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Fansided

Why The Batman will be a crime thriller unlike anything we’ve ever seen before

By Michael Johnson

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 17: Robert Pattinson attends the Dior show, during Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2020-2021, on January 17, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 17: Robert Pattinson attends the Dior show, during Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2020-2021, on January 17, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images) /
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The Batman
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 20: The Bat-Signal illuminated historic Stage 16 at the Warner Bros. Studios Lot in Burbank, California, home of Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin on September 20, 2019 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Warner Bros.) /

Gotham is a universe of its own

Reeves wanted this Batman universe different from any other Batman movie, and it started with Gotham. To do this, Reeves exploited the gothic nature of Liverpool and shaped the city of Gotham around it.

"“The idea is to go to Liverpool, where there’s all the foundation of the Gothic architecture, and then add all of the more modern structures in through CG.”"

The city also serves as an underlining narrative that affects Bruce mentally and emotionally, unlike anything we’ve seen on the big screen thus far. Bruce grew up in Gotham without ever knowing what lies beneath the city. Only knowing the evil that took his parents away from him.

However, the corruption lurking in the shadows comes to the light as he fights for justice in the dark. His exploration forces him to question his parents. What role did they play in the corruption of Gotham? Was his father part of it?

The questions surrounding this film is a testament to the attention Reeves paid to world-building. Other stories will unfold as this version of Gotham threatens to unearth what no other film has.

In fact, HBO Max’s Gotham PD spin-off prequel speaks to what Reeves wanted from this universe. It’s only the beginning. Gotham can become a universe all of its own. The sky’s the limit for what we can and will see from the foundation set by Reeves.

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