The idea of Robert Pattinson playing the Dark Knight was one of the most interesting rumors to arise in the last few years. The British actor, who recently finished filming the movie X-Men: Apocalypse in Budapest, became an internet meme after paparazzi allegedly caught him entering a London nightclub wearing an old-school Batman costume.
The internet speculated on whether or not Batman would make a comeback, especially since director Zack Snyder was reportedly considering a reboot of the franchise. Now that the dust has settled, is this indeed a direction the Batman movie franchise will take, and is Pattinson the man to play the Dark Knight in the future? Let’s take a look.
The Making Of Batman V. Roger Moore
Before we begin, it’s important to note that Batman V. Roger Moore was not the first time the Dark Knight had clashed with another detective. In the very first solo adventure of Dick Grayson/Robin (aka Nightwing), which was released in 1966, he battles his arch-nemesis, the Joker. In that particular instance, the Joker is dressed in full 1920s flapper attire, with a skirt, long black gloves and a small mustache that serves as a device to cover his lip hair. In the end, the Joker catches on fire and the two detectives battle it out, with Batman eventually winning. More recently, The Joker appeared as a hallucination/vision of Harley Quinn in 2017’s Batman; and, of course, we can’t forget about the 2005 film Batman & Robin, where Batman teams up with (or tries to team up with) his ultimate archenemy, the Joker. In this installment, the Joker sports a gray wig, dark glasses and a long black coat. While it wasn’t a traditional Joker appearance, it was still a departure from normalcy.
The decision to make Batman V. Roger Moore was a creative one and it involved a few different factors. First, it was a chance to have Richard Linklater direct one of the most iconic villains of all time. Second, it was an opportunity to explore themes of identity, with the villainous Moore using hyphenation to hide his identity. Finally, it was a chance to have an older actor play the iconic role of the Caped Crusader.
Reboot, Reboot, Reboot!
While there’s no word yet on whether or not Batman will be rebuilt, it is interesting to note that there is a rumor (which has yet to be confirmed) that Zack Snyder is looking to reboot the franchise. At present, all we know is that he’s considered a trilogy of movies (with a possible fourth installment), with Matt Reeves (known for his work on Cloverfield and The Avengers Age Of Ultron) attached to direct. While the director hasn’t confirmed this yet, it wouldn’t be surprising if we see Snyder at the helm of the next Batman film, as he’s expressed interest in helming a reboot of the franchise.
With or without confirmation from Snyder, it’s safe to assume that we’re in for a future of rebooting the Batman film franchise. After all, that’s what made the original movie so great — it was the very first time the dark knight had ever been on screen, and audiences couldn’t get enough of the character. Since then, he’s starred in a total of 66 films and counting. With so much media attention and such iconic status, it’s hard to believe that the character hasn’t been given the reboot treatment already.
What Will Happen In The Future Of The Batman Franchise?
With so much to look forward to in the Batman franchise, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what will happen in the future of the franchise. While we don’t know much about Matt Reeves’ involvement with the project yet, if he was to direct, what would be the first thing he would do? It’s pretty clear that he would want to give the Dark Knight another makeover, so that he could present him in a contemporary setting. While we can’t know for sure, it is possible that Matt Reeves could give Batman a sleek, modern look. After all, the character was originally created in 1939 and the director would want to give him a fresh coat of paint.
It’s also possible that Matt Reeves could explore the psychological aspects of the character, with the Joker being the most prominent example. The director has expressed interest in delving into the psychology of villains and presenting the audience with a villain that they can understand. In that way, he could humanize the character and make him more relatable and accessible.
In closing, let’s remember that all of this is pure speculation. We don’t know for sure what will happen with the Batman franchise in the future. However, with all the intriguing rumors and all the potential behind the scenes, it’s sure to be an interesting few years ahead for fans of the Batman series.