The DCU Can and Should Have More Than One Batman

Robert Pattinson or Ben Affleck? Why choose? We can have them all.

Fans of all matters Batman are mighty stressed these days. In the weeks since the professional news that James Gunn and Peter Safran had been named Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of DC Studios, the overall form of what we once knew as the DCEU remains unknown. The latest reviews that Gunn and Safran have seemingly axed the mooted Batman Beyond movie is a blow to fans excited for Michael Keaton’s return to don the cover and have been primed for greater. Coming warm on the heels of the marvel cancelation of the Batgirl characteristic, these trends have left quite a few Bat-fans scratching their heads.

In this period of cinematic universes each profitable (the MCU) and abortive (the Dark Universe, anyone?), the DC(E)U has had a notoriously rocky run. With the original continuity mounted by means of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice now upended, the function Batman will play inside the 10-12 months plan Gunn and Safran now manage stays murky at pleasant. Matt Reeves’ The Batman was a big success, with Robert Pattinson’s incarnation of the Dark Knight successful with lovers and critics alike. Reeves’ long-time period DC tasks look like safe, as does Todd Phillips’ hit Joker continuity, however we nevertheless don’t know which Batman can be considered the “prime” Batman of the brand new DCU.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav telegraphed the modifications coming to the DCU while he said: “there is no longer going to be four Batmans.” Zaslav, Gunn, and Safran understandably want to recognition on a universe of their personal making, and the success of The Batman makes its continuity a logical desire. Still, if one in all Warner/DC’s desires is to differentiate this gestating cinematic universe from the MCU, this choice counts as a ignored opportunity.

Why Can’t We Have Four Batmen?

There have always been a couple of variations of characters like Batman in the comedian books. As I write this, the ongoing comedian collection featuring the character’s universe includes Batman: Urban Legends, I Am Batman, Batgirls, Tim Drake: Robin, and Batman, Incorporated. Some current standout multiversal spins on Batman are The Batman Who Laughs, centered on a darkish(er), trade-reality model of Bruce Wayne who merged with the Joker to become the insane titular supervillain, and Batman: White Knight, which follows a apparently “cured” Joker who turns into a politician and sets out to save the town from Batman.

Within this expected context for the man or woman, why can’t we have four Batmans? There is a valid argument that this method ought to dilute the Batman IP and lessen its business potentialities, but I contend that the alternative is actual. With Batman possibly greater than some other predominant superhero man or woman, fans are used to seeing a brand new actor don the cape and cowl every few years. Committing to multiple cinematic Bat universe could be genuine to the spirit of the man or woman’s origins.

And in any case, we have already got 3 installed Batmen clean in our collective latest memory: Robert Pattinson, Ben Affleck’s underneath-liked flip within the now-deserted Snyderverse, and Michael Keaton. With smart, savvy advertising and masses of room among released dates, the rumored Keaton solo movie, the sequel to The Batman, and even Affleck’s feasible directing access (which probably might not feature him as Batman… However it must) can co-exist, and be successful.

Beyond the a couple of possible continuities — and by extension, a couple of Bat-franchises — embracing a multiverse might distinguish the DCU from its largest competitor.

What Is Marvel NOT Doing?

In an alternate measurement now not a ways removed from ours, 2005’s Batman Begins and 2006’s Superman Returns kicked off DC’s cinematic universe, getting the soar on Marvel Studios by using more than one years. This did now not occur, of path, and in 2012, the MCU’s Phase 1 culminated inside the massive fulfillment of The Avengers, while DC and Warner Bros. Confronted the cease of Christopher Nolan’s Bat-trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. All of this arguably amounted to a ignored opportunity, as properly. Bat-enthusiasts are not sorry Nolan’s films exist, but permitting Christian Bale’s Batman to be the handiest superhero of that universe placed DC firmly behind the 8-ball.

The yr 2023 marks fifteen years of the MCU, a usually-steady narrative universe spread out throughout films, tv, and streaming content. The average brilliant, punchy tone of Marvel movies in general inspires the spirit of Marvel Comics and serve as a wonderful comparison from the gloomier tone of lots of the DCEU (the colourful, upbeat tones of Shazam and Aquaman are the massive exceptions right here). Until recently, however, the one component of the comics that the MCU has not emulated is a lean into the multiverse of all of it. Loki, What If…?, the final two entries of the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy, and Doctor Strange inside the Multiverse of Madness discover Marvel ultimately wading into an ocean of parallel realities.

Still, with the aid of the quit of every of these titles, the opportunity that a permanent beginning into those realities might stay viable has been pruned back. We can adequately expect that, say, the casting of John Krasinski as Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic in Multiverse of Madness changed into a winking, self-conscious one-off. Also, given Daredevil’s red and gold costume in She-Hulk, it’s miles entirely probable that the individual’s darker, extra violent Netflix adventures are all a part of a special universe as nicely. Marvel seems unwilling to truely let out find it irresistible arguably must. Fans hoping to see Tom Cruise as a multiversal Tony Stark shouldn’t keep their breath.

Committing to more than one Bat-properties right now — even as teasing extra ability crossovers — could stake out territory that Marvel appears unwilling to explore in the interim. The studio could even tap into different Elseworlds-fashion continuities, too, consisting of Nolan’s universe or that of TV’s Batwoman. After all, as we have mounted, there are numerous extraordinary Bat-memories which can run concurrently.

Who is… Batman?

This is Jim Carrey’s Riddler from Batman Forever talking, no longer me. For each of the massive-and-small screen faces who’ve performed the character — Adam West, Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Bale, Affleck, Pattinson — we get a barely distinctive version of a totally familiar track. From the pleased Caped Crusader from camp-tastic ’60s TV display to Pattinson’s mega-brooding, Kurt Cobain-stimulated incarnation, each actor in every entry brings a brand new dimension to the Dark Knight. Some are glaringly extra memorable than others, however enthusiasts can always assume something exclusive.

What if we had a Batman Beyond series following an getting old Bruce Wayne as he trains a newcomer to don the cowl? Concurrently, we follow Affleck’s center-aged Dark Knight as he navigates a remodeled model of the Snyderverse. Meanwhile, The Penguin collection on HBO Max spawns other confined series fleshing out Matt Reeves’ charming, expansive Gotham City in among function installments. These are simply the acknowledged possible Bats we will conjecture about; who knows what Gunn and Safran plan to introduce?

A multiverse of Batmen method an array of storytelling possibilities. This is all amounts to little more than fantasy fan-casting, however that doesn’t alternate the unique opportunity DC and Warner Bros. Have handy. We ought to watch many one-of-a-kind variations of Batman straight away, with distinct aspects of the man or woman constantly on show. Could all of them intersect? Could Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker go paths with Barry Keoghan’s Clown Price of Crime? Could Lady Gaga’s upcoming Harley Quinn tangle with Margot Robbie’s fan-favourite take on the Joker’s moll? Of direction, they could — that’s the marvel and magic of a comedian book, in any case. What if, just as soon as, fans got the hero they need and deserve?