Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Batman

  • ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Offer First Look at J.K. Simmons as a Younger Commissioner Gordon

    ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Offer First Look at J.K. Simmons as a Younger Commissioner Gordon

    Last year it was announced that J.K. Simmons would be reprising his role of Commissioner Gordon in the upcoming Batgirl solo film, starring Leslie Grace. The actor first appeared as Gordon in 2017’s Justice League, and of course in the 2020 re-release of director Zack Snyder’s original cut. In both films, he had a rather small role, but that seems to be changing in his next entry. Some new photos from the set in Glasglow have given us our first look at Simmons return as the famous commissioner.

    He may look a bit different than when we first saw him in Justice League, as he ditched the grey look for his comic-accurate red hair. Gordon looks to be with his wife and possibly a young Barbara Gordon, indicating that this is most likely a flashback scene, which might explain the red hair. The actress who might be playing her mother has not been officially announced so far.

    A while back on the HappySadConfused podcast, Simmons expressed that he was ” “flabbergasted” at the request from Warner Brothers to reprise his role as Gordon, believing his days as Commissioner were shortlived.

    “I’m excited to be the once and future Jim Gordon, I had a long discussion with the guys about how we want to portray him. It’s a really interesting take on introducing Batgirl and fleshing Jim Gordon out.”

    J.K. Simmons

    Batgirl currently has no release date but is currently set to release this year exclusively on HBO Max.

    Source: Twitter, HappySadConfused Podcast

  • The DCEU Can Shine Even Without Superman and Batman

    The DCEU Can Shine Even Without Superman and Batman

    Quite recently the internet has been ablaze with rumors and reports regarding the future of the DC Extended Universe. They have stated that Batman and Superman would essentially have no role in the DCEU moving forward. Michael Keaton might take on a role similar to Nick Fury in the early days of the MCU. Their original roles will be taken over by Batgirl and Supergirl of the trinity. While it seems like there’s a bit of uncertainty on what’s to become of the DCEU, I don’t think all is lost. In fact, I feel like there’s even more potential now than there was ever before.

    Obviously, Batman and Superman are essential characters to the comics mythos. They are the literal pillars of the DC Universe across all mediums, and rightfully so. Luckily the characters will live on in multiple other projects like Matt Reeves‘ The Batman, Batman: The Caped Crusader, My Adventures With Superman, Superman and Lois, as well as whatever DC has planned. The two aren’t completely gone from DC’s cinematic future. As such, they can continue to exist in their own separate projects while minor characters get a chance to shine in a connected DCEU.

    That is exactly why we shouldn’t look at this as the end but rather as an opportunity. In this instance, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven how a franchise can build itself without some of its most iconic characters. Yes, there have been comparisons when people pointed out that the DCEU went a little too fast so that they could catch up with the MCU, but in this case, they should take a page out of their book. With this new direction, they may be unshackled like Marvel Studios once was.

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe was able to build without its pillar characters, as back in 2008 they only had limited access to their roster of characters. As such, the MCU was forced to start without the likes of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and even the X-Men. They couldn’t access these characters that put them on the map. Instead, they worked with what was available at their disposal and built a universe with the likes of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Vision, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and many more. While it seems difficult to imagine a world without them, they weren’t well-known at that time.

    The DCEU has a chance to dig through its incredibly rich roster of characters and give the spotlight to those that would’ve otherwise never gotten the chance. Marvel is at a place now where they can introduce characters like the Eternals, Echo, Shang-Chi, and many more to their universe and instantly turn them into household names. Even Moon Knight just recently had more views within the first 24 hours than series like Hawkeye, WandaVision, and even Loki. These are all characters that became fan-favorites after being part of the franchise for years, and this new character managed to outperform them.

    So, even if the future for Batman and Superman in the DCEU is uncertain, this isn’t something to fear but rather embrace. These two characters have such a strong place in the cinematic consciousness of the public. They aren’t dependent on the rest, especially with Reeves‘ plans of building an entire universe based solely on Batman. So, the DCEU can reestablish itself and become even more interconnected as minor characters get their time to shine. We’re already seeing the new direction with projects on Black Adam, Blue Beetle, and more. This is just the beginning of a brighter future.

  • ‘The Batman’s Eyeing a 3-Hour Runtime

    ‘The Batman’s Eyeing a 3-Hour Runtime

    It looks like Matt Reeves is all in with his upcoming adaptation of The Batman, as a Czech film distribution site has confirmed the long-rumored three-hour runtime for the latest adaptation featuring the Dark Knight. Robert Pattinson‘s take on the character will run for 176 minutes, or around 2 hours and 55 minutes according to the site, which was first shared on Reddit in the form of a distribution list. What makes this so noteworthy is that this makes the film the longest in the Batman franchise. THR has now confirmed the runtime in a new piece.

    The upcoming DC film, which will premiere on March 4th, is the second-longest entry in the franchise, as it’s only beaten out by Zack Snyder’s Justice League with its 4+ hour runtime. It’s even longer than the recently released Eternals, which had quite a bit of discussion surrounding its extended runtime. Reeves is very thorough in how he approaches his films, and its length may reflect just how dense the project ended up being. The central mystery might unravel in interesting ways that are only hinted at in the trailers.

    Source: Vertical via Reddit, THR

  • Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Tease the Court of Owls and Vicky Vale

    Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Tease the Court of Owls and Vicky Vale

    The Batgirl set photos have been a smorgasbord filled with Easter eggs or hints of what we can expect from the upcoming HBO Max film. A mural gave us our first look at a potential appearance of Robin, as it even sparked rumors about a potential Nightwing spinoff. Yet, the latest set photos have added some more interesting references to the original 1989 Batman and one of Batman’s most iconic foes. Let’s start with the latter, as @BatgirlFilm has noticed a magazine that very openly discusses the usually secretive society known as the Court of Owls.

    It’s weird seeing them so openly discussed on the cover of the fictional Gotham Tattler. So, either Michael Keaton‘s Batman faced off against them in the past and they’ve been exposed as a result, or they took a very different approach with their mythology as part of his rogue’s gallery. Speaking of Keaton, a different set photo including another magazine cover includes the name of Vicki Vale, who was played by Kim Basinger back in 1989.

    There’s no word that we might actually see Vicky Vale in the film, but it’s great that they are also including references to the original 1989 project. We saw that the film#s take on Robin is quite different from how the original films introduced the character, but Keaton also wasn’t invovled once that character was included. So, they have enough wiggle room to recreate specific elements while still paying tribute to others from the original Tim Burton films.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter (Vale)

  • Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photo Features a Nod to ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Maxie Zeus Episode

    Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photo Features a Nod to ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Maxie Zeus Episode

    Batman: The Animated Series is undoubtedly a pivotal and iconic part of Batman’s adaptation history. The series has provided some character best stories and introduced many to his extensive mythology. Its influence and relevance have never seemed to dwindle, as it continues to get referenced in films, series, and comics to this day. Some recent photos from the set of Batgirl in Glasgow feature a subtle nod to one particular episode, in particular, featuring one of Batman’s more obscure rogues known as Maxie Zeus.

    we get a look at some more posters from the set with one, in particular, catching the eye of Batman: The Animated Series fans. The pink and black posters feature the name of a band known as “Fire From Olympus” the title of the 63rd episode from the series’ first season.

    https://twitter.com/wxhite_wxolf/status/1480925094767693824?s=21

    The episode featured the origin of Maxie Zeus, a shipping magnate who believed that he was the reincarnation of the Greek god Zeus. Maxie’s company was in charge of shipping a powerful lightning weapon known as the Electronic Discharge Cannon for the government, but Maxie took the weapon for his own personal use after completely falling for his god complex.

    The poster features a silhouette of a man in a suit with horns surrounded by fire, which could be a nod to Hades, even if he isn’t typically depicted with devil-like features. In the episode, Zeus claims that his brother Hades will be arriving any minute and must be ready. Batman arrives and Zeus embraces him, believing him to be his brother. Even if it seems unlikely Zeus has a role in the story, it’s great just how many small details and Easter eggs are getting added to the backdrop alone.

    Source: Twitter

  • Batman Mural in ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Includes a First Look at Robin

    Batman Mural in ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Includes a First Look at Robin

    Not too long ago, we shared the first look at a mural from the Batgirl set that featured Michael Keaton’s updated Batman design. Well, only minutes later the full mural has been revealed and there’s a second part that almost slipped away. While it seems that parts of his face have faded, it offers a clear look at a comic-accurate take on the boy wonder. You can check out the full mural here:

    What makes this inclusion stand out is that there wasn’t a word on Robin appearing in the film. Of course, this doesn’t mean he’ll have a role in the story, but it does confirm that Batman was active at some point with one version of the character by his side. It opens up a lot of questions, such as if this means we’ll see the Dynamic Duo in action during the film’s runtime.

    Of course, Keaton is set to appear in The Flash, which could also potentially set up his storyline leading into this film. We might get more clarity once that film drops, but it’s great to see the Boy Wonder potentially getting some silver screen attention. He’s been mostly absent and was mostly featured in TV projects. So, we’ll see if they might announce a casting in the near future.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Features a Mural With a First Look at Michael Keaton’s Updated Batman Suit

    ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Features a Mural With a First Look at Michael Keaton’s Updated Batman Suit

    One of the biggest mysteries that surrounded the upcoming Batgirl film was who they’d choose as their Batman. A while back the directors teased that Batman would be in the film and only gave us a hint with the statement, it’ll be “the real Batman“. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that we’d receive a confirmation. Michael Keaton will be the one to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne. If rumors are to be believed, it’ll take place in a post-Flash DCEU where he has taken over as the main Batman from Ben Affleck.

    Production on Batgirl has recently started in Glasgow, as the streets are transformed into Gotham City. What stands out is that new set photos have caught crews prepping a mural of Batman in a suit similar to Keaton‘s. What stands out is the yellow emblem with an updated look. It even seems like they streamlined the design he made famous back in Batman and Batman Returns.

    The most notable difference here is the cowl: Keaton‘s original design was a singular piece with his cape and offered very limited mobility for the actor’s neck. It now looks to be much more separated from the cape and much thinner.

    Batgirl is currently set to release in 2022, exclusively on HBO Max. The film will be directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The film is set to star Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon alongside J.K. Simmons reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon with Brendan Fraser as the Gotham City arsonist and notorious Batman rogue Firefly.

    Source: Twitter

  • Leaked ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Seems to Hint at Hugo Strange

    Leaked ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Seems to Hint at Hugo Strange

    After a long wind up, Batgirl has finally begun production. They are currently busy filming in Glasgow. This is now the third Bat-centric DC film to claim Glasgow as its headquarters and background for Gotham City, following The Batman and for a brief time, The Flash. With production preparing for exterior shots, the streets of Glasgow have been transformed into Gotham City with all sorts of vehicles and posters. Already it seems like some set photos found their way online featuring posters that may hint at a more sinister presence behind the scenes in Gotham City.

    The set photo teases the existence of the notorious Batman villain, Hugo Strange. A poster on-site with the captions “Excellent! Excellent!” features a man with a striking resemblance to Hugo Strange with a bald head and sinister grin. The only thing missing would be his iconic coke bottle glasses, which seem purposely scratched out.

    Hugo Strange first appeared in Detective Comics #36, where he first went up against Batman after using a concentrated lightning machine to cover Gotham City in a thick and dense fog. It allowed his gangs to rob Gotham Cities banks without being seen. Strange was also one of the first Batman villains to figure out his identity. He would later return and begin experiments on insane asylum patients, using growth hormone serums to turn them into giant monsters and send them on a destructive path throughout Gotham city.

    The character is still around to this day and made his live-action debut in Gotham, in which he was the root cause of so many villain origins as products of his experiments at the Indian Hill research facility. He also was one of the main antagonists of Batman: Arkham City. It’ll be interesting to see if they are building up his appearance later down the line, or he might have a role in the film.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Supergirl and Batgirl May Become Part of the DCEU’s New Trinity

    RUMOR: Supergirl and Batgirl May Become Part of the DCEU’s New Trinity

    Two of the biggest mysteries in the past few years have been the future of Batman and Superman in the DC Extended Universe. The characters are pillars of the comics alongside Wonder Woman and, most frequently, Harley Quinn, but their future live-action appearances within the DCEU seem to be ending a bit sooner than many had hoped.

    Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck were reportedly set to leave their roles a few years ago, but since then things have gotten a bit foggy. MyTimeToShine, who has been on a DC hot streak as of late, is now reporting that both characters will effectively be wiped from canon in the DCEU. Yet, the big development lies in the fact that they already have characters ready to take over their original roles in the new canon.

    Supergirl and Batgirl are set to make their DCEU debut this year with Sasha Calle aiding Barry in The Flash. Leslie Grace’s Batgirl will presumably take place in the post-Flash universe, with Michael Keaton set to play Batman in the film. Calle and Grace will reportedly take over as the main universe “Super” and “Bat” representatives, as the DCEU heads in an interesting new direction with its characters.

    This news will surely confuse and upset many fans, but it’s best to keep an open mind as these are still purely rumors and we haven’t seen a finished project just yet. If these rumors are indeed true, it would mean Calle and Grace would join Gal Gadot in the new DCEU trinity. Along with being a member of the trinity, it seems likely that Leslie Grace could also join the Justice League, which is rumored to get a revival in The Flash. Whatever happens, we have a lot to look forward to.

    Source: Twitter

  • Matt Reeves Shares New Look at ‘The Batman’s Selina Kyle Ahead of DC FanDome

    Matt Reeves Shares New Look at ‘The Batman’s Selina Kyle Ahead of DC FanDome

    The wait isn’t long until we get a new trailer for The Batman. Matt Reeves’ version of the iconic Caped Crusader will release next year with Robert Pattinson in the role. He’ll be joined by quite the cast which includes Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle. We only briefly got a glimpse at the actress in last year’s DC FanDome, but luckily to hype up the next reveal the director shared a brand new image featuring the actress in clear view. He also teases that we’ll get quite a bit more of her in the upcoming trailer.

    The upcoming film will reimagine the popular DC franchise in a more noir-themed storyline going by the first trailer. Paul Dano‘s Riddler took center stage in the first trailer and may challenge Pattinson‘s Bruce Wayne throughout the film’s runtime. Kyle’s exact role remains uncertain, but with Batman: The Long Halloween as potential inspiration, her role might connect to this universe’s version of Falcone. We see her with a cat-inspired mask stealing from an unsuspecting victim, which may also end up being the first time she confronts Batman. We can’t wait to see what Reeves and his team have in store for us with tomorrow’s trailer.

    Source: Twitter