WatchingThe Batmanmay be a bit more unsettling than it usually is watching Batman movies. Set to finally be released in theaters in March,The Batmanwill debut Robert Pattinson as a new incarnation of the character set in its own standalone universe. Given the immense excitement that already surrounds its release, the movie will more than likely be a huge hit, and a new franchise feels all but inevitable.
DirectorMatt Reeveshas also teased thatThe Batmanwill be the polar opposite of the campy, colorful, and fun way the character was first brought to life in live-action by Adam West. In the latest issues of Total Film, Reeves says that this will in fact be the “scariest” Batman movie yet, further teasing the darker tone this movie has compared to most other superhero flicks. Reeves also promises that his take on the Caped Crusader is not like any other Batman movie that’s ever been released.
“This movie, I think, is probably the scariest Batman that’s been done. Because the idea of what Batman’s doing – it’s scary. Never been done in quite this way. It’s a detective story, it’s an action movie, and it’s a psychological thriller.”
Reeves could be referring to how the primary villain inThe Batman, Paul Dano’s Riddler, is a mysterious serial killer who leaves behind clues for Batman to solve after each grisly murder. The story is set two years into Batman’s career fighting crime, and this Zodiac-like murderer becomes his toughest challenge yet, even if we’re in his pre-Joker days. He’ll have the help of his butler and confidante Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis) andLt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)to help even the odds against the city’s corrupt network of officials.
A synopsis for the movie reads, “When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/akathe Riddler(Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
There are at least two planned TV show spinoffs in development at HBO Max which shows the confidence Warner Bros. has in the movie doing well. One series will follow the officers of the Gotham Police Department, but it’s unclear if it will feature Gordon or any other characters fromThe Batman. Meanwhile, Colin Farrell has signed on to play Oswald “Penguin” Cobblepot in his own solo spinoff series, though he will first appear inThe Batmanin a limited capacity. Meanwhile, there are early plans for multiple sequels toThe Batman, and there are reports of two alternate cuts of the first movie, one of whichmight feature the Joker.
The Batmanwill be released in movie theaters on June 27, 2025. This news comes fromTotal Film.
