The Batman is resetting the clock to the early days of Bruce Wayne’s vigilante career. This isn’t an origin story, but it will show a younger, less experienced Dark Knight battle his first major threat – The Riddler. He isn’t the only villain showing up, nor is the Bat the only hero to make an appearance. Directed by the War for the Planet of the Apes filmmaker Matt Reeves, it will be a reimagining of a character audiences know so well. Warner Brothers just confirmed its PG-13 rating, dashing some fans’ hopes for an R-rated adventure similar to 2019’s Joker. Express.co.uk has all the details on the upcoming DC superhero release.
What is the release date of The Batman?
The Batman has had a troubled development, having been delayed numerous times with production shutting down completely more than once. Shot in the UK, filming had to cease in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Thankfully, development wrapped last year, putting it safely on track for a 2022 premiere.
The film will have a global release on March 4. It will drop exclusively for cinemas, meaning fans won’t initially be able to watch it on a streaming platform. In the USA, it will arrive on HBO Max 45 days after the premiere date, though it isn’t known when it will come to UK streaming services.
READ MORE: Brian May makes acting debut ‘Very emotional experience, I got teary’
Joining Pattinson is Mad Max: Fury Road’s Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle – also known as Catwoman. The antihero has been a consistent member of the Bat-family for decades, and will finally be taking centre stage. She isn’t messing around, admitting in an interview with Empire that she studied cats to get into the role. The star explained: “We watched cats and lions and how they fight and talked about what is actually possible when you’re my size, and Batman’s so much stronger than me. What is my skill? It’s being fast and tricky. So, we did some really interesting floor work that incorporated different kinds of martial arts and capoeira and a kind of feline, dance-like movement.”
The Riddler will be the main villain of the film and is set to be played by There Will Be Blood’s Paul Dano. It will be a completely new vision for the character, with the first image revealing a look inspired by the real-life murderer the Zodiac Killer rather than his comic book origins – a far cry from Jim Carrey’s rendition in Batman Forever.
Colin Farrell will also be taking on a villainous role: The Penguin. Though, the star has admitted he will only appear for a very limited amount of screentime. Rounding out the rest of the cast is Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s humble sidekick, Jeffrey Wright as Detective James Gordon, John Turturro as Mob boss Carmine Falcone and Barry Keoghan as Officer Stanley Merkel.
DON’T MISS…
Gaspard Ulliel dead: Marvel actor dies in tragic accident aged 37 [INSIGHT]
Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean co-star shares set experience [EXPLAINER]
Doctor Strange 2: Charlize Theron ‘cast as major MCU character’ [INSIGHT]
Is there a trailer for The Batman?
Yes, Warner Brothers have released several trailers for the film at the stage. They have all dropped now, as the studio just gave fans the Final Trailer last week. Once again it shows Batman in action, portraying one of his most brutal fighting styles seen on screen. Catwoman also takes centre stage, with the pair’s dynamic being a central point to the story.
Each trailer has deliberately withheld a full look at the Riddler though, with the mystery of the character no doubt becoming a focal point to his appeal. The Dark Knight seems unphased by his cryptic plans though, turning to Selina Kyle, saying: “I don’t care what happens to me.” Later adding: “I am vengeance.”
What is the plot of The Batman?
Most fans are familiar with Batman’s origin story and the early days of his career, as Year One has been a frequent focal point of many adaptations for the character. This will be Year Two, with Bruce Wayne still struggling to juggle the two sides of his life. Gotham is getting stranger by the day, with more villains taking on unusual personas. Yet nothing prepares The World’s Greatest Detective for The Riddler, a serial killer that is terrorising the city with his cryptic messages and games.
The official synopsis reads: “In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as The Riddler.”
The Batman will premiere globally on March 4 exclusively in cinemas.
Published at Thu, 20 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000
The Batman release date, cast, trailer, plot: Everything you need to know about the reboot
