by The Cowl Editor on September 3, 2020
Arts & Entertainment
by Daniel O’Neill ’21 A&E Staff
In one of the most anticipated films of next year, Robert Pattinson will star in The Batman, DC Comics’ latest movie. The film is directed by Matt Reeves, and the main antagonist will be played by Colin Farrell in the role of “The Penguin.” According to the trailer, the film takes place approximately two years into Bruce Wayne’s career as Batman in a crime-ridden Gotham City. In the trailer, it is clear that this Batman is more of a homegrown vigilante than the hero he later becomes.
The other notable characters are Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, and Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman. According to The Verge regarding the director’s take on characters, “Reeves stressed that many of these characters are coming into themselves” to set the scene for the true early days of Batman. As for The Penguin, it is apparent that Colin Farrell is almost unrecognizable. In this way, Reeves is building the antagonist from the ground up. This take on The Penguin is the first to happen in live-action since Danny DeVito’s role in 1992.
Many fans have also jumped to the conclusion that this film will be a traditional origin story. This is not the case, however, as the film is a dark and gothic return to Bruce Wayne and Batman’s roots. The trailer shows a murder mystery that Batman and Gordon have to solve, with a note inviting Batman to “play a game” with the committer of the crime. The trailer is set to the dark and twisted Nirvana track “Something in the Way” to add to the eerie mood that the trailer gives off.
This movie could help Warner Bros. continue their success with building on lucrative franchises. The Batman franchise, according to CNN’s Frank Pallotta, has “brought in more than $5 billion at the global box office going back to 1989’s Batman.” Warner Bros. has also already capitalized on the “Joker” character in their R-rated take on the clown villain. The stories delve into deeper detail of the characters mental state and health while focusing on darker issues, rather than just basic crime-fighting stories.
The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely impacted the production of the film, as it was originally set to premiere in theaters on June 25, 2021. Now, the release date is set for October 1, 2021. With the dark mood portrayed in the trailer, it seems that The Batman will be released just in time for Halloween. Finding ways to properly socially distance will impact profit from the film after its release, but the trailer has accumulated over seven million views in the first 24 hours after its initial release. This preliminary interest might motivate people to see the movie despite the risks associated with COVID-19.
Details on images from Batman’s suit and the Batmobile can be found online. The new Batmobile looks like a sleek yet classic car, built for the “roots” theme of the new film. The design brings post-apocalyptic imagery to the vehicle and echoes the original Batmobile.
The change in direction to a more dark and twisted part of the Batman story, coupled with brilliant casting, sets this film up for success. At the end of this, perhaps Robert Pattinson will be compared to other legends who played the character.