The Batman Movie is an American superhero film released in 2022 based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is a remake of the Batman film franchise, produced by DC Films, 6 & Idaho, and Dylan Clark Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Matt Reeves, who co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Craig, directs the film. It stars Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell as Bruce Wayne/Batman, as well as Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman. In the film, Batman, who has been fighting crime in Gotham City for two years, uncovers corruption while on the trail of the Riddler (Dano), a serial killer who targets Gotham elite.
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After Ben Affleck was cast as Batman in the DC Extended Universe in 2013, development began (DCEU). Affleck agreed to direct, produce, co-write, and star in The Batman, but he later dropped out due to disagreements about the project. Reeves took over the story and reworked it, removing the DCEU connection. In comparison to previous films, such as Alfred Hitchcock and New Hollywood era films and "Year One" (1987), The Long Halloween (1996–97), and Ego (1999), he attempted to explore the detective side of Batman (2000). Pattinson was cast in May 2019, with additional casting to follow in late 2019. The film was shot between January 2020 and March 2021 in the United Kingdom and Chicago.
Batman premiered on March 1, 2022, at Lincoln Center in New York, and was released theatrically worldwide on March 4, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed twice from its initial release date of June 2021. The film grossed over $677 million against a budget of $185–200 million, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022. It also received praise for its performances, cinematography, Reeves' directing, action sequences, and story. It was well-received, though some criticised its length. It is intended to kick off the Batman shared universe, with two sequels and two spin-off television series in the works for HBO Max.
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Ben Affleck was cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman in several DC Extended Universe films in August 2013. (DCEU). He first appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), and Justice League (2016), (2017). Warner Bros. announced plans for a standalone Batman film starring Affleck in October 2014, and as of July 2015, he was in talks with Geoff Johns to direct and co-write the screenplay. After Affleck finished his work, production was expected to begin. The Nightlife (2016).
The initial draught was written by Affleck and Johns in March of 2016. The script, set after the events of Batman v Superman and Justice League, told an origin tale inspired by comic book elements, an approach Affleck linked to director Zack Snyder Batman v Superman story, with specific influence from Arkham Asylum (2009).
The script was set mostly in Arkham Asylum, according to cinematographer Robert Richardson, who was involved in the early phases of development. Slade Wilson/Deathstroke plotted an escape in Arkham to fatigue and weaken Batman before confronting him on the streets of Gotham during the climax. Batgirl devised a scheme to appear in front of Batman and assist him. According to Johns, the film will also follow Robin's death, which was hinted at in Batman v Superman.
In April 2016, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirmed that Affleck would be directing. In May, Jeremy Irons announced that he would reprise his role as Alfred Pennyworth in Batman v Superman, and in August, Joe Manganiello was cast as Deathstroke. Deathstroke, according to Manganiello, believed Batman was to blame for his son's murder, so he depicted himself as a "horror movie villain" who slowly ended Batman's life and killed individuals close to him. He likened it to David Fincher's The Game (1997).
To help set up the picture, Snyder filmed a post-credits sequence for Justice League, in which Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) discloses Batman's secret identity to Deathstroke. In October, Affleck unveiled the title, The Batman, and in December, he stated filming will begin in mid-2017 for a 2018 release. A proposed Justice League sequel was postponed that month to accommodate The Batman. In January 2017, Chris Terrio revised the screenplay.
Affleck became dissatisfied with the film direction and said in January 2017 that he would stand down as director but would continue to act and produce. He initially indicated that he was stepping down so that he could focus more on his role as Batman, but he then clarified that he couldn't find the script he required and that it was something else. It's time to "give it a shot." Later, Affleck stated that he didn't think he'd enjoy directing the film and that it should be directed by someone who enjoys working on it.
Following the release of Batman v Superman, Warner Bros. re-evaluated their approach to superhero films, which led to Affleck's film being "sidelined," according to Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter. Although the initial sequence was removed by 2021 director Zack Snyder, the Justice League post-credits scene was modified in post-production to tease the Justice League sequel Injustice League instead of Deathstroke's role in The Batman. The Justice League has been resurrected.