No DC superhero has had such a successful cinematic career as the Caped Crusader, Batman. Through the Tim Burton films, Christopher Nolan's incredible trilogy, and Batfleck, Batman has established himself as a cinematic presence in the mainstream pop culture zeitgeist, building off his incredible comic legacy.
Now fans are entering a new era, with a new Batman, and a brand new film. The Batman is one of the most anticipated DC pieces of content, a fact that has only gotten amplified with all the new info coming out of DC Fandome.
What We Know - Release Date
2020 has been a rough year for cinema, with so many massive delays and a severe sense of unknown when it comes to the long term future of theatres.
2021, though, is shaping up to be a fantastic year with a lot of 2020's delays taking place then, as well as all 2021 movies seemingly staying put. The Batman is slated for an October 1st, 2021 release.
Theory - More Action For Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth is always a fan favorite inclusion to the various Batman films, with Michael Caine's version being iconic at this point. This time out, fans will get treated to Andy Serkis' performance of the character.
Serkis may-be 56, but he is still much younger than Caine and is famous for his physical and revolutionary motion capture, prompting many fans to believe Alfred will be more involved in the action than previous iterations of the character. Not necessarily going out guns blazing, but certainly being more involved in the field.
What We Know - The Cast & Crew
The Batman has been written by - alongside Peter Craig - by Matt Reeves, with cinematography coming from Greig Frazier (Zero Dark Thirty (2012),) editing from William Hoy and Tyler Nelson, with music from the legendary Michael Giacchino.
Going back to Serkis, he is one of many incredible performers cast in this film. Robert Pattinson (Batman/Bruce Wayne), Paul Dano (Riddler/Edward Nashton), Colin Farrell (Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot), Zoë Kravitz (Catwoman/Selina Kyle), Jeffrey Wright (Commissioner Gordon), Peter Sarsgaard (D.A. Gil Colson), Jayme Lawson (Bella Reál), Barry Keoghan (Stanley Merkel, GPD), and John Turturro (Carmine Falcone), as well as undisclosed roles for Gil Perez-Abraham, Charlie Carver, and Max Carver.
Theory - Court Of Owls
The Court of Owls is a relatively new addition to the vast rogues' gallery of Batman, debuting in 2011 by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo and is an ancient society of Gotham's richest and most powerful, who manipulate politics and maintain the power of the elites, aided by assassins known as Talons.
The Batman trailer sees Batman handed a Riddle in a card with an owl on the front, and at more of a stretch, Batman's gauntlets look like that of Talon, William Cobb. On top of that, Reeves says Batman will uncover the deep-rooted corruption in Gotham, which may point to the involvement of the group.
What We Know - The Rogues Gallery
The characters from Batman's rogues' gallery are so often a standout aspect of the movie they are in, whether it be Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson's Joker, Tom Hardy's Bane, or Michelle Pfifer or Anne Hathaway's Catwoman.
This movie looks to be no different, with the Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman all confirmed to be in the film. It seems as though Paul Dano's Riddler is the main villain, but that could be a red herring, and Catwoman could once again not be a villain, more of an anti-hero. We also know that these villains are not at the height of their powers, with Reeves confirming the three are each near the beginning of their journeys.
Theory - Batman Creates The Riddler
There is very little information about Paul Dano's Riddler, with only a few lines from the trailer and a couple of shots of what presumably is the famous villain.
Based on the trailer, there is a theory that it was Batman who inadvertently created Riddler. There is a theory that Batman's refusal to kill got someone close to the Riddler killed, with a criminal Batman let free murdering someone/affecting the life of Edward Nashton, with Riddler out killing to prove a point.
What We Know - Separate Universe
The DCEU has been a mixed bag to this point with a lot of issues throughout it, but at this point looks to have calmed down and is on the right path finally. However, DC does not revolve around that universe.
The Batman has gotten confirmed to be in a separate universe from others. It can easily be a part of the multiverse, but in terms of Arthur Fleck, Batfleck, and the Justice League as in the DCEU, Pattinson's Batman is separate.
Theory - Rated R
Over the past few years, rated-R superhero films have shown themselves to be a source of potential brilliance, with the likes of Deadpool and Logan, Batman is another character who could thrive with an R rating.
Of course, it is highly unlikely. This film looks more Dark Knight trilogy, with a gritty, dark, violent feel, rather than the guts, gore, and profanity of the examples mentioned above. Some fans still have hope, though.
What We Know - Bruce Wayne's Second Year As Batman
Everybody knows the Batman origin story, it has gotten told time and time again, and is iconic and arguably worn out in terms of the big screen.
This is not an origin story. There will be elements of origin story in it, no doubt, but the film takes place in Bruce Wayne's second year as Batman and will see him battle a lot of the issues that come physically and mentally from being so new to the life of a vigilante.
Theory - Who We Think Is The Riddler Is Actually The Joker
It seems to be made evident in the trailer for the film that Paul Dano's Riddler is the masked figure we see utilizing duct tape and leaving riddles for the Bat.
However, one fan theory poses that the riddle left for the Batman is not a riddle, but a joke. What does a liar do when he's dead? He lies still. It is a joke, not a riddle, and it is left by the Joker, not Dano's Riddler. Of course, it seems extremely unlikely, but either by way of the Joker or the Court of Owls, there is certainly a case that Riddler is not the big bad of the film.