DC FanDome 2021: Watch the new trailer for The Batman
Robert Pattinson stars in the new trailer for The Batman released at DC FanDome.
The Dark Knight is returning to theaters next year in The Batman. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film — which is set outside the DCEU continuity — pits Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) against the sinister Riddler (Paul Dano). The project will also introduce new takes on beloved characters like Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis) and Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell).
The Batman faced some COVID-19-related delays that forced it to remain largely surrounded in secrecy.
Now, however, a new look at Bruce Wayne’s adventure is finally coming our way. DC FanDome is back for its second year, and just as its predecessor, the event is set to treat us to a brand-new trailer for The Batman.
Watch The Batman trailer
The balance this trailer strikes is impressive. It meshes the somberness present in the first teaser with the excitement and super-heroics inherently associated with Batman.
Putting a different spin on the Dark Knight
Batman has been the subject of many live-action adaptations over the years. As such, making a new iteration of the character feel fresh — especially one that’s coming out concurrently with Ben Affleck’s version, who’s slated to appear in The Flash — can be quite a challenge.
Matt Reeves, however, had an interesting way to tackle the challenge. Discussing the movie in a The Batman featurette shown at CinemaCon earlier this year (via Entertainment Weekly), the director revealed he would separate his version of the hero from previous interpretations by making the Dark Knight more grounded and emotional than previously seen:
"“I felt that we’ve seen lots of origin stories. It seems things go further and further into fantasy, and I thought, ‘Well, one place we haven’t been is grounding it in the way that [“Batman: Year One”] does.’ To come right in to a young Batman, not being an origin tale, but referring to his origins and shaking him to his core […] You can have it be very practical, but I also thought it could be the most emotional Batman movie ever made.”"
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was famously grounded. It featured a militarized version of the Batmobile, Joker suffered from facial scarring as opposed to acid burns, and Bruce Wayne’s body began to break down after only a few years of crime-fighting. Given the realism of Nolan’s trilogy, an even more grounded version of the Caped Crusader may be hard for some to picture.
Fortunately, though, we already have a fairly good idea of what this new take on Batman will look like: The Batmobile is not as sophisticated or high-tech as in previous films, Catwoman’s costume is a makeshift burglar outfit, and Bruce Wayne’s armor looks bulky enough to be a proper piece of protective equipment.
Still, even with their realistic makeovers, classic Batman elements like his costume, car and larger-than-life supporting cast are still very much a focus in the film. Given that, it’s clear that Matt Reeves’ commitment to realism isn’t impacting the overall heightened nature of Bruce Wayne’s mythos.
The Batman will be released on March 4, 2022.
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Are you excited for the new The Batman trailer? What Batman character are you most excited to see in the film? Let us know in the comments below!