The Batman will apparently be every bit as dark and gritty as the trailers portray it to be, with director Matt Reeves assuring the upcoming DC film pushes the limits of its PG-13 rating.
Reeves spoke with Den of Geek about how closely the tone of the film’s final cut matches his original vision for it. During the interview, the director promised fans that what they see is what they’ll get. “In my mind, [The Batman] was always going to be a gritty, edgy, noir, thrilling spectacle that was PG-13,” Reeves said. “That was always what it was, but I always knew that we’d be pushing the limits of what that could be, and so we didn’t really have to cut anything. The promotional materials that you’re seeing, they’re fully reflective of the tone of the movie.”
Reeves, who has directed such PG-13 blockbusters as Cloverfield and two of the Planet of the Apes reboot films, went on to deny a potential R-rated cut of The Batman, saying, “There isn’t some special cut of this movie where it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, here’s the R rating that you’ve been desperately wanting.’ I didn’t have to suddenly start drastically cutting the movie or anything like that.” In fact, Reeves says he’s satisfied with the PG-13 rating, as it will not only make the film more accessible but also allow his dark take on the iconic superhero to be properly promoted. “I’m happy we got the rating because I want people to be able to come to see the movie. But as far as people being excited about the tone that they’ve been seeing in the promotion materials, that is totally faithful for the tone of the movie.”
The Batman officially received its PG-13 rating last month for “strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.” While the film may not have the R rating some fans might have been hoping for, Reeves hasn’t been shy about discussing what makes the Dark Knight’s latest film potentially the darkest yet. The director recently revealed that film’s take on the Riddler, was inspired by the real-life Zodiac Killer. A preview of the Riddler’s sadism was shown in an official clip from the film, in which the enigmatic antagonist delivers a missing district attorney with a bomb strapped to his neck.
Lead actor Robert Pattinson has supported Reeves’ comments on the film’s grounded tone, describing his portrayal of the titular vigilante as “a really dirty, dirty, slimy Batman.” Pattinson has also suggested his Batman struggles with honoring his no-kill rule, saying the rule can be “interpreted in two ways.” “Either he only wants to inflict the appropriate punishment, or he wants to kill and his self-control prevents him from doing so,” Pattinson said. “I imagined it that way from the rehearsal of the first fight, I thought it was funnier: something in him just wanted to slit the guy’s throat! I told myself that if he spends his nights chasing criminals, it is impossible that he does not take pleasure in it.”
The Batman hits theaters on March 4.
Source: Den of Geek
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