This past January, James Gunn took to the internet to announce the upcoming slate for therebooted DC film universe, which includes many iconic characters from the DC mythos that fans have been waiting to see on the big screen for years. Among these upcoming films isThe Brave and the Bold, the first majorBatmanfilm of the DC Universe which will feature Batman fighting alongsidehis son, Damian Wayne, the most recent character to take up the Robin mantle in DC lore.
The presence of a standaloneBatmanfilm in the DCU was something fans had speculated about for some time prior to the announcement at the end of January. The cause for this discourse was the fact that as of right now, Matt Reeves is already working on a standaloneBatmanfilm universe that only recently began in March 2022. There was concern among fans that if a new Batman was to don the cape and cowl for the DCU, it may have spelled doom for Matt Reeves’ take on the character. However, at least for now, those fears have been eradicated, as for the time being Matt Reeves willbe able to continue his workon his soloBatmanuniverse while the DCU begins.
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While many Batman fans and moviegoers out there are concerned that two live-action Batmen will be too confusing for audiences, and limit the storytelling capabilities of the writers and directors, others see it as a golden opportunity, and rightfully so. Batman is a character with a rich and deep mythos that has been expanded upon for almost a century. Here’s how having two live-action Batmen will actually benefit each version of the character, leading to a more complete picture of Batman’s lore on the big screen.
The Storylines
Since his debut in 1939, Batman has racked up what can only be considered the most iconic and memorable lineup of events, graphic novels, and story arcs in the history of comics. Whether it’s the big crossover arcs such asKnightfallandNo Man’s Land, or smaller-scale tales likeA Death in the FamilyandThe Killing Joke, there is simply so much from Batman’s history that writers who are looking to adapt the character can pull from. In fact, there are so many that adapting them all in one single series would seem impossible. Even in the MCU, amajor player like Steve Rogerswas only able to have a handful of his stories adapted over the course of a decade.
This is where having two live-actionBatmanfranchises will begin to show its worth. On one end, there is Robert Pattinson’s Batman, a younger and less experienced version of the character. Clues hidden in the DCU announcement suggest that theBatman in the upcoming shared universewill have a bit more time and experience under his belt, and perhaps a more developed rogues' gallery as well. This leaves the door wide open for a myriad of storylines to be adapted. IfThe Batman - Part IIand other future Matt Reeves Batman films could adapt stories set earlier in Bruce Wayne’s career, such asDark VictoryandArkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, there would be less of a burden on the DCU’s Batman to cover this ground. If one Batman is focused on the earlier stories, and another on the more recent ones, it could provide viewers with a much deeper appreciation for just how many goodBatmantales there are out there.
The Bat Family
It would not be an understatement to claim that Batman has the most prolific lineup of sidekicks and supporting cast members in all of comic books. With five Robins and more than a few Batgirls, most of which have gone on to create superhero identities of their own, there are quite simply too many characters to be able to adapt and develop comfortably in one franchise. Viewers will not have as much time to spend with each, and ultimately, there will be less of an opportunity for the development of each Bat Family member.
This is, again, where having twoBatmanfranchises will excel. While it is entirely possible that audiences will get to seeDick Grayson as Nightwingand Jason Todd as Red Hood in the DCU, their respective careers as Robin are fundamental to their development as characters. In this instance, Matt Reeves’Batmanfranchise should capitalize on the opportunity to tell some stories with these characters that the DCU is unlikely to get. If viewers get to see, for example, Dick Grayson’s time as Robin alongside Robert Pattinson’s Batman, and his time as Nightwing alongside the DCU’s Batman, it will allow for a more thoroughdepiction of Grayson’s loreto be on full display.
The Villains
While it may be a harsh truth for all the die-hard Spider-Man fans out there, there is no debating that Batman has the best rogues' gallery in comics.Icons like The Joker, Two-Face, The Riddler, Bane, Poison Ivy, and so on are all household names, and each is deserving of their time to shine on the big screen.
If Matt Reeves’Batmanuniverse continues with its more grounded approach, focusing on more villains like The Penguin and The Riddler (who each appeared in 2022’sThe Batman), perhaps the DCU would be able to take a more comic-book approach. While 2005’sBatman Beginsadapted Ra’s al Ghul, there are many more fantastical elements to the character which simply did not fit that series, such as the Lazarus Pit. With Damian Wayne set to make his debut inThe Brave and the Bold, Ra’s could make for the perfect villain in the upcoming film. The possibilities are endless here, and time will tell how the writers and directors make use of some of the most instantly recognizable villains in fiction.
