Batman is coming to the DC Cinematic Universe. To the dismay of some, Christopher Nolan, and by extension, Christian Bale will not be returning. However, solace can be found in the fact that this new universe, established by MAN OF STEEL, seems keen on holding fast to the concept that made the Nolan films great: Put larger-than-life heroes in the real world. MAN OF STEEL took an extraterrestrial, put him on Earth, and asked the question “How would humanity react?” It took the idea of alien life very seriously, which in turn helped the audience care more about the fate of Krypton, a place—nay, a PLANET that doesn’t even exist.
With this overall tone in mind, people have been asking how Nolan’s Batman—a Batman who comes from a legitimate real world, where the supernatural ceases to exist—will fit into this universe. The answer: He won’t, not completely. However, this does not mean that Batman will no longer be taken seriously. What it does mean is that we will get a more true to the comic version of this character, which is perfectly fine, and to some very exciting!
Scott Snyder’s current Batman run features some of the best stories that Batman has seen in years, and yet he operates in a world with giant lizard-men, shape-shifters, and a walking ice-box. The Nolan Batman can still exist to an extent. Here we are presented with an opportunity to open this real-world Batman up to somewhat supernatural things; i.e. not a lizard-man, but a dejected individual cursed with Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis, causing his skin to become dry and “scaly”; not a walking ice-box, but a broken man, striving to keep himself alive long enough to see his beloved wife safe and well. Even Nolan’s brilliant vision of Bane can be adapted: The best part of Bane in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES was his cunning and militaristic personality; couple that with an unyielding addiction to a certain steroid, and you have a more true to the comics Bane that fuses both the real world and the extraordinary.
Now, here are 5 things I, the_bug022, would like to see when Batman hits the silver screen once again…
I. PAUL DINI
There is a reason why BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES is so beloved and won four Emmy’s. Paul Dini is most famous for writing some of the best episodes of BTAS, as well as Batman Beyond, and most recently the stories for the award-winning Batman Arkham games. Dini knows Batman! And I believe him to be the best Batman writer since Frank Miller, circa 1986. Joss Whedon is famous for many things, including creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer and writing forgotten scripts for both Batman and Wonder Woman. He is now spearheading the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Why can’t WB/DC snatch up their own ace in the hole, and hire the man who helped bring us one of the best animated television shows of all time?!
II. RESPECTED AND FEARED
The Justice League is known for another name that we Batman fans hold dear: “Batman and His Bitches”. We call it that because 1) we love Batman, and 2) despite the fact that he is mortal, surrounded by God-like beings, he has adopted a very aloof attitude. Surrounded by people who could break him at a moment’s notice, he stands unshaken, because he knows that he is the smartest man in the room. People put down Batman because he has no powers, but I believe that this is exactly why he is as popular as he is. Batman is the brains of the organization. Through his intelligence, he is able to bring down the Gods from their celestial pedestals and assist them in their ability to see logic and reason. A mortal has that power. What makes Superman and Batman such a great yin/yang relationship is that Batman is just as powerful mentally as Superman is physically. And the League knows this, fears this, and respects him for it. This concept is something that will likely/hopefully be partially explored in 2015’s BATMAN/SUPERMAN film…
III. OUTLAW
In Frank Miller’s All Star Batman, we were presented with a Batman much like the one found in his earlier works. Like Adam Sandler films, Frank Miller’s Batman is different genre of Batman all his own: the “Goddamn Batman”, who lives in a twisted and corrupt Gotham, where the cops are as dirty as the mob’s shovels. This Batman isn’t afraid to kick a cop in the face, and there is even an instance where he lights a group of thugs on fire. I’m not hoping to see any burning bodies or hospitalized coppers, but I am hoping to see a Batman whom the Justice League is reluctant to trust. In All Star Batman #5, 2006, we see Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Plastic Man discussing the Dark Knight and how his methods are tarnishing their own reputations. They don’t like him—Wonder Woman even wants to kill him (being new to this world, and an interpretation of Mr. Miller)—but they would come to respect him. This is a dynamic that has always captured my attention, and I think that the DCCU would be best to incorporate it in some way.
IV. RAW
Coming off of the idea of the JL disagreeing with his methods, I want to see a raw and savage Batman in the way he fights. Like the way Bruce takes on six guys at the beginning of BATMAN BEGINS, I want to see a Batman who isn’t afraid to take thugs out, be it with a shattered clavicle, a fractured fibula, or simply a Bat-head-butt to the dome. Granted, this sounds remarkably violent, but how many broken bones can you fit within the PG-13 guidelines. Then again, I’m a figuratively flexible man, and would mostly like Batman to incorporate the many different forms of martial arts at his disposal, while maintaining that raw feeling, head-butts included, creating a style all his own. The keysi used for the Nolan trilogy looked cool, sometimes, but for me it was hard to take him seriously more often than not, because he had his arms up over his face most of the time. Sure, it was to block in-coming attacks, but it never felt like BATMAN to me… This is just my opinion, and I am sure there are many who would disagree. Feel Free.
V. STOIC BEAUTY
Although MAN OF STEEL had its fair share of problems, how it was shot was not one of them. Zach Snyder is an incredibly visual director, which I imagine, made him the ideal choice to direct a Superman film. Admittedly, Snyder’s “style” initially scared me: What if he uses too much slo-mo? What if he puts in unnecessarily bad cover- songs? Why didn’t he just use the better, original version? But, thankfully, Zach proved to be a great choice. Where MAN OF STEEL failed narratively, it made up for visually (excluding the ‘splosions). Now, my favorite film in the Dark Knight trilogy is BATMAN BEGINS, because it 1) has the best, darkest Gotham, and 2) has those two shots where Batman is simply standing on the edge of some tall structure, and Hans Zimmer’s score blares as Batman’s cape billows around him. They are the most Batman shots of the entire trilogy, and the main reason why I think that they should go the MAN OF STEEL route and make Batman’s cape CGI, to maintain optimum awesomeness. Zach’s visual forte is perfect for bringing us more of those beautiful, character establishing, cape-billowing shots! And hopefully he won’t have ridiculous camera cuts during fight scenes…
BONUS POINTS!!
VI. THE SUIT
Overall, I like the Superman suit in MAN OF STEEL. Yes, I wouldn’t mind seeing it in a slightly brighter shade of blue, with a rounded cape (that hangs down at the back of the neck instead of being tucked into the collar), and slightly bigger \S/ shield, but overall I find it perfectly adequate. Now, for Batman’s suit, I think that they should go a route that is both comic accurate and practical, but something that has never been done before on film, outside of the Adam West TV series: a mostly fabric suit. I imagine a suit that is a mix between the suit seen in WB Montreal’s upcoming BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGIN, and the gorgeous art of artist Lee Bermejo.
The ARKHAM ORIGINS suit is much like the suit found in Nolan’s latter two Dark Knight films with it's separated mask, plates held together by mesh, etc. The AO mask, separate from the neck, allowing for easier head movement (much like TDK and TDKR) is a must, in fact the entire mask (sculpt, ear-length, etc.) is very nice, imo. The AO suit also features a neck that is separate from the shoulders and cape, and also feature knee-pads, not unlike the New 52 design.
What I love about Lee’s art is that he brings a practicality to the costumes of the characters we know and love; he put seams on Supes’ suit, buckles on Bats’ boots, and he brings all of the characters that he illustrates into a contemporary and real world. Aside from the arm-blades, which I would like to see lengthened, Bermejo's suit, made of a heavy fabric with a Kevlar re-enforced underlay, is pretty close to perfect, imo. Contemporary, practical, different, gray!
VII. THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK
I firmly believe that the casting of this Batman is the most important piece of casting of any comic book hero in history. Coming off of a trilogy as successful as Nolan’s, WB/DC absolutely has to get the right guy for the job, or else the audience won’t be able to take this new Batman (and in conjunction, the DCCU) seriously. If they screw this up, this universe goes down the drain, and we’ll be lucky if we see another DC movie within the next ten years. Hopefully the casting of Batman is as ingenious as the casting of Cavill as Superman. Here are my top 5 picks for the role:
*Honorable Mention* Tyler Hoechlin (25, 6’0”)
This one makes me sad. Early last week, it was revealed that Tyler was screen-testing for the role, which I thought was really cool! I’ve watched him since he was on 7TH HEAVEN. He looks almost exactly like the season 4 redesigned Bruce Wayne from BTAS, albeit a little younger and with a less manly chin. He would need to get biggger for the role, and he’s not the best of actors, but I could still see him as Bruce. But then I saw how old he is… 25. FIVE years younger than Cavill. Now, usually this wouldn’t matter too much, but I went back and looked at Henry, and Tyler LOOKS five years younger than him!! And that bugs me! If he was older, he could do it. Under the right direction, he may be able to pull off the acting, and if he bulked up, he could do it. But his age is holding him back for me.*
5) Jason Momoa (33, 6’4”)
Originally suggested by AMC Movie Talk’s John Campea, I was initially against this pick. An avid GAME OF THRONES fan, I loved Momoa as Khal Drogo!! And I thought he was great as Conan! Momoa has the perfect build for Batman! Batman is the epitome of human physical perfection; he’s a BIG guy, and Jason fits the bill. He’s a decent actor, a good looking guy. We know he can play dark, his good looks would simply add to his appeal as Bruce Wayne.
4) Richard Armitage (41, 6’2”)
Although on the older side, near-thirty year olds play high school students all the time! Armitage played Guy of Gisborne on BBC’s ROBIN HOOD AND Thorin Oakenshield in THE HOBBIT (trilogy), so we know he can do action. He looks the part, is a great actor, and is a badass. The age thing is admittedly a problem, though. Still, if they wanted to go for an older Bruce…
3) Joe Manganiello/Buff-Jesus (36, 6’5”)
This guy is a beast of a man. I call him Buff-Jesus for a reason: Zack Galifianakis is “Fat-Jesus”, Jim Caviezel is depressing-Jesus, then there’s Joe. This man is PERFECT physically to play Batman. He is perfect facially to play Bruce (once he shaves). He currently plays a dark, animalistic character on TRUE BLOOD, making the more primal aspects of the character a breeze.
2) Liam McIntyre (31, 6’1”)
A year older and an inch taller than Henry Cavill, I have an immense amount of respect for any actor who is open with his/her admiration for a character. McIntyre was the first actor to come forward after the SDCC announcement and express his interest in the role. He is a gamer, a nerd, and most of all loves the character. He fits the criteria set by WB through these recent Tyler Hoechlin rumors, in that he is a virtual unknown from TV. He is very nearly perfect for the role with the right height, build, age, deep voice… He could be an amazing Batman!!!
1) Armie Hammer (26, 6’5”)
Now Hammer may be four years younger than Cavill, but he doesn’t look it. Some say that he shouldn’t be Batman because THE LONE RANGER sucked so much, but really it wasn’t his fault; the script was awful, the directing was almost as bad, and the film suffered the same problems as the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 and 3. He’s a good actor. He’s proven that. Just because he’s been in a couple bad movies, doesn’t make him a bad actor. Ben Kingsley has been in a CRAP-TON of bad movies, yet everyone still sees him as the brilliant actor that he is. Armie Hammer deserves this role!
So, there is my two cents. I really am excited to see what WB/DC will do with this Batman. Excited to see who they cast. Praying they don't screw this up...
*NOTE: Sorry about the lack of pics. Every time I put one in, I previewed it and they wouldn't appear...*