Batman became widely known as a comic character via the 1960s television series before Tim Burton’s Batman redefined him on the big screen in 1989. Christopher Nolan’s highly-praised Batman trilogy deepened the character still further. Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice introduced Ben Affleck as an older, more weary version of the Dark Knight; he appeared again in Suicide Squad andJustice League (above).
Now another director is seeking to redefine the character in a new film. What’s in store for the Caped Crusader? Here’s everything we know.
Who is directing?
Matt Reeves. His early writing credits include Under Siege 2: Dark Territory and the crime drama The Yards. He created the popular TV series Felicity with J.J. Abrams and the two longtime friends later worked together on Reeves’ feature directorial debut, Cloverfield. He also directed the acclaimed remake Let Me In as well as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.
What is his vision for Batman?
Speaking on a Television Critics Association (TCA) panel this week, Reeves said (via Slash Film): “I’ve talked about making it a very point of view, noir-driven definitive Batman story in which he is investigating a particular case and that takes us out into the world of Gotham … I went on a deep dive again revisiting all my favorite comics. Those all inform by osmosis. There’s no continuation of the Nolan films. It’s very much trying to find a way to do this as something that for me is going to be definitively Batman and new and cool.”
Here is what Reeves said last year in an interview: “There’s a chance to do an almost noir-driven, detective version of Batman that is point-of-view driven in a very, very powerful way, that will hopefully connect you to what’s going on inside of his head and inside of his heart.”
Still, as Reeves explained to fantango last year about the possibility of a trilogy: “I have ideas about an arc, but really, the important thing is just to start… you have to start with one. You know, you have to start with a story that begins something.”
Is it based on Year One?
No. Frank Miller’s comic book arc, focused on Batman’s first year as a crime-fighter, was in development by Warner Bros. for Darren Aronofsky to direct around 2000. Reeves says: “Year One is one of the many comic books that I love. We are definitely not doing Year One…. Obviously we’re not doing an origin tale or anything like that.”
Who will star?
Ben Affleck’s continuing presence as Batman is up in the air. As to the casting, Reeves says: “We’re one piece of many pieces so I don’t want to comment on that except to say that I’m focused very specifically on this aspect of the DC world.”
When might we see the new film?
The first draft of the screenplay may be completed within the next couple of weeks. Production could start next year, per Reeves: “What we’ve talked about is hopefully in the spring or early summer, something like that.” That means it may be 2021 or 2022 before we see the next, currently untitled Batman movie.
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