Following a Warner Bros. press release indicating the studio would make a major push at Licensing Expo 2015 in Las Vegas, with new Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad reveals, the studio unveiled an official synopsis for Dawn of Justice. As the synopsis suggests, with the Dark Knight and Man of Steel pre-occupied by their own conflict, a new threat will rise. Whether or not that new threat is Lex Luthor himself (or just a twisted plan the billionaire sets in motion) is unknown at this point - made even more uncertain by rumors suggesting a Doomsday and/or Kryptonite appearance.
However, one thing is clear, whether battling with a god-like extraterrestrial or an Earth-born threat, Batman is going to need all the help he can get. Fortunately, Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader is expected to be an aged, tech-savvy hero, and while official (as well as leaked) images and video have teased the new (DC Cinematic Universe) Batmobile, Warner Bros. brought the iconic vehicle to Licensing Expo to give fans (and merchandise partners) a closer look.
That said, the studio didn't stop at giving attendees a sneak peek, they also included new details, backstory, and specs for Batman's iconic vehicle. A key piece in the Dark Knight's arsenal, as evidenced by a featured role in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight video game, director Zack Snyder has ensured that, like most aspects of the DCCU, his Batmobile isn't fresh-off the assembly line - it is an ever-evolving weapon of a seasoned crimefighter.
Check out the vehicle's backstory, along with tech specs that hint at how Batman might use the Batmobile in combat, below (courtesy of Collider):
Single-handedly designed and fabricated in near complete seclusion by The Batman, this infamous pursuit and capture vehicle has earned its reputation as the apex predator on the mean streets of Gotham City. Over powered with an unmatched hybrid of prototype military and civilian performance technologies, this top machine has been estimated to reach speeds of up to 205 MPH. The Batmobile’s imposing defense capabilities, supported by stolen Wayne Industries technologies, have been integrated with the latest in covert military grade armaments, stealth and active protection systems.
Facts:
– Twin .50 caliber retractable machine gun turret
– Fully armored
– Stealth-capable
– Active Protection Systems/Anti-ballistics
– 20 ft. long/12 ft. wide
– 7000 lbs.
In addition to relaying the official Batmobile description, Collider also recorded video of some Bat-engine revving:
Listen to the new batmobile! A video posted by Steve Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) on
General specs, like size (2o x 12 ft.) and weight (7,000 lbs.), give moviegoers who have yet to see the vehicle in person a bit more context but longtime Batman fans will notice some interesting tidbits scattered throughout the Batmobile fact sheet - especially in the description.
Noting the Batmobile was "single-handedly designed and fabricated in near complete seclusion by The Batman" lends further credence to our suggestion that Snyder's Dark Knight won't just be a skilled fighter, he'll be a tech-savvy genius. Furthermore, asserting "the Batmobile’s imposing defense capabilities, supported by stolen Wayne Industries technologies, have been integrated with the latest in covert military grade armaments, stealth and active protection systems" indicates this version of Batman is hands-on in the creation of his vigilante arsenal, as opposed to being gifted new tools by a complicit Wayne Industries insider (previously: Lucious Fox). Given that Bruce Wayne has not gone public with his secret identity in the DCCU, it can be assumed that, as in several versions of the comic character, Batman stole resources and engineered designs that he felt could be utilized (and reworked) for his own purposes.
Two of the more notable examples mentioned in the description and specs are the new Batmobile's stealth and active protection systems - which seem to suggest the pursuit vehicle will feature active-camouflage and remote functionality (a feature that Batman even used onscreen back in 1989).
When the Batmobile was first unveiled by Snyder, many fans scoffed at the inclusion of twin retractable machine guns - asserting that Batman doesn't use bullets to fight crime. Yet, with the official fact sheet unveiled, it's clear Batman's guns are .50 caliber retractable machine gun turrets. No doubt, this will be alarming to viewers who are already still sore from a neck-snapping Man of Steel but it's important to note that prior versions of the Batmobile have included machine guns and, more importantly, Dawn of Justice appears to focus heavily on Batman's frustration and anger - after years of crime-fighting and personal loss - that have left him "cruel."
Even if this Batman is firing real (not rubber) bullets around Gotham City, it's possible that this Dark Knight has abandoned honor in favor of brutal vigilantism. Still, even if this is a hardened and more militaristic version of the Caped Crusader, that doesn't mean that Batman couldn't eventually rediscover his more heroic approach - through interactions with Kal-El. After all, the "S" is a Kryptonian symbol of "hope."
Lastly, the Batman V Superman fact sheet indicates this Batmobile is an over powered "hybrid of prototype military and civilian performance technologies" - capable of 205 mph top speed. Impressive, especially compared to the Dark Knight's more cumbersome tumbler design; though, given the dense urban settings of Batman V Superman (Gotham City and Metropolis) it'll be interesting to see just how hard (read: fast) the Caped Crusader will get to push his new Batmobile on screen.
NEXT: How The Dark Knight Can Beat The Man Of Steel
Source: Warner Bros. (via Collider)