When DC first announced that their next cinematic release would be called Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, the internet got a wee bit excited, but naysayers unfamiliar with the comics instantly questioned how on earth a human like Bruce Wayne could hold his own against the Last Son Of Krypton. Clearly, these people had never read Frank Miller's iconic graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. Imagine a future where Batman has retired and Gotham City subsequently descended into chaos, overrun by a sadistic gang known as The Mutants. Unable to stand back any longer, a geriatric Bruce Wayne puts his suit back on and fights to reclaim his city with the help of a new female Robin. Along the way, readers encounter a number of Batman's old allies and enemies, now aged and worn down by the dystopian future they've created. It's hard to describe how influential The Dark Knight Returns truly is. Not only did this classic piece of literature redefine how people saw the Caped Crusader, but the books gritty tone and powerful social commentary had a lasting impact on the entire industry, ushering in a new age of darker comic books aimed at an adult audience. So why will studios refuse to adapt this beloved story? Concerns previously mentioned such as a potential R rating and the dense plotting are certainly issues, but an animated version of the book already exists, proving that perhaps a live action adaptation is possible. However, Zack Snyder is already borrowing a number of elements from the book for Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, including the Dark Knight's new suit and most crucially, the key conflict between Batman and Supes. If handled right, a straight adaptation of this story would be the greatest Batman movie of all time, no doubt, but if this were attempted now, then such a film would share far too many similarities with Snyder's upcoming feature. No one wants to see the same story told twice and if the studio attempted to put a fresh spin on this definitive Batman story, it's more than likely to fail. What do you think loyal readers? Would Hollywood ever attempt a live action version of these classic tales? What Batman stories would you like to see on the big screen? Let us know in the comments section below.
David is a primary school teacher who tries his best to turn every math lesson into a discussion on the latest Pixar film. Passions include superheroes, zombies and Studio Ghibli. In between going to the cinema, moving to South Korea and eating his body weight in KFC, David writes for a number of movie sites, http://becarefulyourhand.blogspot.co.uk/
