In “The Batman”, Matt Reeves resets the counters of the Batmobile with what could be the beginning of a new franchise devoted to the Batman. But is a sequel already planned?
WARNING – The article below contains some spoilers on “The Batman”, since it notably evokes its end or some of its twists. So please move on if you haven’t seen Matt Reeves’ movie yet and don’t want to know anything before.
With The Batman, it is the dawn of a new saga devoted to Bruce Wayne and his alter ego which rises on a darker and stickier Gotham than ever. Unlike Todd Phillips’ Joker, envisioned as a movie without a sequel (despite persistent rumors of episode 2 never confirmed by Warner or the director), Matt Reeves’ opus presents itself as the first chapter of a long story. course, even if, except for one scene, it is self-sufficient.
While the film has just been released in American theaters, two days after France, there are currently no concrete plans for a sequel. But a formalization could take place in a few days, depending on its start across the Atlantic, or in the weeks that follow. Warner, however, seems to have complete confidence in Matt Reeves and, after having validated an assembly of almost three hours (which reduces the number of sessions per day, therefore the potential receipts), could allow him to re-stack behind the camera.
We started talking about another movie
Asked about the subject at the time of the world premiere, which was held in London, the director and co-screenwriter wanted to be optimistic: “I hope [que nous ferons une suite]we will see”he replied. “You don’t have to do an episode 1 being convinced that there will be a 2. You have to try to score at your first opportunity and make a film that is self-sufficient. But I really have faith that we did and i would love to be able to tell more stories [sur Batman].”
“We’re already doing that with streaming and on HBO Max: we’ll have a Penguin series with Colin Farrell, which is super cool, in addition to other things that we’re working on. But we’ve started talking another movie, although I’m going to let this one out first, and try to enjoy all of this.”
NO JOKE?
Unless there is an absolutely unimaginable failure, the chances that a sequel to The Batman will see the light of day are therefore very high. And if the question of the interpreter of the Bat Man is already settled, that of the identity of his next opponent will necessarily agitate the Web until an official announcement from Matt Reeves and / or Warner. Especially in view of this scene, at the end of the film, during which the Riddler (Paul Dano) speaks with a mysterious, laughing prisoner in Arkham.
Is this an announcement effect like Batman Begins and his playing card? Not really according to the director: “He’s the character you’re thinking of, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be the villain of the next movie.”, he replied when we asked him about this scene. The character played by Barry Keoghan (The Eternals) is not quite the Joker, but someone who will become one. “He has not yet decided to claim this concept.”
The Walt Disney Pictures When will Barry Keoghan face Robert Pattinson?
Still according to the director, he is a killer that Batman encountered and imprisoned before the events of the feature film. And the fact of showing it serves him less to announce the identity of the next antagonist of Bruce Wayne than to close the narrative arc of the Riddler. While implying that Gotham is far from being saved and that other threats lurk in the shadows, then justifying that the hero does not leave with Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz).
It would also be amusing, not to say audacious, if Matt Reeves only used this future Joker as a Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs: a consultant who helps Batman to move forward. Even if we suspect that he will obviously be tempted, even obliged, to take him out of his cell at some point to confront the Bat Man with his worst enemy. But maybe not as soon as the next film, which should arrive in less than five years according to producer Dylan Clark.
BAT VS OWLS?
Still at our microphone, Matt Reeves says he does not yet know who will be the villain of the next opus. And the good news is that he will be spoiled for choice, as the popularity of the hero also comes from his fabulous gallery of adversaries. It therefore remains to be seen whether he will opt for a safe bet already seen on the big screen (Double-Face? A Poison Ivy that would echo the climate emergency?), or whether he will try something new.
While the director and screenwriter maintains the vagueness, Robert Pattinson leans for the second solution in an interview given to Den of Geek. If he first briefly cited Calendar Man, a villain whose crimes are based on parties seen in the guise of Sean Gunn in The Suicide Squad (which takes place in a universe other than The Batman), the interpreter of Bruce Wayne mostly talked about an assembly.
“I would love for us to do something like The Court of Owls”, he says. Either a secret society made up of members of the elite of Gotham City, and which has been pulling the strings there since the 17th century, sometimes calling on assassins. Appearing for the first time in a comic book in 2011, thanks to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, this group seen in season 3 of Gotham even manages to question the involvement of the Waynes in the founding of the city.
DC Comics
Is the Court of Owls preparing in the shadows?
In addition to bringing novelty, their presence could impact the hero on an emotional level. To extend the discourse of the first film on the corruption of the elites or to illustrate this idea of deeper evil of which the director speaks to us. And stick with the gothic atmosphere set up by Matt Reeves: “There are a bit horrific elements in The Batman, and I think it’s quite new for Batman”specifies Robert Pattinson on this subject, always with Den of Geek.
This is not the first time that the Court of Owls is associated with the universe set up by Matt Reeves, because several rumors bet on the fact that The Batman would serve to introduce the secret society for a continued. So it may only be a postponement and, in the meantime, its members will shine on consoles, in video games “Gotham Knights” slated for release this year.
A FANTASTICALLY REALISTIC VILLAIN?
The bets are therefore open to try to guess who will be the villain of the next opus of Batman directed by Matt Reeves. And the task will be all the more difficult as the director does not close any doors, and does not rule out following tracks that one would think too far from his realistic universe: “As for me, I’m drawn to this idea of developing a down-to-earth version of everything”he explains to Collider.
“It would be an interesting challenge for me to try and see what you can do with a character like Mr. Freeze, who has a great story. I think there’s a down-to-earth version of this story, which could be very powerful and super. I like the fantastic side of Batman. But this film, even if I find it very faithful to the comic books, does not really rely on this aspect. It would be interesting to unravel the fantastic [du personnage] and see how it could make sense in this universe. That’s how I see things.”
Warner Bros. Pictures
A new life in the cinema for Mr. Freeze?
After the Riddler, will Matt Reeves bring another Joel Schumacher villain back to center stage? With an approach diametrically opposed to that of the fan of chilling puns embodied by Arnold Schwarzenegger? That the director and co-writer of The Batman chose this example is perhaps not insignificant, even if he does not openly say that he wants to tackle this specific character.
But it just goes to show just how many possibilities there are for a sequel. Now there is no missing “than” its official announcement. Then the first information about him. Over the next five years.