It’s Batman Day! Here’s a look at the Caped Crusader’s journey on-screen.
‘I am Batman’. These three words have created enormous success on-screen. With each generation, a new Batman entertained the fans with his action and adventures. The billionaire whose alter ego fights crime at night has been a fan favourite in every medium. Depending on who you ask, there would be an iteration of the caped crusader that they like best. This writer is a fan of Batman the animated series and Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy while keeping an eye on Battinson.
Batman Day was first celebrated in 2014 by DC to promote Batman on its 75th anniversary during San-Diego Comic-Con. Subsequently, the tradition followed to celebrate it every third Saturday of September. This year DC celebrated the Batman Day with fans more eagerly as soon many iterations of the iconic character will hit the big screen again thanks to its Multiverse. Here is a look at all the iconic iterations of the Dark Knight on the big screen.
Watch: Batman Evolution in Movies & TV(2021)
Matt Reeves-Robert Pattinson, The Batman 2021
Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2021 recently resumed production and halted briefly since actor Robert Pattinson contracted the Coronavirus. However, the shooting continued with Robert Pattinson’s stand-in or for the scenes he is not featured in. Further, the recent paparazzi pictures tell us that Pattinson has regained strength and should be back to shoot anytime soon now.
The Batman trailer that dropped last month at DC FanDome event was a real treat for the fans. We saw Pattinson’s iteration of the caped crusader and it looks savage! Reeves’ recreation of the iconic ‘who are you’ scene has redefined Pattinson as ‘vengeance.’ Even the doubting fans have turned in favor of Pattinson successfully turning into a Bat from a vampire.
Director Matt Reeves’ iteration is going to be more politically hard hitting then the rest of the Batman iterations. The movie takes its inspiration from Batman: Year Two and The Long Halloween. Cinematically, the movie follows the noir detective tales like Chinatown and Klute.
For Reeves’ interpretation, fans will get to see a very young Batman yet not the origin story. Pattinson’s Batman is young in his ‘learn from your mistakes’ 30s – which makes him the youngest Batman ever on the big screen. For the smaller screen, of course, we have Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond. Reeves’ took over the project from Ben Affleck who was supposed to direct/act this iteration originally. Affleck will now make his return soon in the black cape in Zack Snyder’s Justice League Cut.
Zack Snyder Ben Affleck – Batman Vs Superman/Justice League
And more we say is always less about fan favorite Snyder Cut! Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck portrayed the oldest Batman we’ve seen on-screen. The growling, brooding Batman iteration has been the origin of Pattinson’s Batman. While Snyder stepped down from the Justice League following a family tragedy, Affleck made his exit after Whedon’s cut failed.
So, truly Affleck’s caped crusader never finished his story arch. Nonetheless, fans will finally see Snyder’s vision realized in the upcoming HBO Max Justice League mini-series. When the trailer for Snyder Cut dropped during the DC FanDome event, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. While Whedon turned Affleck’s Batman into a joke cracking wiseass billionaire, Snyder gave a good dose of his leadership capabilities in the trailer. We are yet to see what Bruce Wayne is really capable of from Snyder and Affleck’s point of view. Furthermore, thanks to DC Multiverse we’ll get to see more of Affleck as Batman in the upcoming The Flash movie based on Flashpoint comic events.
Christopher Nolan Christian Bale – The Dark Knight Trilogy
Zack Snyder succeeded the DC Universe from its alma mater of realism and dark, director Christopher Nolan. He was tasked to resurrect the Dark Knight from a long haul which came after the disaster that Joel Schumacher and George Clooney made.
WB was desperate to revive its most bankable character. Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy not only revived the character but redefined the superhero genre. His magic of realism coupled with the fantastical storyline blew the audience’s mind. While Christian Bale’s Dark Knight was the central character of the trilogy, it’s the villains who drove the story. Heath Ledger’s Joker and Tom Hardy’s Bane are Batman’s most worthy villains till date.
In fact, a recent survey says Christian Bale is the best Batman of all time according to fans. Together Nolan and Bale for once saved Batman and gave fans the Batman they deserved. The film only falls short of an Academy Award for the genre which years later Marvel’s offering Chadwick Boseman starrer Black Panther managed.
Tim Burton Michael Keaton – Batman and Batman Returns
And it all started in the year 1989 when Tim Burton brought his vision of Batman first time ever on the big screen. Movies Rogue gallery Catwoman, Penguin and Joker are ICONIC! Michael Keaton inspired millions across the globe and established the caped crusader by whispering ‘I am Batman.’ Tim Burton’s Batman references are deeply rooted in Batman mythology.
His maiden Batman movie accounts for all the comic, radio and TV shows made before it. He presented the dark Batman that fans always wanted to see. Michael Keaton’s Batman is a huge part of pop-culture. He will soon don the cape again and reprise his version in 2022’s The Flash movie. Comic book nerds are quite excited about the Batman Beyond opportunity Keaton’s return presents.
And soon in DC multiverse, we’ll have the Batman coming back full circle with Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson all living different stages of his life donning on the cape with the Ol’ pointy ears!
