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DC Comics’ Dark Knight has a long and successful history in films and television, and now he’s poised to return to the big screen in The Batman, the upcoming solo feature directed and written by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes filmmaker Matt Reeves. Development has been slow on the project, but cameras are finally rolling on the film and we now have our first peek at Batman’s new look.
The Batman will be the character’s first solo feature since the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy and is scheduled to hit theaters in June 2021. Robert Pattinson takes over the role of the Dark Knight, and a number of other well-known faces will play some of Gotham’s most prominent citizens.
Here’s everything we know about The Batman so far.
- Title: The Batman
- Release date: June 25, 2021
- Cast: Robert Pattinson, Joe Manganiello, Colin Farrell, Jeremy Irons, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright
- Director: Matt Reeves
Gear and vehicles
An Uproxx report showed a stunt double donning the famous Batsuit for a screen test in Glasgow, Scotland. Director Matt Reeves has stated that this upcoming take on the Caped Crusader would be more “noir” and, if the suit is any indication, things are getting a little dark around here.
Here's a better look at Robert Pattinson's "The Batman" batsuit and accessories: https://t.co/bU2b9OJUNQ pic.twitter.com/Y6ripnqFeW
— Complex (@Complex) February 21, 2020
This detailed image seems to confirm the theory that Robert Pattison’s Batsuit is constructed from the gun that was used to murder his parents. The stunt double is also wearing goggles in the mask’s eyeholes because the Batcycle is here!
From the first look video, this Batcycle looks significantly trimmed down from Christian Bale’s monstrous machine in the Dark Knight trilogy.
A BTS of #RobertPattinson riding his batcycle.#batman #dccomics pic.twitter.com/1fGqP8HfqQ
— 16mmcrewpodcast (@16mmcrewpodcast) February 21, 2020
According to Uproxx, this Batcycle seems to be inspired by Scott Snyder’s Zero Year Batman comic, in which the Bat cruised Gotham on a dirt bike with a shield.
Images also showed Pattison’s Batsuit has gauntlets, replete with spikes to incapacitate his enemies. Likewise, the classic utility belt is present although it’s difficult to make out the individual gadgets.
First look
Matt Reeves shared the first look at Pattinson as Batman in a brief video (see above) uploaded to Vimeo on February 13.
The footage features Pattinson in costume bathed in infrared light, his face hidden by the Batman’s cowl. The clip is accompanied by a score created by the film’s composer, Michael Giacchino.
The supporting cast
Warner Bros. Pictures released the official cast list for The Batman in January 2020, confirming the characters that will be played by each of the film’s supporting cast members.
As initially reported by The Wrap, Andy Serkis will play Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidant Alfred Pennyworth. Although Serkis is best known for his performance-capture work — including a memorable portrayal of the ape revolutionary Caesar in the most recent Planet of the Apes trilogy — he has delivered some celebrated on-camera performances in recent years, including a memorable supporting role in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther. Reeves directed Serkis in the final two Planet of the Apes films.
After a September 2019 report in Variety indicated that Jonah Hill was in talks for a “secret role” in The Batman, the two-time Oscar nominee backed out of the project a month later. No reason was given for Hill’s exit, but the report indicated that he was in talks to play either Riddler or Penguin in the film.
Reeves eventually found his replacement, though, with Colin Farrell (below) now confirmed to play Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin.
Joining Farrell in Batman’s notorious rogues’ gallery will be Paul Dano (below), star of Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, and Escape at Dannemora. Dano will portray Edward Nashton, the brilliant villain known as The Riddler.
In October 2019, X-Men: First Class and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald actress Zoë Kravitz was cast as Selina Kyle in The Batman. As fans of The Dark Knight know all too well, Selina is the civilian alter ego of Catwoman, the notorious Gotham burglar who has been an ally, enemy, and romantic partner of Batman over the years.
Robert Pattinson’s Batman will also have a key ally in the film. Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright will play Gotham Police Department’s James Gordon in The Batman. Wright takes over the role from J.K. Simmons, who played Gordon in the Ben Affleck-led Justice League.
Joining the aforementioned cast members will be Peter Sarsgaard (Shattered Glass, The Magnificent Seven) as Gotham District Attorney Gil Colson, John Turturro as mob boss Carmine Falcone, and Jayme Lawson as Gotham City mayoral candidate Bella Reál. This will be Sarsgaard’s second turn in a film based on a DC Comics hero after portraying Hector Hammond, the villain of 2011’s Green Lantern.
At this point, it’s unknown if Joe Manganiello will appear as the mercenary Deathstroke in the film, having been confirmed as the film’s villain back in 2016 when Ben Affleck was still attached as director and star of the film. Manganiello’s Deathstroke appeared in a post-credits scene during Justice League in which he was seen meeting with Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) to discuss forming a “league” of villains.
Reeves indicated in January 2019 that the movie will feature Batman’s rogues’ gallery in one form or another, so there’s a possibility Manganiello could play a surprise role in the film.
Cameras roll
It was a long and tumultuous development and pre-production period, but cameras officially began rolling on The Batman on January 27. Director Matt Reeves commemorated the occasion by posting a photo of the film’s clapboard on Twitter.
#DayOne #TheBatman cc: @GreigfraserD pic.twitter.com/kOgcsa6zX3
— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) January 27, 2020
The star
After more than a year of uncertainty in the casting department, Deadline reported in May 2019 that Twilight franchise star Pattinson had entered negotiations to play Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter ego. The deal will reportedly encompass a trilogy of films featuring Pattinson as Batman.
Earlier that month, Variety reported Pattinson was the leading contender for the role, but a subsequent report published by Deadline indicated that the deal with Pattinson wasn’t finalized and that Mad Max: Fury Road actor and X-Men franchise star Nicholas Hoult was also in the mix. Hoult plays blue-furred scientist Hank McCoy in the X-Men films.
Despite portraying Batman in each of the films in which the character has appeared so far in the DC Extended Universe franchise, Ben Affleck won’t play Bruce Wayne (or his alter ego) in The Batman.
The release date
The expected release date for The Batman has been uncertain or frequently pushed back for most of the project’s development, but the studio finally put it on the release calendar in late January 2019. Warner Bros. Pictures has set June 25, 2021, as the official premiere date for The Batman.
A few days before the studio’s announcement, Reeves offered a hint as to when he expects the movie to hit theaters.
“We haven’t been dated. I wouldn’t commit to this, but we’re thinking the movie would probably be for 2021, late spring or summer,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Warner Bros. has been incredibly supportive and given me a lot of time and shared the same passion that I do for this story.”
The story
Like the Aquaman and Wonder Woman solo movies, The Batman is expected to focus on DC Comics’ famous Dark Knight while unfolding within — but perhaps less directly connected to — the studio’s DC Comics cinematic universe. Reeves has described the story he’s developing as “noir-driven” with Batman “investigating a particular case that takes us out into the world of Gotham.”
“It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films,” Reeves told The Hollywood Reporter in January. “The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime.”
Rumors that the film would adapt the popular Batman: Year One story penned by Frank Miller were debunked by Reeves, who said he wouldn’t be telling an origin story for the character.
The problems
First announced in 2014, the project that would eventually become The Batman initially had Affleck attached to direct, produce, co-write, and star in the film, sharing script duties with longtime DC Comics author and DC Films co-chairman Geoff Johns. All seemed well and good with the project until the first reactions to Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (in which Affleck made his debut as Batman) began trickling in.
Affleck’s experience with the notoriously ill-received Batman V. Superman (which resulted in the interview that spawned the “Sad Affleck” meme) appeared to sour his relationship with the solo feature, and he announced his exit from the director’s chair in January 2017. Matt Reeves was named the new director of the film a month later.
The troubles weren’t over for The Batman, though, as a report was published a week later indicating that Affleck could be on his way out as Bruce Wayne and the studio was looking for a way to “usher out Affleck’s Batman gracefully.” That report was published on the second day of 2017’s San Diego Comic-Con, prompting Affleck to address it during Warner Bros. Pictures’ movie panel two days later.
“Let me be very clear: I am the luckiest guy in the world,” said Affleck when asked about the report during the show’s Justice League panel (via CNN). “Batman is the coolest part in any universe — DC, Marvel. It’s incredible. … I’m so thrilled to do it.”
“I know there was a misconception that because I didn’t direct it that I wasn’t enthusiastic about it, [but] it’s f—ing amazing,” he continued. “And I still can’t believe I’ve done two films and have this great history with this studio.”
After a long period of uncertainty regarding his attachment to the film, Affleck finally made it official in late January 2019 by confirming a report that the studio was looking to cast a new actor in the film’s lead role.
Excited for #TheBatman in Summer 2021 and to see @MattReevesLA vision come to life. https://t.co/GNgyJroMIO
— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) January 31, 2019
Updated February 22 with additional images of the Batsuit and Batcycle.
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