The Batman is finally going to hit theaters and we have an idea of when exactly it will come out. Thanks to one of our prolific readers, who sent in some keen detective work that helped us narrow down the release date to a much more specific window.
Before we get into all the details, it’s important to note that this is still just a rumor and nothing more. As much as we’d like to see the world’s greatest detective grace our big screens, we have to remain realistic and acknowledge that sometimes rumors just aren’t worth confirming or denying. Especially since the information you’ll read below probably won’t be accurate anyway.
Rumor Has It…
For the past few weeks, rumors have been circulating that Warner Bros. and DC Comics’ upcoming cinematic interpretation of the classic DC Comics character, Batman, would finally hit theaters in April 2021. The month of April was initially thought to be a typo and was changed to March. Then, the rumor changed again to say that the movie would instead come out in May 2021.
After learning more about the production and the challenges the filmmakers faced, we can finally say that this rumor probably isn’t worth paying attention to. The movie is not going to be released as early as March 2021 as was first thought and more likely will come out in the summer of 2021. For more information, read on!
The Production And Challenges Facing The Filmmakers
The Batman is being produced by Warner Bros. and DC Comics with the vision of Director Matt Reeves and written by Matt Reeves and DC Comics’ chief creative officer, Geoff Johns. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, with a voice cast that also includes Paul Denny as the Penguin, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, and more.
The Batman will be Reeves’ feature directorial debut and will also be his first collaboration with Johns. As someone who has written for Marvel and DC Comics but has primarily worked on solo features, this will be a big step up for Reeves and his team. Indeed, one of the main challenges they faced was convincing viewers that they were indeed creating an independent film when they were ostensibly following the exploits of one of the most recognizably associated superheroes ever created by the comic book giant.
Why Are They Picking On Batman?
As previously mentioned, The Batman will be Reeves’ debut as a feature director. A solo feature focusing on Bruce Wayne’s (Pattinson’s) alter ego as he transitions from an anonymous billionaire to a man who will become arguably the most recognizable superhero in the world, is a challenging task. Especially since you’re asking the actor to essentially portray a dual role as the both Bruce Wayne and Batman. There is no escaping the fact that this is a challenging project and one that will undoubtedly require a lot of patience from the director. And, for that matter, the audience.
There is also another reason why Batman is the obvious choice for the project. He is one of the most recognizable superheroes in the world and has been featured in many media appearances dating back to the ’30s. Moreover, Batman has been a frequent presence in films and various forms of media for years. In fact, there have been so many Batman solo features that the character actually has his own franchise. The Batman is, in other words, the ideal candidate to helm his own cinematic legacy.
What About The ‘Justice League’ Movie?
While some will argue that The Batman is just a solo feature and doesn’t need to adhere to comic book movie conventions, the film obviously can’t help but be compared to other superhero movies due to its connection with one of the most popular comic books and its inclusion of many recognizable superheroes. Moreover, it is essential that audiences know what they’re getting into with a solo Batman feature. As much as we’d all like to see Warner Bros. experiment with other characters and genres, Batman is still the studio’s go-to superhero and the perfect character to finally bring his solo adventure to the big screen.
What Will The Cinematic Version Of Batman Look Like?
The cinematic version of Batman will reportedly feature an updated rendition of Tim Burton’s (1989) classic look. While we have seen some of Reeves’ work, such as his television series, Animal Kingdom, we have yet to see what he will actually look like as Batman. Even more exciting is that Reeves has also been chosen to helm the highly anticipated Aquaman (2021).
From what we’ve seen so far, Reeves has shown a great interest in character design and an affinity for sleek, streamlined looks. Additionally, Reeves’ love of old film noir and his experience with indie films will shine through in The Batman. It’s going to be exciting to finally see what he brings to the table as a solo director after all these years. Moreover, the film will also mark the first appearance of Lori Lemond, who will play Batman’s assistant and love interest, Dr. Carina Loebl. She will be the first actress to play a role as part of the Bat-Family as she explores Loebl’s role in Wayne’s journey.
What About The Villains? Are They Backwards Compatible With Other Films?
Unlike the heroes, who can usually be traced back to some sort of inspiration, the villains are often times the opposite. This is especially true for The Batman, whose villains are mostly a compilation of characters from various comic books. This, of course, can be attributed to the fact that The Batman is the result of a long partnership between Warner Bros. and DC Comics. As such, this particular group of villains were already somewhat of a ‘collective’ even before the project began. This being said, some of them are more prominent than others and have been present in various incarnations over the years. While it is exciting to see such a wide array of villains, it is essential to keep in mind the nature of solo features and that some of these characters may not necessarily work together in the same scene. For example, since the film is about Bruce Wayne’s transition from being a billionaire playboy to a man who don’t sleep and is driven by a deep sense of paranoia, his relationship with Alfred (Jeremy Irons) will play a crucial part in the storytelling. This is one area where Reeves’ experience working in television, rather than film, will prove beneficial. This is also, in part, why The Batman will be released several months after its presumed date in theaters. As much as we would all like to see Batman get his day in the sun now, there is still a lot to figure out before the film’s premiere.