The Batman's REAL Villain Is Hiding In Plain Sight

The trailer from Matt Reeves' upcoming The Batman was one of the top highlights from DC Fandome's event, showing off Robert Pattinson's savage approach to battering baddies as well as providing a first look at the many villains set to plague Bruce next year. However, there's a pretty compelling theory brewing that the corruption plaguing Gotham might be harbouring one of the series' most recent (and most terrifying) bands of villains yet: the elite, super-rich families that comprise the Court of Owls.

For those less familiar with this particular organisation, the Court of Owls was established in DC's "New 52" reboot back in 2011. In the first two story arcs, the Court were Batman's main antagonists; they're a cabal of some of the most powerful families in Gotham's history, who have cemented their position in Gotham through ridiculous wealth and violent crime, and have been lurking in the shadows since the 1600s.

They are particularly known for sending out highly-skilled assassins called Talons to carry out hits on members of society who interfere with their plans, Batman included. This would be the first time the Court have appeared on-screen, but they are nevertheless a formidable organisation and would be a very different kind of antagonist for the newest Batman to face on the silver screen.

Reeves had stated during the FanDome event that The Batman will not be another true origin story, but will nevertheless be a story 'that touches on his origins', and how they have affected him. More importantly, it will dive into Batman's trauma following the death of his parents (of course), but the writers have promised this won't be the standard retelling, with co-writer Matt Tomlin saying the film will tackle that part of the mythology "in some very fun and surprising ways," also quipping "I think that’s all I can say without getting yelled at."

This approach to the Bat once more lends credence to the Court of Owls lurking in Reeves' film.

In the original New 52 storyline, a young Bruce had investigated whether the Court were just an urban legend or truly existed before writing them off as the former whilst he was trying to find his parents' killer. Whilst we (thankfully) won't be seeing Bruce's parents gunned down outside a theatre or opera for the third time, exploring the long-standing trauma that has affected Bruce Wayne and spurred him on to become Batman will be central to the film whilst he figures out his approach to saving Gotham.

Tying that to the Court certainly would be "fun and surprising" for anyone expecting the regular old 'Batman's parents are dead' story. That's the writer's comments, but what in the trailer points towards their inclusion?

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