For quite some time, fans have speculated over where Matt Reeves’ The Batman would fit into DC’s pantheon of films. Some wondered if it would link to the DC Extended Universe, but it was soon reaffirmed that it’s a standalone and part of a multiverse. However, after the movie’s latest trailer, it might be that Warner Bros. is indeed covering things up, and this film’s actually a sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker.
Both these properties have similar grim tones, painting a broken Gotham. There’s dark music, haunting cinematography and a bleak aesthetic, suggesting Reeves is making his story character-driven, akin to the trailers and eventual film from Phillips where Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck descended into madness and became the Clown Prince of Crime.
And from Reeves’ trailers, the movie seems like a spiritual successor because, thematically, apart from Gotham’s burning and tearing itself apart, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne seems to be entrapped in a system of lies and deceit. It’s the same way Arthur hated how society lied by promising people like him help mentally, as well as jobs, and also, in how his mother, Penny, seemingly lied about Thomas Wayne being his dad and tried to extort money.
There’s strong evidence in a snapshot in the recent trailer that shows Bruce doing his detective thing in a seance-like setting. We can see “the sins of my father?” as well as “renewal is a lie,” which may be clues from the Riddler, or Bruce uncovering secrets about himself. It may be he is finding out Thomas did indeed sire an illegitimate child, who became the symbol of anarchy and chaos, and the antithesis to Batman’s order and control. The first trailer ended with the Riddler telling him he’s “part of it too,” so it could be he knows the Wayne empire was the catalyst for Joker to free the citizens’ minds, sparking imitators and gangs.
With Phillips’ movie concluding with Joker seemingly breaking out of the asylum, Paul Dano’s Riddler may well turn out to be the ultimate acolyte. Joker did incite many people to riot, with one even killing the Waynes, so this would be a dark mix of irony, coincidence and karma. Riddler can easily fit in as the only one who knows the truth, ergo his game and the homages where it seems like he’s in a Joker-like state of tribute, being the Hannibal Lecter to the Dark Knight.
Having a Riddler groomed by Arthur would also mirror Batman and Robin in a villainous sense, spiraling things into one sadistic mind game, not about a city, but about family and a Bat in denial about Thomas’ potentially corrupt heritage and his son’s destiny. This perfectly sets up The Batman‘s sequel, which would be a huge draw with these Hollywood A-listers clashing.
It’d just make sense story-wise, surely be up for major awards, and show the industry can keep secrets a la how Paramount does things with the Cloverfield films. And last but not least, this would give comic book movie fans the clash they want to see as it doesn’t look like Ben Affleck’s Caped Crusader and Jared Leto’s Joker will be colliding anytime soon in the DCEU.
The Batman hits theaters March 4, 2022.
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