The Batman director and co-writer Matt Reeves revealed how he fought for the movie to move out from the DC Extended Universe. Earlier the film was originally slated to be a part of Ben Affleck’s planned Batman franchise.
The Batman starring Robert Pattinson as DC’s iconic vigilante is set in his own creative continuity which is separated from other previous super hero movies. In his recent interview with Empire, Reeves revealed that he battled creative freedom and movie independence when he took over the film as a director from Affleck and it is very difficult to push Batman to his emotional brink without creativity freedom.
DCEU follows the path set by Batman Vs Superman and Justice League and the influence of these movies was higher when Revees took over the film. Affleck who directed previous films was also set to direct a solo Batman movie. According to reports, Affleck’s movie would feature Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke and Batgirl, but the project has been called off once he stepped down.
As per Empire, Reeves as requested Affleck and WarnerBros, to give him a complete freedom since being attached to bigger universe would prevent him from exploring the vigilante story through more personal lenses.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
The Batman cast includes Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Andy Serkis as Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, and John Turturro as Carmine Falcone.
The Batman hit theatre screens on 4 March 2022.