The Batman promises something edgy and different, or so the cast and its composer Michael Giacchino would have us believe, but it may be recycling what Warner Bros. had in mind before Man of Steel landed in theaters.
Following the release of the first camera test footage of Robert Pattinson in the Batsuit, TheWrap reported that the film would take place in “Bruce Wayne’s second year as the Dark Knight detective.”
Cosmic Book News writer Matt McGloin claims the idea of a second year Batman goes all the way back to 2012 when a Batman solo film was expected to release sometime in 2016.
Related: Matt Reeves Unveils First Camera Test Footage Of Robert Pattinson In Batsuit For The Batman
McGloin wrote back in 2012:
“I’m told that a new Batman movie might be slated for 2016 following the Justice League Movie, and it will not be an origin story (like Amazing Spider-Man), but will feature a Batman who is entering his second year as a hero.”
McGloin continued his “insider info is confirmed” and WB is reverting to their original plan which he guessed was writer/director Matt Reeves’ intent from the beginning. While Reeves might be using the idea of Batman in his second year, there are some differences in what was originally reported back in 2012.
The main difference is that the alleged pitch back then indicated the film was going to explore Arkham, something Ben Affleck was going to do in his script for The Batman as well.
Affleck bailed from the project and the DC Extended Universe altogether over reported creative and personal issues. He went as far as declaring “I’m not Batman” on Jimmy Kimmel when Reeves’ take was made official.
Related: Composer Michael Giacchino Says The Batman Will Be “A Whole New Take On The Character”
Man of Steel, McGloin points out, was to make Superman a centerpiece of the Justice League. Unfortunately, it didn’t make the billion dollars the studio was hoping for and they rushed the shared universe with BVS.
Director of all three films Zack Snyder may be dismissed but we are still experiencing the fallout of WB’s decisions during this period. Justice League’s Snyder Cut is still a bone of contention and supporters want it released.
In the current superhero climate, Warner is doing more standalone movies again and its execs feel mimicking the Marvel model is less urgent.
McGloin suspects a soft reboot of the DCEU is coming due to Reeves’ younger Batman, James Gunn’s Suicide Squad, and J.J. Abrams possibly tackling a younger Superman and Green Lantern. Abrams might also have eyes on Justice League – a rumor we reported.
Complicating things are Henry Cavill lobbying to remain in possession of the red cape and Abrams’ alleged focus on Swamp Thing and Justice League Dark.
Either way, there is a new beginning in The Batman which is in production now and coming out in June 2021. In case you missed it, Matt Reeves gave us our first glimpse of Robert Pattinson’s Batsuit in a camera test he shared on social media Thursday.
View that below:
#TheBatman#CameraTesthttps://t.co/M1tAE2aTA1
— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) February 13, 2020
Are you interested in seeing a Batman in his second year patrolling Gotham?