Fans are getting a glimpse of The Batman’s Gotham City in some new photos from the film’s current filming in Chicago, including designs for the Gotham Gazette, Gotham City Police Department, and the official Gotham City logo. Production on the Dark Knight’s latest outing was paused briefly by a positive covid-19 test, but shooting seems to be back in full swing. The Batman is currently scheduled for release in March of 2022.
In every iteration of Bruce Wayne’s story, be it in the comics or on the big screen, Gotham itself has always been one of the primary characters. The city’s corrupted ecosystem is central to Batman’s story, and every creator who works with the franchise brings a slightly different spin to Gotham City. Matt Reeves has spoken before about his unique approach to Gotham, paying homage to past interpretations while also introducing his blend of grounded location shooting and added visual style.
A new series of photos from The Batman’s recent Chicago filming, taken by the locally-based writer and photographer Joshua Mellin, give some up-close looks at the dirty, worn-down world of Reeves’s Gotham. The pictures show some beat-up GCPD vehicles – cars and vans – as well as some fun set dressing like street signs with the Gotham City logo, posters for the Gotham Gazette, and other background odds and ends. The atmosphere reflected in the photos isn’t unlike past film iterations of Gotham, but it’s also very much in keeping with the distinct noir aesthetic The Batman showed off in its debut trailer.
With excitement steadily ramping up for The Batman, it’s fun to see the film’s own Gotham coming to life. Reeves’s strong visual style was the main attraction in early promos and the movie’s first trailer, and fans of the Caped Crusader have been clamoring for more since. The director has proven his capacity to blend high-concept visual effects and grounded style in past projects like the Planet of the Apes trilogy heralded as one of the best reboots in recent years. Hopefully, The Batman is as successful.
Sadly, DC fans will have a while yet before they can judge that for themselves. The film was recently delayed again until March of 2022, leaving a year and a half before Robert Pattinson hits screens as Bruce Wayne. While it may be worth the wait for some, it’s one more warning bell for movie theaters' current state. At least The Batman’s Gotham City looks to be shaping up.
Source: Joshua Mellin
