The Robert Pattinson-led reboot has small-screen crossover potential
Matt Reeves’ upcoming film The Batman serves to reboot the universe once again, and with a world bustling with villains. While Robert Pattinson is under the cowl for the October 2021 blockbuster, the cast is set to include Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, and potentially a few more surprises.
Reeves imagined enough nooks and crannies in this expansive new version of cinematic Gotham City that Warner Bros. Pictures’ parent company WarnerSpiel wants him to keep telling the story in a serialized fashion: An original DC drama, “set in the Gotham City police department,” is headed to HBO Max, the company said in a new announcement.
Reeves, Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire), The Batman producer Dylan Clark, and Warner Bros. Television are behind the new series, which “will build upon the motion picture’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City, ultimately launching a new Batman universe across multiple platforms.” In the world of TV, Reeves previously co-created Felicity with J.J. Abrams, who has his own DC projects set up at HBO Max.
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“This is an amazing opportunity,” Reeves said in a statement, “not only to expand the vision of the world I am creating in the film, but to explore it in the kind of depth and detail that only a longform format can afford — and getting to work with the incredibly talented Terence Winter, who has written so insightfully and powerfully about worlds of crime and corruption, is an absolute dream.”
“This is Batman as most audiences have never seen before and we know fans will want to spend more time in this new world inspired by the film,” added Kevin Reilly, the chief content officer for HBO Max.
Earlier this year, filming on The Batman was underway, giving fans a glimpse of the hero’s new costume and setting a tone for a scaled-back take on the character. Due to coronavirus-related shutdowns, the production was put on hold before completing photography, causing the release date to shift from summer to fall 2021. At the tail end of May, Reeves’ movie was given the go-ahead to resume filming, keeping it on track for the new date. There’s no release date for the new HBO Max series, but given the track of the movie, Reeves, Winter, and their other collaborators should have ample time to develop the series in a moment where “copaganda” is under scrutiny.
The Batman is expected to hit theaters on Oct. 21, 2021.