Robert Pattinsonis back in the cape and cowl aftertesting positive for COVID-19, which forcedThe Batmanto shut down production.Varietyreports that Pattinson has been cleared to return to work after recuperating, and filming on the highly anticipated DC movie is now back in progress. Production onThe Batmanshut down on September 3rd after Pattinson tested positive for the coronavirus, only shortly after production had kicked back up to begin with. He and all the cast and crew who were in close contact with the actor were all quarantined following the positive test.
Matt Reevesis directingThe Batmanfrom a script he co-wrote withPeter Craig. The movie aims to reboot the Batman property followingChristopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy andBen Affleck’s two-movie stint as the Caped Crusader, although Affleck is poised toreprise his rolein Warner Bros.’ upcomingThe Flashmoviewhich will introduce the idea of multiple timelines. ThereforeThe Batmanwill exist in its own timeline separate from all the Aquaman/Flash/Wonder Woman interconnected storylines that have graced the silver screen over the past few years.
Thefirst teaser trailerforThe Batmanabsolutely stole DC FanDome, as the gritty aesthetic (all hail cinematographerGreig Fraser),Nirvanacover song, and mystery-oriented story grabbed everyone’s attention. Reeves has said the story ofThe Batmantakes place in “Year Two” of Bruce Wayne being Batman and will find him following a series of crimes as he tries to unravel a central mystery, likely the work ofPaul Dano’s The Riddler. Along the way he’ll come into contact withZoe Kravtiz’s Catwoman andColin Farrell’s Penguin, albeitnot yet fully formed versionsof those characters.
In that wayThe Batmanwill be set apart from other recent Batman movies. It’s very much a mystery thriller with a single throughline rather than a series of scenes in which Batman beats people up as he shambles his way to a big showdown with the main villain.
Reeves said they only completed about 25% of the film before the COVID shutdown so there’s still a ways to go, but right now I’m hard pressed to find a movie I’m more excited about in 2021.
For more onThe Batman, readVinnie’s impassioned defense of Pattinson’s castingandwhy the movie isn’t an origin story. The film hits theaters on June 30, 2025.
