With James Gunn and Peter Safran leading the new DC Studios, the DCEU is currently undergoing a reboot with the world's greatest detective Batman being one of the superheroes slated for recasting. Although, this time, Batman will be joined by his Bat-Family to fight crime. DCU's The Brave and the Bold plot centers around Batman and Damian Wayne's Robin. The cast of Brave and the Bold is yet to be decided, but one confirmed primary aspect of the film is that the DCU Batman will be a slightly more experienced Batman, unlike the year one and two Batman in the last couple of solo renditions.
While Batman has been a staple of live-action cinema for decades, recent protrayals in solo movies, notably Christopher Nolan's and Matt Reeves's interpretations, have offered a more grounded take on the character. Initially, the concept of such a Batman seemed promising, particularly in light of the need to recover from the poor reception of Batman & Robin. However, a key distinction in the DCU is Batman's integration into a broader superhero universe. Consequently, the new Batman persona should align with the notion of him being a consummate superhuman, capable of keeping pace with fellow superhero members of the Justice Leagues. This aspiration mirrors the approach adopted in the Arkham video game series, which many consider an exemplary rendition of the character as it kept the perfect balance between the mystical and grounded nature of the character.
Batman vs. Superman Had A Near-Perfect Portrayal of Batman
Inspired by the Frank Miller comics, Ben Affleck's Batman was a unique take on the character. This version of the Dark Knight was a bit older and exemplified the pinnacle of Human strength. The Batman of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice fearlessly pushed the limits of his role as the world's greatest detective, pitting himself against the formidable last son of Krypton.
Although he required the aid of an armored bat-suit against Superman, Batman still managed to emerge victorious in the battle by immobilizing Superman in a chokehold using Kryptonite. Later in the film, Batman once again showcased his prowess in the infamous warehouse scene, where he single-handedly rescued Clark's mother, Martha Kent, who had been kidnapped by several armed thugs. The warehouse scene is considered one of the best Batman action sequences.
While Ben Affleck's Batman showed promise, adequate planning by DC Studios could have helped the development of his character. Despite being a pivotal member of the Justice League, he was denied the opportunity for a solo Batman movie. Recent reports have revealed details about a shelved Batman film that would have delved into his 80-year mythos and pitted him against Deathstroke. His more recent portrayal in The Flash garnered mixed reactions.
While initially, Ben Affleck's Batman displayed a different take on the character with plenty of potential, the mismanagement and poor planning by DC and Warner Bros. led to the end of Affleck's time in the role. This is one of the biggest reasons why DC is getting a reboot in the first place.
DCU's Batman Should Take Inspiration From Arkham Series Batman
Batman's storytelling doesn't get better than the Arkham series. With fantastic voice acting by the late Kevin Conroy and the amazing open world of Gotham, the Arkham series has multiple reasons to be considered one of the greatest video game franchises ever. The series' commitment to comic book accuracy in depicting the character and the freedom to delve into his psyche and human side contributed to the deep affection for the Arkham games. While other iconic superheroes like Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, and more exist within the Arkham universe, Batman was shown to be no less potent while retaining a realistic approach, with a representation that strikes a perfect balance between grounded realism and fantastical elements.
The Arkham series presents Batman at the peak of his physical prowess, featuring a more mature and experienced dark knight, somewhat similar to the one recently introduced in the DCEU. This comes after years of tirelessly battling crime in Gotham City, aided by a wide array of bat gadgets and cutting-edge technology. The concluding chapter, Batman: Arkham Knight, showcases the Caped Crusader's unwavering resolve and immense power as he single-handedly restores order to the city plunged into turmoil by an unrelenting adversary.
This portrayal underscores the incredible determination and might that defines the Dark Knight. Taking cues from how the Arkham series portrays Batman, there's potential for The Brave and the Bold to discover a winning formula for its success. The film's adaptation of Grant Morrison's comics already aligns with the detective-centric approach of Arkham Batman, an aspect that has yet to be thoroughly explored in previous Batman movies. Additionally, the similarity in character relationships is a positive factor, mainly since The Brave and the Bold is set to showcase the entire Bat-Family and does include Robin as a main character.
Expanding upon the character's rich rogues' gallery is another opportunity the film could seize. This is crucial, given that some of Batman's adversaries have been overly utilized in past movies. This is especially true for the Joker, who even got a very minor on-screen appearance in The Batman.
The Brave and the Bold should introduce newer villains from Batman's rogue gallery, such as Man-Bat, Dr. Hugo Strange, or even the Arkham Knight, better known as Red Hood. The presence of the third Robin, Damian Wayne, offers a perfect opportunity for Red Hood's expansion. While Matt Reeves's The Batman explores a more realistic and grounded approach, The Brave and the Bold seems poised to explore the opposite end of the spectrum. Having two live-action Batman simultaneously might seem bewildering, but it could benefit the character and his diverse portrayals.