So, I did write a new piece on the Dark Knight Trilogy timeline/tenure. Figured I'd post it, here!
Oddly enough, I've noticed some fans unsure of just how long Batman's tenure was in the
Dark Knight Trilogy. While I do think the series leaves a lot to the imagination and that's a great thing, I do think I may be able to help clear some things up for fans!
First off, there is no definitive amount of years that Bruce operated as Batman. Speculation should fall at 2-3 years at least - but I think that given that there's a lot to suggest Batman kept going for awhile after Dent's death, I'd say 4 to 7 years is likely.
And some take Joker's "...
wind the clocks back a year" at face value, which messes up the timeline.
The 2 Year Gap (Or Longer) -
In
Batman Begins, we're shown Batman's first few months operating under the cowl as Batman. The city is corrupt from the top down, the mob is in control, the Narrows is lost, and Arkham's inmates are roaming free by the end.
By the time
The Dark Knight introduces us to the world post-Batman's involvement, things are already starkly different. This is due to the fact that it's roughly 2 years removed from the first film.
- Firstly, we have the fact that every indicator is that the first film takes place in the year it released - 2005. The newspaper Commissioner Loeb shows it (briefly). The timestamps on the bank heist photos of The Joker say 2007, clearly.
- Some take Joker's "...wind the clocks back a year..." too literally. The statement is about when the mob lost control of the police and prosecutors. This wasn't an overnight thing - they didn't suddenly start standing up to the mob when Batman made his first appearance. It's a comment on when Batman started to weaken them.
- "Logs, as well?" - When Bruce is preparing to turn himself in, Alfred asks this while holding a fat stack of record books - logs of his progress as Batman. It's a huge stack, indicating a longer history than a shorter one.
- Harvey Dent was nowhere to be found or mentioned in the first film. This would mean that he would've had to have campaigned and been elected (campaigns for D.A.'s in major cities in the US last 6 to 8 months). Which is important for my next point...
- During the restaurant scene, Harvey declines Bruce's offer for a fundraiser claiming "I'm not up for re-election for 3 years". District Attorneys serve 4 years. So he's already been the D.A. for a year. Campaign + 1 year served = roughly 2 years, or close to it in terms of time lapsed.
- Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent need more than 9 months or a year to meet, begin courtship, and reach a point to where they're engaged.
- The Narrows is completely removed - that doesn't happen in 6 months or 9 months time. That's a massive undertaking. Time has lapsed, for sure.
- In Begins, Batman wasn't even focused on the mob - Falcone was operating his own scheme without Maroni, Lau, Gambol, etc. - I.E. working for Ra's. Batman dealt with the mob in the events that followed, as Knight implies.
- We see Gordon's son in Begins - he's much younger than his age in Knight. Obviously time has passed - more than a year.
- Bruce's body-scars are seriously brutal - and scarring like that doesn't happen in a short span of time. We're looking at scars from a couple years.
- Bruce was able to build a Bat-Bunker, fully functioning and ready to go - which would've been a very time consuming endeavor.
- Batman has been around long enough to inspire copycats, too. That influence takes time.
- Batman has taken care of the loose Arkham inmates - or else they'd be an issue in the second film. We can assume he did - which I doubt was a short job.
- Joker's plans took a lot of capital and a lot of time to plan. I love to think he spent a year or two robbing banks, building up his resources and planning his eventual reign of terror.
- Wayne Manor not being rebuilt isn't a knock against this timeline - a home like that may have taken 3 to 4 years to finish.
- In the Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy (2012) - it states that Batman's suit needs an upgrade after two years of fighting crime. Perhaps this isn't cannon, but it's something written at the end of the series in an official book.
- Wayne Tower moved buildings.
In short, there's
too much that would've had to have happened between films for it to be less than a 2 year gap. Plus the timestamps, along with Harvey's stated time as D.A. really drive home that point.
Between Begins + Knight = 2-3 Years (Give or Take)
And why do fans think Batman kept going after
The Dark Knight? Well, it's more fun to imagine. But also, there's a lot of hints that Nolan and Co. left us to pick up on.
Batman Didn't Quit So Fast... -
Let's explore...
- "You yourself fought the decadence of Gotham for years*...*" - Ra's (via Bruce's psyche). Bruce would know if he'd been at it for only 9 months or 1 year, versus years. So, years it is.
- Last "confirmed" sighting of the Batman. Confirmed, in this case, means police can say definitively it was him. No word in the script is by accident - confirmed is a loaded term and it implies there were 'unconfirmed' sightings over the years.
- Which, Batman is stealthy - and his No. 1 partner is the head of the police, which would certainly help him evade. Gordon could've tipped him off on how close they'd be.
- Bruce has a fully functioning Batcave that he uses, with a suit ready to go. If he'd quit, it's doubtful this would've been built to the degree it was.
- "You've not been down here in a long time" - indicating Bruce had been down there a lot. Which would've been a good amount of time after Knight that the cave was finished. If he wasn't operating as Batman in some way, he'd have no reason to be down there ever like Alfred implied he'd been.
- The film says Bruce's energy project began as Bruce's attempt to help the world further. It was developed only a few years prior to Rises, which I think makes sense as when Bruce hung up the cape and felt the need to start a new crusade with his newfound time on his hand.
- The children at St. Swithins like Jimmy are around 9 years old. They know who Batman is - and they believe in him as do others. They want him to come back.
- Jimmy and his peers would've been way too young to remember Begins - Knight. And if Batman was retired their whole lives, they'd think he was a villain. It stands to reason that Batman was doing things to protect and help those that were most vulnerable in the city for quite some time until the Dent Act was drafted, approved, implemented, and effective. Many knew he was still good for a reason. Like Blake.
- Bruce's list of injuries via the doctor indicate a longer stint as Batman than 2 years. He is messed up.
- It just makes sense for Bruce's character to keep going until he felt he was useless. After Rachel, he had nothing left BUT Batman. Even Rachel knew he still needed Batman. Bruce gave up on life outside of the cave/Batman because of her death, he didn't give up on Batman.
- Drafting the Dent Act, campaigning it, getting approval, implementing/writing new laws, and having them take effect and make a difference - that takes time.
- Given Bruce's dedication to Batman's mission and Gordon - I don't see this version of Batman abandoning Gordon and the city until he knew it was effective and safer.
So...there you have it. What's my estimation on how long Batman kept going after Knight?
After Between Knight + Rises = 2...to 4 years (?)
Unlike the other film's timeline, this one is way more ambiguous. But he kept going for awhile. If he didn't, it'd be far more clear and the points above wouldn't be present in the film's subtext/dialogue.
And there we have it.
The Dark Knight Trilogy Batman was likely active for 2-3 years at
least, between the first two films, then another 2-4 (give or take your headcanon) after. And the few months
Rises takes place in.
This brings us to a ballpark of...
2.5-7 years.
A shorter career than many interpretations - but that's just how damn effective he was.
Rock on, Bat-Fans.
NOTE - Also found this link, this guy makes a lot of the same points.
