The Batman is a 2022 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman. Produced by DC Films, 6th & Idaho, and Dylan Clark Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. The film was directed by Matt Reeves, who wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig. It stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. The film sees Batman, who has been fighting crime in Gotham City for two years, uncover corruption while pursuing the Riddler (Dano), a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite.
Development began after Ben Affleck was cast as Batman in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) in 2013. Affleck signed on to direct, produce, co-write, and star in The Batman, but had reservations about the project and dropped out. Reeves took over and reworked the story, removing the DCEU connections. He sought to explore Batman's detective side more than previous films, drawing inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, the New Hollywood era, and comics such as "Year One" (1987), The Long Halloween (1996–97), and Ego (2000). Pattinson was cast in May 2019, with further casting in late 2019. Principal photography took place in the UK and Chicago between January 2020 and March 2021.
The Batman premiered at Lincoln Center in New York on March 1, 2022, and was theatrically released worldwide on March 4. It was delayed twice from an initial June 2021 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film has grossed over $463 million against a $185–200 million budget, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2022, and received praise for the performances, cinematography, Reeves' direction, action sequences, and story, though some criticized its runtime. It is intended to launch a Batman shared universe, with two sequels planned and two spin-off television series in development for HBO Max.
Cast
- Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman:
A reclusive billionaire who obsessively protects Gotham City as a masked vigilante to cope with his traumatic past. Batman is around 30 years old and is not yet an experienced crime fighter, as director Matt Reeves wanted to explore the character before he becomes "fully formed". Reeves and Pattinson described Batman as an insomniac who cannot delineate between the Batman persona and his "recluse rockstar" public identity as Bruce,with Reeves comparing his obsession with being Batman to a drug addiction. Pattinson said the film would question the nature of heroism, as Batman is more flawed than traditional superheroes and unable to control himself, seeking to work out his rage and "inflict his kind of justice". Reeves considered The Batman a story about Batman learning that he must not exact vengeance, but inspire hope. Oscar Novak portrays a young Bruce. - Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman:
A nightclub waitress, drug dealer, and cat burglar who meets Batman while searching for her missing roommate; her moral ambiguity challenges Batman's black-and-white view of good and evil. Kravitz said the character is becoming a femme fatale and "figuring out who she is, beyond just someone trying to survive". She described her as a mysterious character with unclear motivations, who represents femininity in contrast to Batman's masculinity. She said the pair are "partner[s] in crime", drawn together by their desire to fight for vulnerable people. Reeves saw Selina as Batman's awakening to his own sheltered upbringing and preconceived assumptions. Kravitz focused more on Selina than her Catwoman persona because she did not want to distract from the character's emotional journey, and portrayed Selina as bisexual, like the comics. - Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler:
A forensic accountant who is inspired by Batman to become a serial killer who targets elite Gotham citizens and livestreams his crimes. He seeks to "unmask the truth" about Gotham, taunting Batman and law enforcement with riddles. Reeves said Batman inspiring the Riddler reflects the idea from the comics that he creates his own enemies, and that the Riddler's attack on Gotham gives the character a "political agenda" as a terrorist-like figure. He noted that them being "kind of two sides of the same coin" was unsettling as they are "both after the same thing". He likened the Riddler to the Zodiac Killer, whom he felt was the "real-life" Riddler for his practice of communicating with ciphers and riddles, while Dano said his performance balanced the real-life basis with the Batman franchise's theatricality. Joseph Walker portrays a young Nashton.[citation needed] - Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon:
An ally of Batman in the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD). He is the only GCPD officer whom Batman trusts, and they work together to solve the Riddler case. Wright described Gordon as "relative to Gotham City, to the Gotham City Police Department, to Batman, to justice and to corruption". Similar to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012), Gordon begins as a GCPD lieutenant in The Batman, allowing his progression to commissioner to be depicted in subsequent films. Wright felt starting Gordon as the lieutenant enabled him to play a larger role compared to previous film iterations. Reeves felt that Batman and Gordon's partnership is emphasized more in The Batman than it was in previous Batman films, and compared them to Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) from All the President's Men (1974). - John Turturro as Carmine Falcone:
A Gotham crime lord and Selina's father. The Riddler's primary target, Falcone has much of Gotham under his control; Turturro described him as a "dangerous guy", while Reeves said he was "seemingly...a genteel mobster but [he] turns out to have a very, very dark history behind him", and compared him to Noah Cross (John Huston), the villain from Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974). The Batman suggests that he played a role in Batman's origin story by ordering the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Turturro collaborated with his son Amadeo, who is an editor at DC Comics, and Reeves to develop Falcone and his mannerisms, and was inspired by the warnings his father told him about the Mafia as a child growing up in New York City. Falcone wears vintage sunglasses throughout the film, as Turturro felt the character needed a "mask". - Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson: Gotham's district attorney, whom Sarsgaard described as untruthful and "distasteful".
- Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth:
Batman's butler and mentor, though they have a hostile relationship and rarely speak. Pattinson described Alfred as Batman's only confidant, even though Alfred "thinks he's gone insane!" Unlike previous film incarnations, Alfred has a military background, which is reflected in him being "used to rules and regulations, structure and precision" as well as his dress and demeanor. To illustrate Alfred's physical appearance as a military veteran, Reeves came up with the idea of him having a cane, while Serkis suggested his facial scars.Serkis shared that Alfred was "part of the secret service and then the security team looking after Wayne Enterprises"; his background led to him becoming more of a "mentor and a teacher" than the father figure that Bruce needed. Reeves noted that Alfred was forced into becoming Bruce's parental figure despite being inexperienced, and feels guilty that his parenting of Bruce might have led to his obsessive journey as Batman. - Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / Penguin:
Falcone's chief lieutenant who operates the Iceberg Lounge, the nightclub where Selina works. He is not yet the crime kingpin he is depicted as in the comics,[ and dislikes being referred to as the Penguin. Reeves explained that the Penguin is a "mid-level mobster guy and he's got a bit of showmanship to him, but you can see that he wants more and that he's been underestimated".
Additionally, Jayme Lawson portrays Bella Reál, a mayoral candidate for Gotham City; Gil Perez-Abraham portrays Martinez, a GCPD officer; Peter McDonald portrays William Kenzie, a corrupt GCPD officer; Alex Ferns portrays Pete Savage, the GCPD commissioner; Con O'Neill portrays Mackenzie Bock, the GCPD chief; and Rupert Penry-Jones portrays Don Mitchell Jr., Gotham's mayor. Barry Keoghan makes a cameo appearance as the Joker (credited as "Unseen Arkham Prisoner"), while other cast members include twins Charlie and Max Carver as Iceberg Lounge bouncers (credited as "The Twins"); Hana Hrzic as Annika Koslov, Selina's roommate and girlfriend; Jay Lycurgo as a young gang member; and Luke Roberts and Stella Stocker as Bruce's parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne
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