The Batman General News & Discussion Thread - Part 2

[Boom]

A Joker sequel predominantly set in Arkham and releasing in a couple of years.

Today's HBO Max news aside, I wonder if this kills the planned Reeves' Arkham spinoff series.

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

I guess it make sense why Colin kept saying “I hope” when they asked about the Penguin series.

 

[TheGDBatman]

I'm not worried about a Batman sequel, but the spinoff shows are certainly at risk. The only risk I see with The Batman sequel is if they do decide to go a more "Marvel" route, and try to push Reeves to join that model. A creative butting of the heads is more likely to result in the movie not happening/happening under very different circumstances VS being removed from the slate altogether imo.

Buckle up, folks. Things are going to get very interesting.... hopefully for the better.

 

[shauner111]

A Joker sequel predominantly set in Arkham and releasing in a couple of years.

Today's HBO Max news aside, I wonder if this kills the planned Reeves' Arkham spinoff series.

There’s no proof at this point that the Joker sequel is predominantly set in Arkham.

 

[CondimentKing]

There’s no proof at this point that the Joker sequel is predominantly set in Arkham.

Joker 2 First Story Details Reportedly Reveal Arkham Asylum Plot

 

[shauner111]

Hot damn.

 

[CondimentKing]

I've been a bit hesitant about the idea of tons of spinoffs and the drop off of movie->TV quality for this universe anyways so I would be bummed because I was interested but wouldn't lose sleep over the spinoffs getting canned (if they do). Movies way more important. I think Penguin will probably move over to normal HBO though since Colin Farrell is a big draw.

Even if you ignore feeling bad for people who worked hard on Batgirl and the Scooby Doo movie this is still the definition of an awful precedent - just the fact that a movie can be cancelled for a tax write off is insane lol. Wild stuff. The idea of art as sheer product is just so gross.

I can't see The Batman sequels being affected though, but I do think it's possible Pattinson could be folded into connected universe stuff on the side, which wouldn't be an issue if it doesn't impact the trilogy.

By the way - sort of relevant since there's some doomsday talk right now: Reeves' hardball at the start of negotiations wasn't so much about a connected universe, it was more so he wanted a clean slate and just didn't want to inherit the garbage dump that was the post-JL DCEU - he wanted to mould his own version of Batman not tell a story with 2017 DCEU Batman considering the plot baggage from BvS and JL (and the Affleck drama). I can see him playing ball with letting WB use Pattinson for team ups on the side (you just know WB wants that since he's the youngest of the 3 bat-actors). I can see Reeves being super invested in this now that he's created the version of Batman he wanted to and knows where he wants to go next in the story - meaning it would take a lot more for him to walk away.

He's said multiple times other DC characters could exist in the world, he just isn't interested in showing them in the story he wants to tell. I could see stuff co-existing. Or Affleck just gets his bag for his 5 minutes of cameos every 6 months. Those are the two likely options if WB really pushes for a more interconnected universe. Pattinson also feels like he'd be super down to play Batman for anything, period, he really loves playing the character.

But I wouldn't stress at all about The Batman: Part II (but I know just as little as everyone else, just thinking out loud here).

 

[dhandler01]

I’m seeing this as a good thing but apparently I’m in the minority.

I think it could be...it just depends what they plan to do when they finally get to where they want to. How they handle it going forward and whoever they put in charge need to have a strong vision. It can't just be platitudes they need a real plan. Otherwise it will be another Killar situation.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Any reason to be interested in this reddit rando? Does he have some sort of track record?

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

Any reason to be interested in this reddit rando? Does he have some sort of track record?

I don't know, its the first time I've heard of him. Zaslav seemed to be the kind of guy that run his business as it is his way or the highway. We all know Reeves will stand his ground no matter what when it comes to his project.

 

[WayneMB]

Any reason to be interested in this reddit rando? Does he have some sort of track record?

is there a link in your post? im not seeing it

 

[AndyTrevino]

We are NOOOOT regressing back to casting A-list stars for The Joker. Although it's probably BS anyways so eh

 

[shauner111]

He’s a fraud. Reeves is very happy with Barry.

 

[CondimentKing]

If Reeves wasn't happy with him (and even if the scene in the movie was forced by the studio) he would have blocked the release of the deleted scene and wouldn't have a) marketed it like hey, here's our new Joker! or b) showered Barry with praise while talking about it. That guy's a complete fraud, there's always insane fake rumours as soon as real news hits. If there's any creative differences it would be over them wanting Pattinson to be connected to the DCEU, not over Barry Keoghan lmao.

Realistically, I just think they want a return to 2017 DCEU by canning the post-Flash vision, but allowing Reeves and Phillips to do their thing on the side cus burning bridges will also burn the potential money they'll bring in (unless they somehow convince Reeves to help with the DCEU). The HBO Max shows might be a casualty, but it would be for money reasons not because of any vision.

 

[shauner111]

At this point all I want is a second Batman film by the same crew. That’s it.

 

[CondimentKing]

At this point all I want is a second Batman film by the same crew. That’s it.

Same lol. In my head I'm getting ahead of myself and it's the bargaining stage of grief (as is such being a fan of something owned by WB), but we should all be thankful if two great movies happened in this day and age. Frankly, it's almost a miracle one got made, let alone two or three.

I feel like the fact they have no DCEU movies besides the already made/filming ones announced is a good thing for The Batman 2. Even if they wanted to strong arm Reeves into using Pattinson for the DCEU there's no way they'd do it before the easy bag that is The Batman 2 comes out (because any new DCEU movies would come out after it).

 

[shauner111]

BTW CONDIMENT KING I missed you lol. I don’t think I’ve seen you on here since way before The Batman came out. Or I’m losing my mind and we talked a month ago (I hope I’m not losing me mind).

 

[CondimentKing]

BTW CONDIMENT KING I missed you lol. I don’t think I’ve seen you on here since way before The Batman came out. Or I’m losing my mind and we talked a month ago (I hope I’m not losing me mind).

Lol yeah, I saw The Batman a handful of times (really really liked it) then just wanted to not think about it until more news comes out to give it a bit of a break. I also avoid a lot of nerd culture talk anyways, but this lunatic has dragged me out of my hidey hole so I can once again talk about why being a fan of something made by WB makes me sad

So it's been a few months, probably March. Missed you too king

 

[Matt.S99]

I hope this films sequel isn’t in jeopardy now after all this news…

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

If The Batman 2 is canceled I might have to retire from being fan of DC movies lol Shutting down the Penguin series is one thing but canceling the sequel to a movie that still have the highest review score from fans and critics for a CBM this year and it did well at the box office.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

I really hope Reeves gets along with the new WB regime and more importantly, that they leave him alone to create.

I know people said he walked away from initial talks back in the day over the connections to the DCEU. But now that his vision is realized, it might give him more pause.

 

[BatsAndNights]

I really hope Reeves gets along with the new WB regime and more importantly, that they leave him alone to create.

I know people said he walked away from initial talks back in the day over the connections to the DCEU. But now that his vision is realized, it might give him more pause.

I don't see it, personally. I feel like if Matt was going to pause at anything, it'd actually be for Batman 1 than Batman 2. Because getting to direct a movie about one of the top 3 most iconic superheroes in the world isn't exactly an opportunity you get everyday. Upon realizing and finishing that, it'd make more sense for him to try and get more control for movie 2 after movie 1's success, ala Tim Burton.

The fact that he outright walked from initial talks over this for the first movie, meaning he was 100% willing to basically fall on his own sword over this and decline the opportunity to make a Batman movie unless he got full control tells me he really doesn't **** around with it. I really don't see him doing anything less than that if the new WB regime tries to change that (and I'm somewhat sceptical of if they can, because I don't see why Matt would resign for the second movie unless he had the same privileges for the first movie)

 

[BatLobster]

I think he had no choice but to fight for full creative control from the jump. The options were that, or being a hired gun to make a DCEU movie which is something he's said himself that he wouldn't even know how to do.

He's signed on. As long as he was viewing the spin-off shows as a fun bonus and not something that was essential to his story, I think it'll be fine. On the plus side, if the shows do get scrapped, that will be one less thing competing for his attention. He's got his hands full just being the director of the new Batman film series without also trying to be a showrunner on something that would hypothetically trying to be reach the same bar of quality. It could be a big juggling act. Maybe there was a big upside there, but a big downside as well if the shows went wrong somewhere. As a viewer, I also would be fine with it because it's one less thing to worry about watching in a landscape that is already in a state of extreme overabundance. Also allows the movies to feel more special. Sometimes less is more.

 

[Boom]

I'm wary of assuming what Reeves is thinking or feeling right now. I would say that if I were in his shoes, I'd have some very real concerns. I'm seeing movies pulled from theatrical release and stuck on a streaming service instead, with the filmmakers finding out the same day that the general public does. I'm seeing a film that is permanently vaulted for "tax purposes," with the filmmakers once again finding out the same day the general public does. I see a CEO that is very keen on getting this shared universe thing figured out, meanwhile I'm over here with my self-contained universe featuring DC's most profitable IP (hell, one of WBD's most profitable IPs).

The creatives are not being considered in these decisions at all, and they're not even afforded the basic respect of being told ahead of time that these decisions are being made. Is that an environment I myself would want to be in? Who's to say it doesn't happen to me next? Hell, Reeves' plans for expanding his Batman universe via spinoff shows are already in serious jeopardy (if they're not already canned behind the scenes), so it's possible he's already seeing himself affected in some capacity.

I don't know. The man himself said he doesn't need to this, back when negotiations first fell through. If working with this new ownership proves to be a bigger headache than it's worth, he walks. I 100% believe that. My question now is, do I have the confidence that ownership wouldn't let it get that far? It's extremely hard to say. Zaslav isn't playing around. You either play ball with him or you're out.

 

[BatLobster]

I'm wary of assuming what Reeves is thinking or feeling right now. I would say that if I were in his shoes, I'd have some very real concerns. I'm seeing movies pulled from theatrical release and stuck on a streaming service instead, with the filmmakers finding out the same day that the general public does. I'm seeing a film that is permanently vaulted for "tax purposes," with the filmmakers once again finding out the same day the general public does. I see a CEO that is very keen on getting this shared universe thing figured out, meanwhile I'm over here with my self-contained universe featuring DC's most profitable IP (hell, one of WBD's most profitable IPs).

The creatives are not being considered in these decisions at all, and they're not even afforded the basic respect of being told ahead of time that these decisions are being made. Is that an environment I myself would want to be in? Who's to say it doesn't happen to me next? Hell, Reeves' plans for expanding his Batman universe via spinoff shows are already in serious jeopardy (if they're not already canned behind the scenes), so it's possible he's already seeing himself affected in some capacity.

I don't know. The man himself said he doesn't need to this, back when negotiations first fell through. If working with this new ownership proves to be a bigger headache than it's worth, he walks. I 100% believe that. My question now is, do I have the confidence that ownership wouldn't let it get that far? It's extremely hard to say. Zaslav isn't playing around. You either play ball with him or you're out.

Those are fair points. At the same time, he is at the very least in somewhat of a strong position of his film having performed well critically, with fans and pretty well at the box office. If Batgirl was canned because it's as bad as the rumors are saying and the new leadership wanted to stop the bleeding on DC's inconsistent brand reputation, that maybe isn't a totally bad thing in terms of Reeves' own position. There is also the aspect of Alan Horn now having a seat at the table, someone who ran the studio during the The Dark Knight Trilogy days and understands first hand the value of having a strong solo Batman brand. Which I think should be common sense just from looking at the studio's own history, but can't take that for granted!

I can't claim to know what Reeves is feeling, but I think this was always the inherent risk of stepping into these waters in this day and age. I think objectively speaking, WB has a lot more to lose by allowing an overall successful relaunch of Batman to just fall apart (and all the embarrassment and brand damage that comes with that) vs. supporting it and letting it run its natural course with a creative vision behind it. That said, I do think Reeves should be prepared to adapt to a situation where spin-off shows are now off the table.