The Batman (2021): Cast, Release Date, What We Know so Far

The Riddler recites a nursery rhyme requesting justice “not lie,” to which Batman replies, “How am I worth it?” in a new TV spot for The Batman.

Through set photos released on Twitter, we get a glimpse of the grim Gotham in which this Batman story takes place. We see urban decay, partially demolished buildings, and what may be the exterior of the Batcave.

The most recent shifts in release date were caused by the coronavirus pandemic after production of The Batman was halted in March. The film had been shooting in the U.K. for seven weeks before shutting down. Matt Reeves indicated that filming was one-quarter completed when it went on hiatus.

The first trailer

Matt Reeves surprised fans at DC FanDome in August with an unannounced release of The Batman‘s first trailer (see above). Unsurprisingly, this appears to be an extremely dark and gritty take on the Caped Crusader story.

The trailer begins with Edward Nashton aka The Riddler (Paul Dano) duct-taping a corpse that we soon learn is popular mayor Don Mitchell. He leaves behind a coded greeting card that kicks off a new investigation by James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and The Batman (Robert Pattinson) that certainly looks like it gets graphic in a hurry. There’s a dingier, more noir-esque look to this trailer, which is right in line with what Reeves teased this movie would look like.

“It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films,” Reeves told The Hollywood Reporter in January. “The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime.”

Rumors that the film would adapt the popular Batman: Year One story penned by Frank Miller were debunked by Reeves, who said he wouldn’t be telling an origin story for the character.

In an April conversation with The New York Times, Reeves gave a touch more background on the film, describing it as “incredibly personal” and “using the metaphors” of the DC Universe. “You never know whether the people in charge of those I.P.s are going to be open to your vision. But if they weren’t, I wouldn’t have done Batman,” he said. “I was like, look, there have been some great Batman films and I don’t want to just make a Batman film. I want to do something that has some emotional stakes. My ambition is for it to be incredibly personal using the metaphors of that world.”

In August, co-writer Mattson Tomlin went further into the ethos of The Batman with Den of Geek, saying that the film will explore the “soul” of Bruce Wayne. “I think that Matt Reeves as a filmmaker, if you look at any of his work, whether or not it’s Let Me In or Cloverfield or the Planet of the Apes movies, he’s always coming from a point of emotion, it’s never the big action thing,” Tomlin said. “It’s always, what is this character’s soul? I think that really looking at Batman as somebody who has gone through this trauma, and then everything that he’s doing is then a reaction to that, rather than shy away from that, I think this film leans into that in some very fun and surprising ways. I think that’s all I can say without getting yelled at.”

Keeping it dark (but not too dark)

“It’s a good question and it’s a question we ask ourselves,” he said of the visual tone for the film. “There’s darkness in the character for sure and we need to create a mood, which is obvious — it’s a Batman film. I don’t think it’s going to be oppressively dark in terms of visually, because that’s not what we’re trying to (do). We’re not trying to have a competition about who can go the darkest of the darkest of the darkest. We’re trying to create intrigue. I love the way some of the comics look. You can see relatively quite clearly in those graphic novels.”

For those who wondered whether the success of Joker could inspire The Batman to go even grimmer and darker than the much-maligned Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, this will likely come as welcome news. Exactly which comics inspired Fraser’s visual approach to the film remain a mystery, however.

A new Joker?

After Robert Pattinson stoked the flames on a crossover theory with Todd Phillips’ 2019 Joker, fans speculated that the upcoming Batman trilogy may incorporate Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime. However, the report indicates that Reeves will introduce a new version of the character rather than enlist Phoenix to reprise his role. Still, a link between the films is possible given that both are independent of the DCEU.

Batman’s modern era

The character Batman has been around since 1939, enduring countless adaptations, reimaginings, and visions of the Caped Crusader’s mythos. According to The Batman‘s Commissioner Gordon, Jeffrey Wright, though, this upcoming film will bring that mythos into a new modern era.

What that means, exactly, isn’t fully clear considering Matt Reeves’ take is expected to feature many classic characters, from Catwoman to The Penguin, and maintain the same origin story. However, as The Batman is something of a reboot for Warner Bros. after its brief stint with Ben Affleck as Batman in DC’s Expanded Universe, Wright could be simply referring to finding a new, independent place in the superhero’s history.

Wright indicated that one way in which this Batman is distinct from others is in his ride. “I read the script for the Batmobile and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s it,’” he said. “[Bruce Wayne] created the most badass muscle car you could imagine, but it’s grounded in Gotham. It’s grounded in Americana.”

Finding the balance between honoring a classic character, etching out a unique space in that character’s canon, and propelling Warner Bros.’ still-developing superhero universe will be a significant task. If Wright’s interview is any indication, this depiction of a grittier, more grounded Gotham may be the window to the past that will propel DC into the future.

The Penguin, briefly

Reeves eventually found his replacement, though, with Colin Farrell (below) eventually confirmed to play Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin. On an episode of YouTube series Stars in the House, actor Rob McClure revealed that Farrell will use prosthetic attachments for a more comic-accurate depiction of The Penguin.

Don’t expect a big role for Farrell to play in the film, though, as the actor himself indicated to GMA News that he doesn’t have “much to do” in the movie.

“I had only started it, and I can’t wait to get back,” said Farrell. “The creation of it, the aesthetic of the character, has been fun, and I really am so excited to get back and explore it. And I haven’t got that much to do. I have a certain amount in the film. I am not all over it by any means. But there are a couple of some tasty scenes I have in it, and my creation and I can’t wait to get back.”

On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he clarified: “I’m only in it for five or six scenes, so I can’t wait to see the film because it won’t be ruined by my presence. Really, it’s a freebie to me. I’ll get a little bit uncomfortable for the fucking 9 minutes I have, and then the rest of it, I cannot wait to see how he [Reeves] brought this world to life.”

Gear and vehicles

Warner Bros. Pictures released the official cast list for The Batman in January 2020, confirming the characters that will be played by each of the film’s supporting cast members.

Colin Farrell’s Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot won’t be the only member of Batman’s notorious rogues’ gallery to appear in the film.

Joining him will be Paul Dano (below), star of Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood, and Escape at Dannemora. Dano will portray Edward Nashton, the brilliant villain known as The Riddler.

In October 2019, X-Men: First Class and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald actress Zoë Kravitz was cast as Selina Kyle in The Batman. As fans of The Dark Knight know all too well, Selina is the civilian alter ego of Catwoman, the notorious Gotham burglar who has been an ally, enemy, and romantic partner of Batman over the years.

Robert Pattinson’s Batman will also have a key ally in the film. Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright will play Gotham Police Department’s James Gordon in The Batman. Wright takes over the role from J.K. Simmons, who played Gordon in the Ben Affleck-led Justice League.

Joining the aforementioned cast members will be Peter Sarsgaard (Shattered Glass, The Magnificent Seven) as Gotham District Attorney Gil Colson, John Turturro as mob boss Carmine Falcone, Barry Keoghan as GCPD detective Stanley Markel, and Jayme Lawson as Gotham City mayoral candidate Bella Reál. This will be Sarsgaard’s second turn in a film based on a DC Comics hero after portraying Hector Hammond, the villain of 2011’s Green Lantern. In an interview with The Observer, described his take on Colson as “very intense,” a description that seems in line with everything we’ve heard about this movie.

“My part is very intense,” Sarsgaard said. “On a big show like that my main concern was that I would have to do it 150 times — this intense scene and then that intense scene. My character is at nine out of ten for a lot of it. That was going through my head a lot, like ‘How do I maintain this?’”

What about Deathstroke?

Manganiello’s Deathstroke appeared in a post-credits scene during Justice League in which he was seen meeting with Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) to discuss forming a “league” of villains.

Reeves indicated in January 2019 that the movie will feature Batman’s rogues’ gallery in one form or another, so there’s a possibility Manganiello could play a surprise role in the film.

Earlier that month, Variety reported Pattinson was the leading contender for the role, but a subsequent report published by Deadline indicated that the deal with Pattinson wasn’t finalized and that Mad Max: Fury Road actor and X-Men franchise star Nicholas Hoult was also in the mix. Hoult plays blue-furred scientist Hank McCoy in the X-Men films.

Despite portraying Batman in each of the films in which the character has appeared so far in the DC Extended Universe franchise, Ben Affleck won’t play Bruce Wayne (or his alter ego) in The Batman.

The problems

Affleck’s experience with the notoriously ill-received Batman V. Superman (which resulted in the interview that spawned the “Sad Affleck” meme) appeared to sour his relationship with the solo feature, and he announced his exit from the director’s chair in January 2017. Matt Reeves was named the new director of the film a month later.

The troubles weren’t over for The Batman, though, as a report was published a week later indicating that Affleck could be on his way out as Bruce Wayne and the studio was looking for a way to “usher out Affleck’s Batman gracefully.” That report was published on the second day of 2017’s San Diego Comic-Con, prompting Affleck to address it during Warner Bros. Pictures’ movie panel two days later.

“Let me be very clear: I am the luckiest guy in the world,” said Affleck when asked about the report during the show’s Justice League panel (via CNN). “Batman is the coolest part in any universe — DC, Marvel. It’s incredible. … I’m so thrilled to do it.”

“I know there was a misconception that because I didn’t direct it that I wasn’t enthusiastic about it, [but] it’s f—ing amazing,” he continued. “And I still can’t believe I’ve done two films and have this great history with this studio.”