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6 Ideas for a Post-Nolan Batman Movie

As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end” and with the third installment of Chris Nolan’s Batman series underway, that saying may be hitting home for fans of the current Bat flicks. Everything we’ve been hearing indicates that this will be the last trip to Gotham for the current regime and even though we don’t know who the villains of this piece will be, we’re already looking toward the next interpretation of the Darknight Detective on the big screen. Whoever steps behind the wheel of the Batmobile will have some mighty big shoes to fill and may need a little guidance to stay on the path. Luckily, we’ve got no problem dispensing our brand of wisdom and we’ve compiled a short list of suggestions. There are plenty of directors who would give their eyeteeth to take the reins of the Batman franchise. If they were to ask for our advice, here’s what we’d say…
 

Make It Your Own

Hollywood loves to beat a dead horse. Got a successful movie on your hands? While you’re busy preparing the sequel, we’re prepping three ripoff films for pre-production. With the recent Batman films being critical and commercial successes, it’s likely that Warner Brothers will want more of the same. Our advice? Don’t do it. Make your mark as a director by diverging the franchise into new territories that it hasn’t seen. We’re not saying “reboot”, but we’re definitely saying “reimagining”.

Chris Nolan’s Gotham is realistic and gritty. It feels like an actual city that you can reach out and touch, largely because it is. Our advice? Film in London, film in New York, film on a set – just don’t film in Chicago. For that matter, don’t go for gritty, realistic, raw, elemental or any of the other buzzwords associated with Nolan’s films. Give us a new Batmobile and a new attitude. Don’t bother trying to fill Nolan’s shoes or Bale’s cowl; give us your interpretation of Batman, a new Gotham filtered through a new set of eyes. In short: you can’t capture lightning in a bottle twice, so don’t even try.

Why So Serious?

You know, that Joker fellow had a point… would it hurt to have a little fun and lighten things up a bit? We’re not asking for Adam West doing the Batusi and we certainly don’t want to see Bat-Mite popping up, but it might be both enjoyable as well as profitable to put a more family friendly Batman on the big screen. The Dark Knight was rated PG-13 for a reason and while that likely didn’t stop a lot of children from seeing it, there were plenty of aspects of that film that parents may have deemed inappropriate for young eyes. Don’t forget, these are all-ages comic book characters we’re talking about.

It’s sort of an extension of our previous suggestion: Chris Nolan has taken Batman into some very dark and morally ambiguous territory. The Dark Knight was about as dark as you can take Mr. Wayne and we don’t expect things to change with The Dark Knight Rises. And we can’t possibly express to you how much we loved it! But when the next creative team takes over, why not shake things up a bit by reminding us that the guy in the cape is a superhero?

Include The Sensational Character Find of 1940

You heard us – we want Robin. We can actually see you rolling your eyes and smashing your keyboard in disgust as you read this, but hear us out.

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are the “big three”, right? Well, who’s next? If those are the three most recognizable characters in comics, who’s number four? Spider-Man? Hulk? We don’t think so. Finish this sentence: Batman and…

Yeah, that’s right, Robin. He’s as synonymous with Batman as the Joker, Commissioner Gordon or Gotham City and while he’d stick out like a sore thumb in the recent Batfilms, we think he could make a welcome addition to the next set. Yes, we understand that Chris O’Donnell put a fairly large stain on the character, but with cartoons like Teen Titans and Young Justice, as well as prominent roles in practically everything Batman has done since World War II, Robin’s profile has never been higher. He doesn’t have to be corny, folks.

People like Batman, but people also like Batman and Robin.

Set It in The DCU

Expanding on the notion of the Boy Wonder, follow Marvel’s lead and give us a proper DC Universe movie. We don’t have to see Superman flying overhead, but a mention of Kord Industries or a newspaper headline regarding Green Lantern. Let us know that the universe this film exists in isn’t totally insular. Let us know there’s more than just a Caped Crusader fighting crime; there’s a whole host of super-powered heroes working to make the streets safe. If we end up seeing a full-fledged Justice League movie somewhere down the road: awesome. If not, then at least we got a few genuine geek-out moments.

Blue and Grey Is The New Black

Yes, Batman should wear some sort of armor with the latest technology and yes, we love the way the Batsuit is depicted in the most recent Batman films. But that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t like to see something that more closely resembles the one in the comics.

Obviously, when viewed in silhouette, Christian Bale’s costume is unmistakably Batman. But for us, it’s still a little too close to the Tim Burton and/or Joel Schumacher films. While a blue cape might not blend into the shadows as well as a black one, does that mean the guy can’t wear a grey shirt and pants? For that matter, as practical as armor is, would it be completely unrealistic for him to pull a shirt over it to give fans a Batman that looks a little more like his comic incarnation? And while we’re on the subject of realism… why does a Batman movie have to be realistic at all?!?

There’s nothing wrong with the way Batman looks in the movies, except for the fact that he doesn’t look like Batman. That’s all we’re saying. Tim Burton made his mark by giving us an all-black Batman with sculpted muscles. If you’re the new guy taking over the franchise, why not make your mark by giving fanboys a Batman that looks like the one they read about every month.

Go Nuts

Here’s an even better idea: take all of our suggestions and throw ‘em out the window. Make a film version of The Dark Knight Returns. Make Batman Beyond! Combine the two and give us a futuristic Batman that we’d never expect. Hell, make a Kingdom Come movie! Just promise us that rather than playing it safe, you’ll follow the path less taken and give us an all-new Batman that takes chances and a Dark Knight that strikes out on his own rather than remaining in the shadow of the previous creative vision.