The Batman has not even reached theaters yet and it has already been confirmed that the DC film will be followed with two sequels to complete director Matt Reeves' trilogy. But now, it appears star Robert Pattinson finds it hard to imagine that a series of films would work.
The Batman is one month away from hitting theaters, and audiences are eager to see what Reeves and Pattinson have envisioned for the Caped Crusader. Of course, The Batman has already been screened for the filmmakers and executives behind the film, likely more than a few times, and Pattinson had what may be an unexpected reaction to his work.
After viewing an early screening of the highly anticipated film, Pattinson spoke with Total Film about the process of tapping into such an iconic role, and he then shared his thoughts on the idea of following up The Batman with more films, believing it is harder to imagine what that would be like after seeing what Reeves and the whole team have created. "When I saw it the first time, even from the first shot, it does feel incredibly different, tonally, to the other movies," Pattinson says. "And it’s so strange, and kind of... It’s sad, and quite touching. It’s a really, really unusual Batman story, and it almost seems harder for me to imagine it being a series afterwards. I mean, they always have that little bit at the end, that’s like: ‘...and coming up!’ But other than that, it feels strangely personal. I think people will be quite shocked at how different it is."
Everything Pattinson is revealing seems on point as to what Reeves is striving for. The director has promised a darker, neo-noir detective Batman film that takes its time (as it will have a runtime of 175 minutes) and one that really hones in on the character's internal struggles while still exploring much of his tragic past. And while Pattinson may believe the sequels aren't as necessary, knowing a planned trilogy was confirmed early before The Batman's production means Reeves has a clear vision of where he wants to take this story.
In addition to the two direct sequels, two other spin-off series are in early development for HBO Max. One follows Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin (which is said to contain many elements reminiscent of The Godfather) and the other focuses on the Gotham City Police Department, as the series was revealed to be set during Batman's first year of crime-fighting from the perspective of a corrupt GCPD officer.
Until then, The Batman looks to kick off the new shared universe on a positive note. From every teaser or trailer that has been released so far, the film is shaping up to be one of the best adaptations of the character yet.
The Batman is set to release in theaters on March 4th, 2022, and will be available to stream on HBO Max 45 days later.
Source: Total Film
