[[{“value”:”
The DC Universe will include a new version of Batman, who may have a very similar character arc to Ben Affleck’s iteration from the DC Extended Universe, but with a twist. The DCEU timeline will be partially rebooted into the DCU franchise, and while some characters will carry over from one universe to the other, others – like Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman – are in a more ambiguous situation. Henry Cavill’s Superman and Ben Affleck’s Batman, however, are among the characters confirmed to be recast, with David Corenswet playing Superman and Batman’s new actor being unannounced for now.
While the DCEU’s films were not always successful, many of its characters were highly accurate to the source material. Ben Affleck’s Batman, for instance, is arguably the most comic-faithful live-action iteration of the character, equaled only by Adam West’s version from the 1960s Batman TV series. While West’s Batman recreates the Caped Crusader of the Silver Age comics, Affleck’s Dark Knight reflects the darker Modern Age comics, with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns being one notable source of inspiration. Affleck’s Batman also undergoes a fascinating character arc in the DCEU that looks set to be replicated.
Ben Affleck’s Batman Story Was About The Allure Of Darkness
In his Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice debut, Batman is shown killing many of Lex Luthor’s henchmen, showing no faith in Superman as a force for good, and nearly killing the Man of Steel. Dawn of Justice strongly implies (and other DCEU materials confirm) that Batman adhered to his iconic no-kill rule from the comics throughout his career, only breaking the rule during the events of the film. Moreover, Superman’s humanity and eventual sacrifice lead Batman to re-adopt his no-kill rule, as later DCEU works confirm. There were several factors that led Batman to such a dark place.
Before the events of Dawn of Justice, Batman raised Dick Grayson and trained him to become his crime-fighting sidekick, Robin. Tragically, Robin was murdered by the Joker, and Bruce is shown to still be mourning his son in Dawn of Justice. The seemingly existential threat of Superman further drives Batman to darkness, leading him to kill and plot to kill his enemies. Batman’s arc in Dawn of Justice is about overcoming the temptation of darkness, and it is Superman’s sacrifice that brings him back to his more hopeful and merciful self.
In most mainstream DC Comics continuities, Jason Todd – the second Robin – was murdered by the Joker, but was later resurrected and became the anti-hero known as the Red Hood.
The Brave & The Bold Will Explore A Darker Robin
The DCEU, sadly, never depicted Batman fighting crime alongside a living Robin. While Carrie Kelley was intended to succeed the late Dick Grayson as Robin, these plans for the DCEU did not progress far enough for her to have her debut. The DCU, on the other hand, is set to introduce its new Batman in The Brave and the Bold with an iteration of Robin: Damian Wayne. In the comics, Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, but he spent part of his childhood as a member of the villainous League of Assassins.
Due to his partial upbringing in the League of Assassins, Damian is more arrogant and violent than the rest of the Batman family, but he is, ultimately, as much a hero as the previous Robins. Damian chose to become a crime fighter in Gotham instead of remaining a member of the League of Assassins, potentially giving him a similar internal conflict with his inner darkness to Ben Affleck’s Batman. This would also give him a fascinating dynamic with his father that has not been shown in a Batman film before.
Damian Wayne’s Story Can Replace Batman’s Origin In The DCU
Damian’s maliciousness – due to his time in the League – and desire to be a hero like his father is a fascinating parallel to Bruce Wayne’s own journey to heroism and his comparable arc in the DCEU. Since Damian is the fifth user of the Robin moniker, the DCU’s Batman will most likely not go through another origin story, as he may be a seasoned veteran crime fighter by the events of The Brave and the Bold. Pairing an experienced Batman with a far darker Robin than he or viewers are used to would be a novel addition to the DC Universe.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Upcoming DC Movie Releases
“}]] A new twist on a dark Batman arc. Read More