Perhaps the biggest moment of the event now, which is probably why it is closing the live portion of DC Fandome as all attention turns to Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson and ‘The Batman’.
Reeves opens by telling us that this is a Bruce Wayne trying to figure out a way to save Gotham and make a change but also looking into the corruption that is destroying the city and also how his own family fit into the mix. Villains like Riddler, Penguin and Cat Woman are all appearing for the first time in what feels like a very Batman: Year One style origin story for this new look Batverse. We are also reminded that Reeves is also working on the connected TV show ‘Gotham City PD’ which focuses on the police as the city begins to fall to crime but is directly connected to the film events.
I am really enjoying listening to Matt Reeves break the film down, especially the subversion of Bruce Wayne and his character in this road to becoming Batman and doing what he feels he must do to save his city. He says he is treating this as a more true to life hero experience, exploring that Batman doesn’t have superpowers so its breaking down his character and the keeping everything real from the Batsuit and gadgets to the Batmobile.
Moment of truth….so despite only having 25% of the film done, Reeves reveals the first look at ‘The Batman’:
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes “The Batman,” with director Matt Reeves (the “Planet of the Apes” films) at the helm and with Robert Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse,” “Good Time”) starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.
Also in the star-studded ensemble as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (the “Hunger Games” films) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Black Mass”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk”) as Officer Stanley Merkel; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Dumbo”) as Oswald Cobblepot.
Based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. “The Batman” is set to open in theaters October 1, 2021 in select 3D and 2D and IMAX theaters and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
My Thoughts…
I am loving everything I have seen and heard from this panel at DC Fandome, the trailer looks gritty and dark and down to earth in a similar way that Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins had. But Reeves is clearly doing something different, not just adapting the traditional Batman origin story or just lifting Batman: Year One off the pages and I do like it. the images from the trailer focus on the man under the cowl, a focus on Bruce rather than the Bats but still having that massive impact when he is on screen with a brutal violent approach that comes from anger and wanting to cause pain and injury to a criminal as we saw in the beat down.
I am certainly intrigued by Pattinson’s performance so far and do feel he could be an exceptional Dark Knight because the focus is on the man under the suit and exploring the reasons why he feels this is the only way to save Gotham.
Definitely worth staying up to 2am BST to appreciate fully! With this panel over, that concludes the LIVE portion of DC Fandome with the repeat playing of all the segments playing again. I have loved all the reveals other than a wobble with the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League but otherwise this has been an incredible DC Celebration for fans and I absolutely want to see more of ‘The Batman’ and look forward to more now filming has resumed.
