Predicting How 2022's Biggest Movies Will End

Because Matt Reeves' The Batman has been extensively test-screened over the last few months, we've been drip-fed morsels of information about the movie's dark detective story, and one rumour that keeps popping up is that the film has a downcast and provocative ending.

And really, what could be more daring than killing off Bruce Wayne's (Robert Pattinson) trusty butler Alfred (Andy Serkis)?

Alfred hasn't ever died in a live-action Batman movie, always remaining onboard as Bruce's mainstay confidante, but having Alfred be murdered by the Riddler (Paul Dano) in the film's climax would be a jaw-dropping way to totally upend expectations about this new franchise moving forward.

Regardless of what happens to the Riddler - most likely either being captured or escaping - ripping Bruce's lifeline away from him for the rest of the proposed trilogy would be an ingenious and surprising way to build hype for the inevitable sequel.

It'd be sure to piss a lot of Batman fans off, especially as Andy Serkis seems like such a great fit for Alfred, but sometimes there are more important things than just giving people what they think they want.