The Batman: 10 Things Ben Affleck Must Get Right
4. Gotham As A Character
As the Batman films series have continued over the decades, Gotham has been relegated from important character to generic city backdrop. Tim Burton created a gothic Gotham, dripping in history and danger – the perfect city for The Dark Knight to prowl.
Though I’m not demanding Affleck return to the bad acid trip that was Schumacher’s Gotham, I think there’s something to be said about making Gotham the personification of all that is wrong in Batman’s world - Twisted, oppressive and unforgiving. Batman Begins planted the seeds of this idea, but Nolan quickly ditched the murky look of The Narrows in the sequels. Gotham was very much Chicago with a touch of CG.
Though grounded, the DCEU has already introduced zanier elements from cannon and will no doubt kick things up a notch with Wonder Woman and The Justice League. This will provide Affleck with a unique opportunity to portray Gotham as a living, breathing character in it’s own right without emulating the soundstage look of Burton’s aesthetic. Gotham should look and feel unlike any city on this earth and Affleck has to deliver.