With the success of the new Batman film, it’s now public knowledge that Robert Pattinson is signed on for at least two more Batman films. What’s not so well known is whether or not these films will be direct sequels to the upcoming Suicide Squad film. Let’s dive into the film-making process to find out more.
What Are The Next Two Batman Movies Like?
While fans around the world eagerly await the new Batman film to see Pattinson in full superhero mode, the actor is currently filming the two upcoming Batman movies in secret. The first of these films, titled The Batman, was officially announced in May of this year and will star Pattinson as the titular crime-fighting superhero. The film will be directed by Matt Reeves and written by Jim Beach. Though they are best known for the horror film, Let Me In, Reeves has a lengthy filmography behind him, having previously helmed such acclaimed films as Cloverfield and War for the Planet of the Apes.
The Batman isn’t the only upcoming film from Reeves or Beach, as they have also written the script for the second Batman movie, titled The Suicide Squad. The filmmaker announced this week that he will be making his directorial debut with the film, which will star an all-star cast led by Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Scheduling conflicts kept Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) and Cara Delevingne (The Hundred Day Journey) from being in the cast of The Suicide Squad, but now that filming has begun, it seems that these two immensely talented individuals will be playing significant roles for the first time.
Will Smith And Margot Robbie Team Up On-Screen For The First Time
Aside from the actor behind the lens, Reeves and Beach have assembled an all-star cast for The Suicide Squad. Smith, who recently starred in the films Men in Black 4 and Focus, will be playing the leader of a group of criminals who work for the government and are used as expendable military personnel in order to take down a powerful drug lord. While Robbie will be playing the role of the criminal mastermind who recruits the group and is driven by a desire for revenge, Smith and Robbie have both previously worked together off-screen, with the actor playing Robbie’s love interest in the film, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. The duo worked together on the set of the latter film, prompting many fans to wonder if this could be the start of a beautiful on-screen romance for Smith and Robbie.
What Is The Connection Between The Joker And Harley Quinn?
One of the most intriguing characters to arise from the annals of Batman comics is the Joker. The character’s origin story is shrouded in miasma; what is known for certain is that the Joker was born Jerome Valeska, a privileged Londoner whose extensive wealth and fame was overshadowed by a sadistic sense of humor. It was never explicitly stated what fueled the Joker’s need for cruelty, but many have speculated that the character was inspired by real-life serial killer Jack the Ripper, who is reputed to have cut a swath of terror across London in the late 1800s.
One of the most significant events in the history of the Joker was ‘The Killing Joke’, the semi-autobiographical graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Johnson, in which the Joker comes to realize that his penchant for causing chaos and misery results in the deaths of those he loves. The Killing Joke is considered one of the greatest graphic novels of all time and was adapted into a major motion picture in 2016 with Joaquin Phoenix taking on the role of the Joker. Though the Joker has appeared in various forms of media since his first appearance in the late 1930s, the character is most well-known for his role as the protagonist of the Batman series.
Will The Joker And Harley Quinn Appear In The New Batman Film?
With production on the new Batman film underway, it’s now public knowledge that Jared Leto and Cara Delevingne, who were both in talks to appear in the film, will not be participating. However, it seems that the Joker and Harley Quinn will make an appearance in some form or another. In the comics, Joker is a well-known sidekick of Batman and does not always work independently, forming alliances and working in tandem with those he shares similarities with (most notably, the Joker and the Riddler).
It is also rumored that the Clown Prince of Crime will appear as one of the main villains in the upcoming Batmansaga. In the comics, the Joker and Harley Quinn have a son, the troubled Joe Jekyll, who bears many resemblances to his father. In the comics, Harley Quinn is the only one of the duo to have a speaking role, providing us with some much-needed exposition in a story aptly titled ‘The Joker’s Wild’. In the comics, Harley Quinn often teams up with Captain Boomerang and another infamous villain, the Penguin, to fight crime in Gotham City. Like her father before her, Harley Quinn is a genius when it comes to fashion and often dresses provocatively, causing her to become somewhat of an object of desire for men and women alike.
Who Is Robin?
Though the new Batman film will be focusing on the Joker and his minions terrorizing Gotham City, it is worth considering the significance of Robin to the lore of the Caped Crusader. In the comics, the Boy Wonder is the vigilante alter-ego of Bruce Wayne, born Robert ‘Robin’ Bruce to well-to-do parents who were murdered during a robbery. The tragic events that gave rise to the character were first introduced in the 1952 story ‘The Killing Joke’, in which the Joker shoots and injures Robert’s parents, causing him to grow up feeling a deep resentment toward the criminal mastermind. It was never indicated in the comics whether or not Robin hated the Joker because of the shooting or if he held a grudge against him for other reasons.
The character spent most of his early years in solitude, trained by his adoptive father to fight crime and injustice. However, Robin soon gained a gang of teenagers and young adults known as the ‘Legion of Doom’, who assist him in combatting crime in Gotham City. The popularity of the character exploded during the 1990s, due in large part to the popularity of the Teen Titans animated series, which featured a young adult Robin as a member of a group of superheroes known as the ‘Teen Titans’. In the comics, Robin is Batman’s prototypical sidekick and is usually seen wearing a bright, colorful costume, often patterned after the logo of his idol, the Caped Crusader. However, not all of Robin’s outfits have been reflective of the Batman logo; early on in his career, he donned a costume that was patterned after that of the classic comic book character, the Phantom.
Will We See Any Other Characters From the Original Batman Series?
Though it will be more than 70 years since the original run of Batman comics first hit the stands, it seems that the world of comics is currently paying tribute to the Caped Crusader and his alter ego, with many characters from the Batman’s 65-year-history being featured in recent storylines and animated films. Notable characters include the Riddler, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy, all of whom are set to appear in the new Batman film. With many characters set to cross over into various forms of media, including video games, it seems that the world of comics will be celebrating the legacy of Batman for years to come.