Despite the film including multiple Batman villains, there is a very clear way that The Batman can avoid being overcrowded. Robert Pattinson’s debut film as the Dark Knight is set to introduce audiences to a host of Gotham City rogues. These villains include Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and Matt Reeves’ reimagination of Riddler as Gotham City’s very own Zodiac killer, played by Paul Dano. However, despite the large cast of characters, The Batman will feature what appears to be an intimate story set during Batman’s second year fighting crime in Gotham. It's a perfect setting for the noir-driven narrative Reeves has promised from the beginning.
Warner Bros.' official synopsis for The Batman reveals the film will showcase Pattinson’s disillusioned and angry Batman investigating a disturbing mystery that has been terrorizing Gotham. This synopsis also stresses Batman’s violent behavior and the realization he is no better than the very criminals he’s stopping. The rather detailed summary went on to describe a series of clues that will lead Pattinson’s Caped Crusader through Gotham’s underworld where Batman will confront Selina Kyle's Catwoman and a rogues' gallery from Gotham's criminal underbelly. That points to a film that potentially runs the risk of being far overcrowded.
A movie with four notable villains is still relatively rare in the superhero genre because films frequently have a difficult time balancing their storylines. This difficulty can be highlighted in films like Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Batman & Robin. These poorly executed films suffered as a result of their villains being underdeveloped and shoe-horned in for the added spectacle. Fortunately, Matt Reeves seems to understand how to best incorporate multiple villains. By using these multiple Batman villains in minor capacities and integrating them into the Dark Knight’s primary mission, The Batman will avoid feeling too overcrowded. It very well might unfold that each villain will each serve Batman’s investigation in some unique way, making them parts of a larger storyline rather than getting their own fleshed-out narratives.
All the promotional material for the upcoming film indicates Riddler will be The Batman's primary antagonist with his capture representing the Dark Knight’s mission. This is significant because it means audiences will likely not see any sort of supervillain team-up which would potentially pull focus from Batman’s Year Two journey. Alternatively, Catwoman, Falcone, and Penguin will likely represent fleeting obstacles that Batman must overcome to come to the bottom of the mystery that has engulfed Gotham City. Making these secondary villains a part of Batman’s investigation will work to the film’s advantage as their roles will feel necessary to the progression of the story.
Moreover, having Batman fight his way through minor villains and thugs to get to the bottom of a mystery will establish Gotham as a character of its own. Audiences recognize that Gotham is as important to the Batman mythos as Batman's Batcave or Robin and yet it has been underutilized in recent films. Having multiple Batman villains exist and interact with each other will go a long way in fleshing out the city and making it seem as though there are complex relationships in place. Furthermore, these minor villains will also serve the film well in establishing a rich environment for sequels.
Nevertheless, Zoe Kravitz does appear to have plenty of screen time as Catwoman in the upcoming film. While she’ll clearly overshadow other characters in the film, her role will be unique as she will tread the line between ally and enemy. Since Catwoman will pull double duty, her role will prove to be an interesting addition to the film as she pushes back on Batman’s increasingly violent tendencies. This complex relationship will keep things interesting and directly affect Pattinson’s Year Two journey as Batman. Because each of the multiple minor villains will be integrated seamlessly into the story, The Batman will avoid being overcrowded.
