“Superman” is right here. The movie’s continued field workplace efficiency shall be important in figuring out simply how a lot of successful it’s, however to date, issues are trying up. If “Superman” retains hovering prefer it did opening weekend, then this DC Universe factor may really work!
However the complication to that premise has all the time been Batman. Matt Reeves’ 2022 “The Batman” was a important success (simply learn/Movie’s personal evaluate) and acquired a strong field workplace gross ($772 million), so you do not wish to simply throw that away. However Reeves’ intention for a Batman trilogy starring Robert Pattinson, with the artistic freedom to make the films he desires, predates James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios. You’ll be able to’t have a DC Universe with out Batman!
To date, the road has been that Reeves’ “Batman Epic Crime Saga” goes ahead, however as a aspect factor, cordoned off from the DCU. Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin lately accomplished their script for “The Batman” sequel, a script Warner Bros. is reportedly “thrilled with.” In the meantime, one of many first DCU initiatives Gunn and Safran introduced was one other Batman film, “The Courageous and the Daring,” to be directed by Andy Muschietti. However after “Superman,” I am satisfied greater than ever they need to lower the knot and solely have one onscreen Batman: Robert Pattinson.
I get why not everyone seems to be down for this. “The Batman” is so nice as a result of it is a full, virtually uncompromised imaginative and prescient. The movie stands by itself, extra involved with exploring Batman’s internal world than constructing out a “shared universe” round him. Placing the setting below the bigger DC umbrella dangers diluting it; the DCU would most likely profit from together with Pattinson-Batman greater than the opposite method round.
If I am sitting in James Gunn’s seat, although, it sounds a lot safer to make use of the Batman folks already like than it’s to try to have two separate Batman actors on the identical time. The followers are now crying for David Corenswet’s Superman to satisfy Pattinson’s Batman. On this uncommon case, I believe the most effective transfer is to provide the folks what they need.
Batman and Superman ought to distinction one another
The primary purpose why many say “The Batman” and “Superman” should not cross over is that the films could not be additional aside tonally. “Superman” is a cheerful crowd pleaser crammed with tremendous mushy Silver Age science-fiction from pocket universes to kaiju to evil clones and extra. “The Batman” is a darkish and dirty serial killer thriller with a Batman who jams to Nirvana.
“Superman” additionally establishes that metahumans have been round a very long time within the DC Universe, whereas “The Batman” follows within the semi-realism charted by Christopher Nolan’s “The Darkish Knight.” Reeves’ Gotham Metropolis has all of the fantasy stripped out and appears to be in a world the place Batman is the one masked crimefighter.
However the entire level of Superman assembly Batman is how a lot they and their worlds distinction with one another. Superman smiles, Batman frowns. Superman attire in brilliant colours, Batman retains to the darkish. They’re each finally idealistic males, however Superman leans on the hopeful aspect of that, whereas Batman could be very a lot “belief however confirm.” Superman is a godlike alien who chooses to be human, and Batman is a standard man who pushes himself previous the unattainable. In Metropolis, the solar by no means appears to set, and in Gotham Metropolis, it by no means seems to rise.
One purpose that Zack Snyder’s “Batman v. Superman” fell flat is that in that film, there was no distinction between the 2 heroes. Each Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) have been stoic, silent, and broody, and thus too alike to be foils. Whereas Corenswet’s plucky aw-shucks Superman is gentle years away from Pattinson’s withdrawn, grungy Batman, which creates extra alternatives for them to play off one another.
James Gunn’s DCU will embrace tonal inconsistency
Not like the tonal homogeneity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Gunn has stated (in an interview with IGN) the DCU motion pictures will work just like the DC Comics, i.e., totally different tones relying on what the artists making them wish to do. The totally different niches of the DC Universe do not all the time really feel like they need to match collectively, as a result of the large heroes have been all created by totally different folks and never initially meant to congeal. Batman exemplifies that better of all. The Batman who goes on darkish, violent adventures like “The Cult” by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson is similar Batman who reveals up each week to assist the Justice League battle off colourful alien invaders.
However I am hard-pressed to assume this can be a unhealthy factor. Let filmmakers inform the most effective tales potential and do not constrain them to a uniform aesthetic; Gunn’s perspective makes it appear to be Reeves would not be fully forfeiting artistic freedom in the event that they introduced his Batman over. There’s additionally the truth that canon within the DCU is already unfastened. To elucidate characters from Gunn’s DC Prolonged Universe canon, “The Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker” carrying over, Gunn defined (in a 2023 submit on Threads):
“Some actors shall be enjoying characters they’ve performed in different tales & some plot factors may be in keeping with plot factors from the handfuls of movies, reveals & animated initiatives which have come from DC up to now.”
I say apply this precept to Pattinson; use him because the DCU’s Batman, regardless of how imprecise you need to hold the continuity. Making another person play Batman concurrently Pattinson is setting that new actor up for failure. Pattinson additionally has sufficient vary as an actor that he may be any sort of Batman Gunn desires … so use him.
“Superman” is enjoying in theaters. “The Batman” sequel is presently scheduled for launch on October 1, 2027.
