Batman: The Long Halloween is one of the most celebrated and unforgettable Batman and DC Comics arcs of all time. And, creatively, it was so groundbreaking Hollywood seems unable to get enough of it. Narratively, they borrow pieces of it from time to time and things may be no different as it pertains to Matt Reeves.
Cosmic Book News is reporting The Batman will lift from the Tim Sale-and-Jeph Loeb story somewhat. The interpretation is said to be a loose one and Reeves will tell an original story focusing heavily on Batman’s detective prowess.
The film reportedly will feature several villains. Among the potential rogues are Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Firefly, Riddler, and alleged Big Bad The Penguin. Two-Face is also rumored and would be very appropriate. Harvey Dent’s scarring, at the hands of Sal Maroni, was retold in the pages of The Long Halloween almost beat for beat the way it played out in The Dark Knight and Batman Forever.
Even more villains figured into the three-part storyline when first published in 1996. Poison Ivy, Solomon Grundy, Joker, Scarecrow, and Calendar Man — the main villain of the piece — all showed up to antagonize the Bat, Dent, Alfred, and Commissioner Gordon. CBN notes any one of them could be in The Batman as well, but that is unconfirmed.
Notoriously, The Long Halloween was (already) one source of inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight. Alan Moore’s Killing Joke was the other.
Earlier this year, it was announced Warner Bros. animation was adapting the tale for a two-part animated feature. Starring Troy Baker, Jensen Ackles, and Dark Knight cast member David Dastmalchian, the adaptation will exist in its own continuity. It has no release date yet and wasn’t advertised with next year’s slate spearheaded by Superman: Red Son.
However much The Batman draws from the classic graphic novel remains to be seen. We will all find out when Matt Reeves’ reboot reaches theaters in the US and UK on June 25th, 2021.
How do you feel about seeing more Long Halloween? Do you like it as much as Warner Bros. execs seem to? Let us know down below.