A nearly three-hour Batman film, bordering on R-Rated, certainly not for kids, that’s nihilistic, darker than the Christopher Nolan films, and not really much of a traditional superhero movie released during a pandemic seemed like a risky endeavor for Warner Bros. earlier this year (read our review here). But director Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” has turned out to be an unquestionable hit. The film earned an impressive $751 million at the global box office so far and has outgrossed “Justice League,” “Man Of Steel,” and “Suicide Squad“; all more traditional, audience-friendlier DC superhero films that are undoubtedly more four-quadrant in nature.
With the film now available on HBO Max — yet another version of Gotham and the caped crusader with Robert Pattinson now playing the Bruce Wayne role, but one that audiences clearly loved regardless — the streamer has posted the film’s opening scene (watch below). Nearly 11 minutes in length, the scene depicts the origins of the serial killer The Riddler (Paul Dano) and how Batman investigates his first major newsworthy crime in Gotham.
READ MORE: ‘The Penguin’: Colin Farrell Confirmed For ‘Batman’ Spin-Off Series On HBO Max
WB has been incredibly happy with the project. So much so that they’re moving forward with a Penguin spinoff series on HBO Max starring Colin Farrell and a second series that will focus on Arkham Asylum (an earlier series centering on the Gotham Police Department shifted once showrunner/writer Terence Winter left the project). Here’s the official synopsis:
Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon —amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
READ MORE: ‘The Batman’: Matt Reeves Releases His Deleted Joker Scene Starring Barry Keoghan
A sequel is definitely on the way at some point though there hasn’t been an official announcement yet. Reeves has discussed some theoretical ideas already, like potentially adapting villains such as Mr. Freeze and Hush in the future. Barry Keoghan plays a new incarnation of the Joker in a brief cameo in “The Batman.” Still, Reeves has already suggested that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ever going to be the central villain in what is being intended as a trilogy. A recent trade report said Warner Discovery is keen on “overhauling” DC Entertainment and implementing a more cohesive strategy. That can mean many different things, and who knows what it ultimately means for the regular DCEU, but fleshing out Reeves’ particular superhero universe — unconnected to the main DCEU — on both the big and small screen is definitely a direction that the company will be pursuing. For more, you can listen to our just-released podcast on the future of the DCEU under Warner Bros. Discovery here.