I Think I've Figured Out The Perfect Way For The DC Universe's Batman To Be Completely Different To Other Dark Knight Movies And Still Be Comics-Accurate

Split image of bruce wayne looking sad and batman looking thoughtful in the dark knight rises and the batman

It’s important for the DCU’s rendition of Batman to stand out from the other Dark Knight movies, and I think I’ve worked out the perfect way for DC to achieve this with The Brave and the Bold while remaining comic-accurate. While the DCU will soon kick off in earnest with Superman in his self-тιтled debut on July 11, very little has been revealed about when Batman will be joining the ranks of the DUC’s superheroes. The DCU hasn’t even got as far as casting its Batman, leading me to believe there’s still a long way to go.

In that regard, rumors have begun to swirl that Robert Pattinson’s Batman may be incorporated into the DCU after all. While this would certainly help to ᴀssuage the inevitable confusion of having two versions of Batman in cinemas concurrently, I’m kind of hoping this won’t be the case. This isn’t because I don’t thoroughly enjoy Pattinson’s Batman, but more to do with the fact I think the DCU has the perfect opportunity to deliver a unique yet accurate interpretation of the Caped Crusader, and one that will look decidedly different to his live-action predecessors.

Batman’s Comic History Has Seen Him Care For Even His Villains

Batman Consistently Looks Out For His Enemies

Clayface with the bat family in dc comics

One of Batman’s most compelling characteristics is his propensity to care about the villains he pursues, even after beating them to a pulp on multiple occasions. This is exemplified by his no-kill rule (a facet that the DCEU controversially decided to do away with), with Batman preferring to apprehend and hopefully rehabilitate the depraved criminals of Gotham. Yet his compᴀssion goes much further, as Bruce Wayne has been seen to go out of his way to look out for the most recognizable villains in his rogues’ gallery.

One of the most iconic demonstrations of this was in “The Long Halloween,” where Batman leaves a Thanksgiving dinner for Solomon Grundy after they clash. Clayface has also recently become an ally of Batman after several decades of being one of his foremost enemies. Batman also harbors a soft spot for Two-Face, a close friend whom he repeatedly attempts to rehabilitate. While his attempts to reform his villains have decidedly mixed results, this approach brings a compelling depth to his interactions – and it’s something we’ve yet to see adapted in live-action.

Why Batman Movies Haven’t Shown The Dark Knight’s More Compᴀssionate Villain Approach

Batman Movies Make Good And Evil More Definitive

Tom Hardy as Bane grappling with Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises

Across all of Batman’s live-action appearances, I don’t think Warner Bros. has fully explored this fascinating trope. He has, of course, come relatively close – after all, his brief run-in with Two-Face in The Dark Knight was fraught with regret, as is typical of their encounters. For the most part, however, it’s safe to say that most of his encounters with live-action cinematic villains, as complex as they can often be, tend to veer away from having Batman show a deep level of respect or support for his villains in the same way that his comic book counterpart often does.

This is most likely a conscious creative decision. Batman’s relationships with his villains have developed over decades in DC Comics, whereas I can see how it might be harder to justify this trait in the space of one to three movies. Ultimately, it’s easier to streamline Batman’s heroics by drawing a more definitive line between good and evil. Thankfully, this hasn’t diminished the overall quality of Batman’s movies thus far – but I think the fact he’s about to join an all-new cinematic franchise opens up a unique opportunity.

Why The DCU’s Batman Is The Perfect Chance To Change The Villain Trend

A More Compᴀssionate Batman Is More In Keeping With James Gunn’s Approach

Bruce and Damian Wayne in The Brave and the Bold promo comic book art with Damian aiming a sword at Batman

While I understand that having Batman develop deep bonds with his rogues’ gallery is harder to realize in one movie or even a trilogy, the DCU is an entirely different beast. Batman will presumably make countless appearances within the franchise as it continues to grow, which promises a far larger space for DC Studios to develop and nurture these relationships. For example, one of the most compelling arcs in the MCU was Loki’s – a character that started out as a villain but steadily reformed across several appearances and developed an enthralling relationship with his main rival, Thor.

Not only would this help to differentiate the DCU’s Batman from previous iterations, but I’m confident that having him care about his villains would make for some particularly compelling and unpredictable interactions.

I’m hoping that the DCU’s upcoming movies can facilitate a similar form of character development. Not only would this help to differentiate the DCU’s Batman from previous iterations, but I’m confident that having him care about his villains would make for some particularly compelling and unpredictable interactions. Furthermore, James Gunn’s proven respect for the source material makes me think that this could easily be on the cards, an approach that will likely manifest in a more compᴀssionate and lighthearted Batman in The Brave and the Bold than what we’re used to seeing.