood. Moreover, the DCEU technically lives in a world where A Death in the Family takes place, thanks to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
With Reeves exploring the “formative years” of Bruce Wayne’s Batman, The Long Halloween would also make for one epic story. Also, The Court of Owls takes a deeper look inside the history of Gotham. Another amazing story arc features the aformentioned Hush, a villain who tortures Batman unlike any other by simply taking the face of Bruce Wayne.
Matt Reeves has a plethora of material starving for his attention, and we’ll just have to wait until Jun. 25, 2021 to see how big a step he takes to differentiate himself from his predecessors.