The Batman: 10 Predictions For Where Matt Reeves Could Take The Franchise
The first trailer for The Batman impressed, but where does the franchise go next?
The original version of The Batman was to be directed by Ben Affleck, with his Caped Crusader battling Deathstroke after the assassin was hired by Lex Luthor to take him out. Unfortunately, the actor ultimately decided that he'd had enough of the DC Extended Universe, and walked away from the role shortly after handing directing duties over to War for Planet of the Apes helmer Matt Reeves.
Now, Affleck will return as the Dark Knight in 2022's The Flash, and The Batman is going to take place in its own world with Robert Pattinson playing a rebooted version of the vigilante during his second year on the job. The first trailer made it clear this movie will be vastly different to what's come before, with a twisted take on Gotham City that definitely looks R-Rated in nature.
It's already been reported that Reeves has plans for a trilogy of Batman movies, while a TV series is currently in development for HBO Max which will follow a police detective during "Year One."
Clearly, there are big plans for this iteration of the iconic DC Comics superhero moving forward, but what form could those plans take? Well, these are the craziest, most exciting places Reeves could take the franchise based on what's been revealed so far...
10. The Penguin Takes Over Gotham City
Reeves has confirmed that in The Batman, Colin Farrell's "Oz" hates being known as "The Penguin" and has yet to become the crime lord fans know from the comic books. With that in mind, it seems likely he's working for Carmine Falcone, a gangster the Caped Crusader will target in the 2021 release.
Once Batman defeats him, that will lead a void in Gotham City that the vigilante is unlikely to have anticipated. After all, this is a rookie Dark Knight who no doubt believes that taking down Falcone will stamp out crime for good. It makes sense then that he'll soon learn it's not that simple, with The Penguin rising up to fill the void and make Batman's life hell.
Following's Oz's transformation from crook and gangster to the man who rules over Gotham City's scum from the comfort of his Iceberg Lounge promises to make for a fascinating story. Bear in mind that, in many comics, Batman frequently visits The Penguin to get information from him, allowing him to remain free in exchange for his help.
Exploring that also promises to deliver a dynamic fans have never seen on screen before now.