Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Batman

  • How Michael Keaton’s Return as Batman May Reshape the DCEU

    How Michael Keaton’s Return as Batman May Reshape the DCEU

    For a while, fans were wondering who would be the DCEU’s primary Batman after Ben Affleck exited the franchise. We’d received confirmation that Robert Pattinson would be taking his crimefighting to another Earth within the ever-expanding multiverse. For a while, many fans clung to the chances that Ben Affleck would miraculously change his mind and hop straight back into the cape and cowl, harboring a newfound passion for the role. However, What fans received is a small role reprisal in the upcoming Flash film starring Ezra Miller.

    The Flash will mark the return of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne. This is the first time he is returning to the role since Batman Returns. It got confirmed that Keaton will take over as the Bruce Wayne of the main timeline. They’ve called it the DCEU Earth-1, as the primary universe of the Arrowverse shows is serving as Earth-Prime. It got confirmed during the surprise cameo by Miller in the Crisis on Infinite Earth‘s crossover. He shared a short scene with Grant Gustin‘s Barry Allen, which was a welcome surprise to see the TV and film universes crossover. Nevertheless, The Flash will shake up the DCEU in massive ways, so who knows how long the current multiverse will last.

     

     

    Barry Allen is set to find some familiar faces in the multiverse and ends up working alongside the Bruce Wayne of Earth-89 at some point in the film. It stumped me a bit trying to put the puzzle together. How could a multiverse film affect the status of the DCEU’s Batman? Luckily, DC is pretty famous for its fascination with resetting their multiverse through Crisis events. A previous report mentioned that Keaton was in talks to stick around the DC universe for a while and take on a Nick Fury-type role. So, he will not have an active role but pull the strings from behind-the-scenes. However, Ben Affleck‘s departure as the caped crusader left a bat-shaped hole that needs filling.

    Luckily, the Batman lineage doesn’t end with Bruce, as he has long moved on from his singular crusade. The Bat-Family becoming one of the most prominent groups in comics. So, let’s take a look at who would be the perfect choice to fill that hole. Of course, the most obvious option would be Barbara Gordon, who’s long had a project in the works. Just recently, the project gained steam again. Christina Hodson, the writer behind Birds of Prey, has been actively working on two DC projects. Those are The Flash and, most notably, Batgirl. Naturally, this led to theories that this is no coincidence. It would surely keep things consistent behind the scenes when you’ve got one person hive-minding this shift of power between some of the most iconic characters in comics.

     

     

    Recently, DC Films’ President, Walter Hamada, mentioned Batgirl alongside Static Shock as two of the riskier films that will be made available via HBO Max. The film seems to still be in development. Also, in the past few years, female-Led superhero projects have changed the game. Batgirl shouldn’t be any different, as she is by far one of the most iconic female superheroes. Hell, why stop at one? As mentioned above, the Bat-Family has become an iconic and integral part of DC. Now that Bruce is seemingly out of the game, he’d make sure Gotham was in the right hands.

    As many DC fans know, the introduction of an older Bruce Wayne opens up the potential to a very iconic storyline. It might be the right time to introduce Terry McGinnis to cinema-goers. Many fans have been wishing for a live-action adaptation of Batman Beyond. Many fans are crossing their fingers that Keaton‘s return is a sign that it is finally happening. Love him or hate him, Batman is the heart of DC. He’s an integral part of a universe that spanned decades. The potential and future of this character is bright and will not be ending any time soon.

  • ‘The Flash’ Eyeing Early 2021 Production Start

    ‘The Flash’ Eyeing Early 2021 Production Start

    The Flash is the best example of development hell. Since its announcement, the film has seen countless directors and screenwriters tackle the project. It finally settled on It director Andrés Muschietti and Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson. The film will see the return of Ezra Miller in the role of Barry Allen. Inspired by the Flashpoint storyline, we will join the Scarlet Speedster as he makes his way through the multiverse. He will team up with Michael Keaton‘s Batman. This marks his first return to the role for the first time since 1992. Not just that, it will also see the return of Ben Affleck’s as the Batman, who got introduced n Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    The film was going to enter production in March, but it looks like it will now start a month later. It will film at the Warner Bros. Leavesden studios, but no further details are available if they will primarily film at this location. Sound studios will be the primary filming location as long as the pandemic could interrupt production at any point. Backstage also states that the project has also picked up casting directors Rich Delia and Kate Ringsell.

    The Flash is currently set to release on November 4th, 2022. Ezra Miller, Billy Crudup, Ben Affleck, and Michael Keaton are confirmed to return. It is unknown if Kiersey Clemons will return to reprise her role of Iris West. We might see some casting announcements and information on returning actors from the DCEU once we near production in April.

    Source: Backstage

  • ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos Reveal Batmobile and New Wig

    ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos Reveal Batmobile and New Wig

    Batwoman‘s second season will introduce fans to a brand new heroine. Javicia Leslie has taken over the mantle from Ruby Rose to protect Gotham. The rest of the series’ cast is set to return with a lot of the story still a secret. We got some pictures from the set that teased Leslie in the iconic costume from the first season. It seemed she was carrying over the red wig and costume from her predecessor. A new image from the set may have revealed that we will see some new changes over the course of the show. Twitter user @Pagmyst shared an image where we can see that Batwoman has ditched the red wig.

    https://twitter.com/Pagmyst/status/1317354669304283136

    The image is from far away so we don’t get a good look if the costume has changed as well. Her new wig seems to be brown, which is a great way to highlight Leslie making the character her own. There is also the reveal of the show’s brand new Batmobile. @Pagmyst also shared a much better image of her new vehicle.

    https://twitter.com/Pagmyst/status/1317353770171260928

    CW won’t have the same budget as the movies. We originally thought we saw what would become the Batmobile in the last video, as it seemed to be updated with CGI. Yet, we are getting an actual Batmobile that even has her symbol on the front. Perhaps she uses an older model owned by the original Batman before switching to a car of her own choice. It looks a bit strange with the orange decals. Our only giveaway that this is the Batmobile would be the orange symbol on the front. This also could highlight that Batwoman‘s second season will switch from its red to an orange visual to highlight the new direction.

    Source: Twitter (costume), Twitter (Batmobile)

  • Superman and Wonder Woman Seemingly Exist in ‘The Batman’ Universe

    Superman and Wonder Woman Seemingly Exist in ‘The Batman’ Universe

    So far, The Batman seems to be set within its own universe. It will not be directly connected to the DC Extended Universe to explore Bruce’s second year as the titular vigilante. It seemed like the story would mainly focus on Batman and his rogue’s gallery. Even the first trailer revealed a much more grounded story. As such, we didn’t really think there would be any connection to the wider DC Universe, as it could collide with Matt Reeve’s vision. Interestingly enough, recent set photos may have changed that perception. Twitter user @DCEUMX shared an image from the film’s set that features people in costumes for a Halloween set. Among them, there are two very distinctive and recognizable designs.

    It seems that Superman and Wonder Woman might exist in this universe. Of course, these are just costumes and not the real deal. ScreenRant shared the first image teasing Superman, so this is our best look at the character. However, we did not see Wonder Woman until now. This reveal would imply that these characters have existed to some degree in this universe. Perhaps, Reeves is trying to distinguish this version of Batman from the rest by having them be characters from comic books that are the base for these designs. The costumes in question are closer to that of the original comic runs than any modern designs we’ve seen. So, that could be the reason for their appearance. Still, there is one more picture from the set that may confirm Superman’s existence. @Bat_Source shared an article of the Gotham Times mentions the line: “faces looking up to the skies, fingers pointed, everywhere looking for you know who”.

    There is one more aspect that sticks out. This is definitely showing the inspiration from The Long Halloween. The comic also included a Halloween costume party. So, this might be shortly before another murder happens in the story. We got our glimpse at the Riddler, who is quite a unique take on the character. He might be hiding among the crowd in a comic-accurate costume. The concept of this Halloween party could also be a way to sneak in a lot of references if characters like the Penguin are also included in the scene. Sadly, the wait will be a bit longer until the film releases but these set photos are already very promising.

    Source: Twitter, ScreenRant, Twitter (Article)

  • ‘THE BATMAN’ Still Filming in Chicago

    ‘THE BATMAN’ Still Filming in Chicago

    According to a new report from Screen Magazine, Matt Reeves‘ The Batman is still expected to film in Chicago this Fall, planning for a late October shoot.

    Screen Magazine reports, filming in “The Windy City” is expected to take one to two weeks, with at least one month of pre-production. They are expected to do mainly shots of exterior downtown and that would possibly include Chicago landmarks, (suggested were the Thompson center and Board of Trade). It is currently unclear if stars Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, or Colin Farrell would be there for filming.

    Twitter account @filming_chicago retweeted the article from Screen commenting that they hadn’t heard anything at this time, but felt confident in Screen’s information.

    Meanwhile in Chicago, FX series Fargo has resumed production on it’s fourth season, with other Chicago based NBC shows (Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, and Chicago Med)expected to start up again in September. CW series The Batwoman had also done some filming in Chicago, and is expected to return at some point. Here’s hoping all go on without a hitch.

    Source: Screen Magazine

  • FanDome: Two-Part ‘Batman: the Long Halloween’ Animated Film In Development

    FanDome: Two-Part ‘Batman: the Long Halloween’ Animated Film In Development

    Just yesterday, we got our first look at the upcoming The Batman. Well, looks like that wasn’t the only Batman-centric news we were going to get out of DC FanDome. In an IGN exclusive panel for the animated film Superman: Man of Tomorrow it was revealed that four DC Universe animated films are slated for 2021 These include the already revealed Batman: Soul of Dragon and an original story titled Justice Society: World War II.

    With all this news, there is actaully one larger reveal. The iconic Batman mini-series The Long Halloween will be adapted as a two-part animated feature. The first part is slated to release next summer with the final part slated for Fall 2022. This will be the first adaptation of the 13-issue comic run that explored the story of Batman hunting down the Holiday Killer. It also isn’t the first time they’ve adapted an iconic Batman mini-series in two-parts. Last time they did this, it was the The Dark Knight Returns adaptation.

    The Long Halloween story is also considered to be a big inspiration for Matt Reeves upcoming film. It will be interesting to see how they adapt this story. Hopefully they won’t add anything like they did with The Killing Joke. Also, the comic run had a very unique style that made the noir-inspired story stand out. It isn’t something that can be easily replicated and brought to life through animation. There is a chance they might streamline it to some degree. I am curious how they will approach this project and will keep an eye for that first trailer next year.

  • FanDome: ‘THE FLASH’ Concept Art Reveals Keaton’s Batman and Flash’s New Suit

    FanDome: ‘THE FLASH’ Concept Art Reveals Keaton’s Batman and Flash’s New Suit

    DC FanDome’s The Flash panel gave us a lot to chew on, but it also gave us a new look at the Flash’s new suit and our first look at Michael Keaton’s Batman along side Ezra Miller’s Flash!

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    This movie is shaping up to be a real wild ride. Let us know what you think of these first looks in the comments.

  • FanDome: ‘Gotham Knights’ Gameplay Teases Showdown With Mr. Freeze

    FanDome: ‘Gotham Knights’ Gameplay Teases Showdown With Mr. Freeze

    Alright, information is just coming out of this DC FanDome panel on the next installment in the Batman gaming franchise. We got our first look at the game and the confirmation of the title of Batman: Gotham Knights. This opened up the theory if we will also get the confirmation of the rumored gameplay. Supposedly, this game was going to take inspiration from the Lord of the Rings games. This means that it would include various factions at war throughout Gotham. They did confirm that your actions will influence the characters’ development throughout the game. Now, the DC FanDome panel has not only given us a trailer for the story but also an entire 8 minutes of gameplay.

    We sadly only have the release date of 2021 so the wait will be a painful one once again. Still, these new gameplay mechanics sound like an amazing addition to the game we know and love. This brings a whole new meaning to protecting Gotham from evil. It will be interesting to see how the co-op will function once the game releases.

  • FanDome: Your First Look at ‘GOTHAM KNIGHTS’

    FanDome: Your First Look at ‘GOTHAM KNIGHTS’

    Finally, WB Games Montreal confirmed the title for their next Batman game today. It has been 7 years since they released Batman: Arkham Origins. We haven’t had the chance to play as the titular Batman since 2016 in Batman: Arkham VR. This is the longest wait we had in-between game releases for the franchise. Many of us are just waiting to once again step into the cape and cowl and keep Gotham safe.  After plenty of leaks and cryptic tweets, we finally got our first look at the latest entry in the Batman gaming franchise, Gotham Knights. 

    https://twitter.com/r3dakt3d/status/1297224550040473600

    It has been a long wait for this game. The Batman Arkham franchise has been a massive success for Warner Bros. and kickstarted a new era for video games based on comic characters. We knew that WB Games Montreal was going to be involved as they were behind the Batman: Arkham Origins prequel. They worked closely with Rocksteady, the original creators of the franchise. As they venture out to their new Suicide Squad game. The trailer looks amazing and now I hate that I will have to wait until the game finally releases. It’s going to feel like an eternity but the trailer certainly has me excited. the trailer at first makes us think it is part of the Arkham Knight ending with Batman announced dead but a lot doesn’t match up. This is a separate universe with a unique take on the mythos. That tease at the end has me extremely excited for what the Court of Owls has planned for the Bat-family.

  • Ben Affleck Returning in ‘THE FLASH’ Alongside Michael Keaton

    Ben Affleck Returning in ‘THE FLASH’ Alongside Michael Keaton

    Back in June, it was reported that Michael Keaton would once again wear the cape and cowl. He was going to star alongside Ezra Miller in the upcoming 2022 The Flash film. Andy Muschietti is currently set to direct. The film has seen many delays and directors. Keaton joining the film was a good sign he would explore the multiverse. Now it’s being reported that another previous crusader would be jumping into the fray. To the delight of many fans, Ben Affleck is set to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne alongside Keaton and Miller.

    Affleck last donned the cowl in 2017’s Justice League. He originally made his debut in 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. After months of back and forth, rumors swirled that Affleck would continue the role for his solo outing. He was even planned to direct it. Sadly, he eventually announced that he no longer had the passion and the drive to play the character. This led to speculation if they would just recast him in the DCEU. It was announced a few months later that Robert Pattinson would be the next actor to assume the mantle in 2021’s The Batman. It seems that Affleck only recently agreed to return after seeing the script for the first time just last week. It is uncertain how much he will appear in the film. Michael Keaton is said to have quite a ‘substantial’ role in the film.

    Muschietti revealed this casting in an interview with Vanity Fair. This is just two days before DC’s big FanDome event.

    “He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Afflecks Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before. It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than you think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”

    The Flash is currently set to release June 2nd, 2022, and is currently unknown if the ongoing pandemic has delayed any potential production start date.

    Source: Vanity Fair