How would you reboot Batman?

[Slushy]

I wouldn't reboot it at all. Just keep it going like James Bond and keep it dark and "realistic". I'd like to see The Penguin (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and/or The Riddler (Johnny Depp) in the next film.

 

[jmc]

I've always said that it would be interesting to do a Batman film set during the 1930's. Something about that period just seems perfect for DC's superheroes, especially Batman. I'd love to see what a 1930's Batmobile would look like, what a 1930's Joker would be like, throw in some gangsters and organised crime, the depression as a backdrop, alcohol prohibition, etc and you've got the potential for a unique take on a superhero.

 

[Fudgie]

I'd prefer Batman in the 1940's instead of the 30's.

 

[KalMart]

40's would probably make a little more sense, and have his parents killed in the early 30's...with the depression era and his folks being targeted for being rich, etc. What's tough is that you have the depression and WWII back to back right there, which would really dictate everything and why a Superman story might fit into that a little more elegantly as a period-piece.

Maybe you could keep Batman pre-war, and mobsters would again play a big role. The idea of him being very wealthy would also be perhaps a more touchy subject given the state of things. I also think that with Batman in particular, with his cinematic track record of success and popularity, a period-piece could be more of a welcomed alternate take, rather than, say, Superman who's been aching for popularity since the early Reeve movies....feels a bit more liker a gimmick with him, even though he may ultimately fit into it better.

 

[Bruce Malone]

They'll never go for a period piece batman film. Period films and especially mixed genre films don't do very well as blockbuster films.

 

[jmc]

If any character could pull off 1930/40's setting it's Batman. I'd hardly even call it mixing genres, it's just a different time period.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I don't disagree with you on that. Although batman would probably have a harder time fighting crime with more limited technology. However I don't believe wb would ever approve such a picture.

If they're investing 150-200 mil on a picture they're not taking big risks in setting.

 

[danlav05]

If any character could pull off 1930/40's setting it's Batman. I'd hardly even call it mixing genres, it's just a different time period.

I'd love to see an art deco pre-war Superman movie, but Batman could be good too.

 

[Lord]

I would like to one day see a tv show or a movie about Superman or Batman in the 30s, i think that superman would work better because he would be a simbol of hope during the depression, and later the war.

I sincerelly would like to see both as i love the golden age

 

[Airwings]

If it was entirely up to me, however Dark Knight Rises ends (assuming they don't do something stupid like actually kill Batman), have a brief scene at the end, possibly even after the credits, with a "six months later" or "one year later..." cut. Set it similar to the end of Batman Begins, but instead of giving Batman the Joker's card, have the conversation end with Gordon handing him either a grainy security camera photo of Robin, or one of Robin's "batarangs" (I know they are not actual batarangs, but you get what I mean). Gordon says "Care to explain this to me?" Batman simply answers "That's a story for another night." or "That's not my story to tell." That way, even though Nolan/Bale won't have to use Robin, they can set up the story for someone else.

Wonderful idea... just so great!

 

[Airwings]

A way to introduce Dick Grayson is by writing the character as a more tragic one. Not just because his parents' death but also make him an outsider. He's travelling with a circus and hasn't got any friends. He's a sad and lonely boy
The loss of his family could bring out all the anger and sorrow within, make him dangerous both to others and himself as he can't control his rage. He has to be trained by Batman, learn to fight the proper way. He already has the acrobatic skills.
And Bruce Wayne helps the boy adjust to society.
There can also be a slight gay element to him, to complicate the character even more. But that doesn't mean he would actually seek comfort from other boys and be homosexual, nor does it include a sexual relationship between the two crime fighters. We need to move away from the parody image of Batman/Robin. Certain things work best between the lines.

This can be used for the other Robins too. He should always be a sensitive boy, a kind of an outsider. Just take away the circus/acrobat thing.

I have to admit I got this idea from another board (not superherohype). And I think this could work very well. Robin being written as partly emo could give the character a new shine. But emo mostly on the inside, we don't need him to be dressed as a fashioncore teen. That would just make a lot of people furious.

 

[jmc]

I don't disagree with you on that. Although batman would probably have a harder time fighting crime with more limited technology. However I don't believe wb would ever approve such a picture.

If they're investing 150-200 mil on a picture they're not taking big risks in setting.

I don't see what exactly is a big risk about it. So it's set in the 1930's....and the problem is? Nothing about that time prevents it from being an entertaining movie, in fact it sets it apart from not only other superhero films, but other Batman films as well.

 

[Rockstar]

I don't think the execs will change much from the Nolan approach, hence why Nolan was made producer.

They know what he did is profitable... they're obviously going to try and maintain a similar formula.


Heck, they're even applying that formula to Superman with "Man of Steel"

 

[Young Superman]

If WB/DC ever does a superhero period piece film, I rather see a Superman film set in 1938.

 

[KalMart]

If WB/DC ever does a superhero period piece film, I rather see a Superman film set in 1938.

I think that would probably be a 'smoother' fit....with the onset of the postwar atomic age fueling the villain story. And he'll luckily be too young to have been drafted for WWII, and you can avoid Nazis altogether.

 

[HoochRosevelt]

So you guys want to turn Batman into Captain America? Keep it like Bond with a loose continuity and introduce Dick in the next one. A lot of people don't like ASB&R, but I think a meaner Batman will be needed for the next set of sequels and people want Robin.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

I always would have a loved a superman movie set during the cold war fifties, really dissecting that whole "truth, justice, and the american way" archetype he's been associated with. maybe have him at odds with a russian superhero like Red Star.

also, I recently started playing Batman: Arkham Asylum for the first time... Paul Dini needs to direct a batman movie after Nolan's had his fun, seriously.

 

[Kar]

I'd make a Batman film where its more so focused on Robin. Batman's been done to death. I'd have it be about an older/seasoned Batman having to deal with little orphan Dick Grayson. Have the movie be about Bruce and Dick's relationship, have it be with tension between the two and then work on bringing them closer together early on in the film. Then by the middle have him discover Bruce's secret and he tries to do the vigilante thing and of course Batman is against it but eventually he decides to train him and they go on a mission of revenge on Tony Zucco and his gangsters. It could be a one time thing.

I'd have the movie also focus on Bruce being really conflicted on whether or not to help Dick train because he obviously knows the dangers of having a kid fighting crime. I'd also want to include Catwoman and the Joker in it, but not as villains, but as cameos where they kind of act as angels on Batman's shoulder and his voice of reason (yeah, I know, the Joker as a voice of reason?). But hear me out, I'd have Batman apprehending the Joker and word has already gotten out about Batman working with a child and the Joker kinda mind****s the Bat, telling him about the dangers and toying with his head.

For a second film it could focus on their newly established partnership as a dynamic duo years later. I would throw in themes about Batman fearing that he might die one day and Dick's going to have to take over the mantle one day but he doesn't think Dick's strong enough so this prompts Dick throughout the whole film to really really push himself.

And for a third film I want it to be about Robin becoming Nightwing and also him and Bruce mending their relationship after a falling out years before.

 

[Superhero 101]

I'd have a reboot where there is no origin story and you just jump in with the action with the idea that Batman is already there in Gotham City fighting crime. Kind of like Tim Burton's Batman. And i wouldn't use Joker in the first one more like Riddler done right or Black Mask.

 

[DaveMoral]

A way to introduce Dick Grayson is by writing the character as a more tragic one. Not just because his parents' death but also make him an outsider. He's travelling with a circus and hasn't got any friends. He's a sad and lonely boy
The loss of his family could bring out all the anger and sorrow within, make him dangerous both to others and himself as he can't control his rage. He has to be trained by Batman, learn to fight the proper way. He already has the acrobatic skills.
And Bruce Wayne helps the boy adjust to society.
There can also be a slight gay element to him, to complicate the character even more. But that doesn't mean he would actually seek comfort from other boys and be homosexual, nor does it include a sexual relationship between the two crime fighters. We need to move away from the parody image of Batman/Robin. Certain things work best between the lines.

This can be used for the other Robins too. He should always be a sensitive boy, a kind of an outsider. Just take away the circus/acrobat thing.

I have to admit I got this idea from another board (not superherohype). And I think this could work very well. Robin being written as partly emo could give the character a new shine. But emo mostly on the inside, we don't need him to be dressed as a fashioncore teen. That would just make a lot of people furious.

I lkke your idea. I think introducing Dick would also ultimately necessitate him being a distillation of all of the main 3 Robins. He'd be mostly Grayson but with the anger issues that comes from Jason Todd, and just to make it more interesting and make it a situatiin where BaTman is almost forced to become Dick's mentor... give him Tim Drake's detective skills and have him figure out Batman's identity.

 

[DaveMoral]

I would not make Grayson gay. You really can't talk about moving away from parody and include the one thing that is central to parody and that has never actually been present in the character. In order to take him seriously he has to be presented as he is in stories that take him seriously. Robin: Year One and Dark Victory, Batman: Year Three and BTAS: Robin's Reckoning are good examples of this.

 

[Airwings]

DaveMoral: I meant that Robin should have a feminine appearance to him. How he behaves, him being sensitive, his agile body - all this together should give hints about something gayish, but just a little.
Similar to how a ballet dancing boy is seen by other kids.
I think it would be a good thing if Robin is as far from a bully as one can be, in the other end of the spectrum. A non-masculine teen who can express feelings, not a "caveman" who has a hard time finding words and uses his fists to get out of awkward situations.

I did not mean that the character should come out of the closet and admit to be homo.That's two different things.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Robin is central to the Batman mythos, and Nolan's problems taking him seriously are simply Nolan's problems. Nolan is just plain wrong, Robin can, has, and probably will be taken seriously on film. He's been handled pretty well in the comics, I don't see any real sticking point in live action. If a movie can contain a 'microwave emitter' and a giant 'sonar computer', I don't have to suspend much disbelief for a Robin.

 

[Rain]

Start with Batman Beyond, and then do prequels.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

DaveMoral: I meant that Robin should have a feminine appearance to him. How he behaves, him being sensitive, his agile body - all this together should give hints about something gayish, but just a little.
Similar to how a ballet dancing boy is seen by other kids.
I think it would be a good thing if Robin is as far from a bully as one can be, in the other end of the spectrum. A non-masculine teen who can express feelings, not a "caveman" who has a hard time finding words and uses his fists to get out of awkward situations.

I did not mean that the character should come out of the closet and admit to be homo.That's two different things.

I'd rather have:

Over:

But that's just me.