Batman Teaser Trailer: Breakdown & Analysis

Written & Edited By John Darius

In what may have been WB & DC’s most shocking well received fan event yet in DC FANDOME drawing in just over 22 million views worldwide, fans everywhere were taken by storm with the long awaited very first look at director Matt Reeves The Batman!

Many in the beginning were a bit reprehensive at the timing of the announcement late last year, with the casting of actor Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. Mainly due to his earlier days in the 2010 film titled Twilight, but after a while more people have slowly began to warm up to the idea of wanting to see him in the cowl. Given some his most recent work in films like: The Lighthouse, Good Time, High Life, The Rover, & most notably Christopher Nolan’s new Sci-fi thriller, Tenet! All of which has gone on in gaining nothing but immense praise by both critics & general audiences alike. 

Director Matt Reeves who is most notably known for his work on Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, & War For The Planet Of The Apes, has mentioned previously that the main overall goal that he wanted to achieve with this new iteration was to bring more of a centrally focus story that harbored more on the detective side of Batman that we haven’t necessarily seen in past live action adaptations.  

Reeves speaking with Hollywood Reporter:
It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.

Earlier on when the announcement came that a new Batman film was finally in production, there were complaints met by fans of being worried that we maybe yet again be receiving another rehash of an origin tale that truthfully, has been retold numerous amount of times already, but fortunately much to everyone’s surprise, it was officially confirmed by the director Reeves himself that this will indeed be an entirely brand-new take on the character unlike anything that’s come before. With a story more so centered around the 2nd year of Bruce Wayne’s younger days starting out as the vigilante crime fighter. 

And as one can imagine, many including myself were at a huge ease knowing that we’ll finally be getting new unique fresh take on the caped crusader never done before on screen! 

Now with the release of our very first look at what’s to come, we finally have a much more better insight as to what we can expect to see in this new upcoming adaptation centered strictly within the gritty crime world known as Gotham. 

Starting off, we’re met with our first shot at what seems to very well be none other than actor Paul Dano as the infamous psychopathic criminal known as The Riddler. Dressed in an attire that is very much a mix between both another well known DC villain by the name of HUSH, & the serial killer from the 2007 film titled Zodiac. This new look is apparently plays as a drastic turn away from the classic suit many of us have grown accustomed from the beloved Batman 90s animated series produced & showrunned by Bruce Timm. 

In these first couple of shots below we see a quick glimpse at a mysterious figure (Possibly the Riddler) ductaping a seemingly lifeless man to a chair with the haunting words covered over his face titled “No More Lies”.

Right away, from just these two scenes alone I genuinely can say that they immediately do an incredible job pulling me into just what the overall vibe of what Reeves maybe going for within this newly crafted universe. Very similar in tone to David Fincher’s critically acclaimed film “Seven” like some have mentioned before. Adding a much more horrific feel in nature to this overall world than what many of us maybe used to.

One of the other major draw-ins that I got from watching this new trailer was the serious approach Reeves seems to be taking this time around with the character Riddler. Not since the days of Joel Scheuumar’s 1995 film Batman Forever, have we actually seen a live action version of the villain done on the big screen, & honestly I think I speak for everyone when I say, it was a much needed breath of fresh air for all of us….

Giving that not many people actually know of who the Riddler is in the comics, let alone his motives, I’d say this new film creates the possibility of all us being able to see a new reinvention of the character that in essence still stays true to the comics, while at heart feels more real, grounded, & terrifying enough for audiences to have newfound love & respect for. 

Dano who’s best known for his work in There will Be Blood, & the widely talked about crime thriller The Prisoners directed by Denis Villeneuve, was met with a huge positive welcoming by fans when it was officially revealed on twitter late last October by Matt Reeves, that he’d been cast for the role. Speaking with MovieWeb earlier this year, Dano went on to say: 

I think Matt Reeves is the real deal. I was really surprised by his script, which I think is, is potentially really powerful.

“I can’t even legally say anything about it. There’s something fun there in my character and in all the characters. It’s the kind of movie that we’re just desperate to share on the big screen in a big way. So, I hope we all figure this out and get excited to see a Batman movie. It will be worth it. It’s going to be really cool.”

Although it’s too early to tell, I’ll gone to add that I believe given Dano’s amazing track record throughout his career on delivering nothing but one outstanding performance after another, it’s fairly safe to say that this role couldn’t have been in better hands! No doubt we are in for something that I for sure believe will be within the same merits as the late Heath Ledger’s Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight, & of course Michael Shannon’s General Zod in 2013’s Man Of Steel. I am beyond pumped to see what Dano brings to this wildly unique version of the character! It is for sure going to be LEGENDARY! 

Jeffrey Wright who many of you may recognize from HBO’s Westworld is playing our widely loved detective, Commissioner Jim Gordon. Another bold yet genius casting that I think will only help elevate a much more needed diverse atmosphere to a genre that honestly to be fair, has been led by predominantly white leads for the last decade. So seeing a talented & versatile black actor such as Mr. Wright at the forefront of a huge blockbuster such as this one, is pleasing to say the least.

Unlike past iterations where we’ve usually mainly seen Gordon & Batman conversate in secret working together as allies, Reeves seems to be doing away with that take all together. Showcasing a Batman that is now openly working with the GCPD. A bit surprising but an exciting change of pace as well! Although, based on the fact that we are seeing a story of younger Bruce, things can very well still evolve into more of the classic relationship we’ve all come to know from the comics, between Gordon & Batman sometime later down the line. Playing into the overarching plot Reeves seems to be primarily focused on, in creating a true origin for these characters that will eventually help grow & lead us into more of the traditional Gotham we’ve all come to know. Which personally, is honestly something I think we all can come to appreciate. 

Bottom line, I’m just happy to see a more than welcoming talent such as Jeffrey Wright involved in such an amazing project like this, & I’m stoked to see just how well he & Pattinson play off of each other in the coming future. Two of some the greatest & most successful actors working today that I think in the end, will help reshape our entire viewpoints on these characters in ways we never thought possible. Should be a lot of fun! 

Moving on, we also get our first glimpse at the beautiful goddess that is Zoe Kravitz, in her early designed cat suit as the famous cat burglar Catwoman, breaking into what seems to be an unknown residence while taking on the caped crusader himself in what’s seemingly maybe their very first encounter within the film. Not much was given for us to analyze with these few short clips we have, but speaking for myself, I can say that I’m just so incredibly ecstatic to see a beauty such as Kravitz finally get the well-rounded respect & attention she deserves. In getting to bring her amazing talents to what maybe her biggest role so far with this wonderfully well loved character known by the name of Selina Kyle. A true star in the making, & I absolutely love the overall dark take I’m seeing taken with her. Fits perfectly in tone of what this newly crafted world is gearing itself up to be, & I’m game for all it!

Now this next shot I’m about to show, is sure is about to blow all your minds! Confirmed by the set’s make up artist Mike Marino, what we see below is in fact actor Collin Farrell as everyone’s widely popular crimelord, The Penguin!

No your eyes are not deceiving you… this is the prime definition of what many would call, movie magic at its finest! Completely unrecognizable, yet still effective both physically & emotionally wise when given first glance. I’m floored by how incredible these aesthetics look just as a whole. Also, let remind you readers that no cgi was done for this design either. All practical, which was also confirmed by actor Jeffrey Wright in a recent interview with radio station SirusXM.

“I think if you look at that trailer, if I’m not mistaken, there’s not one CGI image in the entire thing,”

“That’s all photographed. That’s all stuff that Greig Fraser was lighting, and Matt was directing.”

Without even having seen the film yet,  Farrell has already sold me completely in the little we’re shown. This might even actually win him an Oscar, if his portrayal is just as impactful as what we see, which I’m most certainly sure it will be.

Finally, heading into the main event that has everyone shook… was a quick scene of Robert Pattinson in pure & raw action like you’ve never seen him before! Knocking the living hell out of what is rumored to apparently be one of penguin’s goons. What I personally loved most about this scene in particular was just how fast & precised we see Pattinson move as Batman in comparison to other portrayals. His entire fighting style despite savage… feels more focused, & controlled. Almost ninja-like in a sense. Let me also add-on that this scene was entirely one shot as well. Showcasing an entire sequence with zero cuts in between. Giving us a full display on just how level headed, but full of rage this Bruce Wayne will be in comparison to other previous performances that have come. It’s downright incredible to say the least, & in my opinion even goes as far as in outmatching Ben Affleck’s warehouse scene in 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. I’ve not been able to stop hitting replay since!

Even going a bit further with SirusXM, Wright also went on in commenting on what is supposedly the newly design BADASS Batmobile that’ll we’ll be seeing take action alongside Pattinson in the upcoming feature film stating:

“I think one of the aspects of the script that I was really stoked about was the bat-mobile. The way it was described, it was described as this kind of retro hyper Hemi 5 muscle car that was just the craziest, coolest thing that you’d ever seen. When I read that I said ‘aha yes’ because what it was trying to achieve”

One other thing I believe is worth mentioning about this newly released design is that, it doesn’t take the form of a military tank in comparison to what directors Christopher Nolan & Zack Snyder have shown us before. Instead, due to the fact that it taking the shape of a muscle car, it possesses the ability to blend in naturally with the darkness that exhibits gotham. Keeping itself completely out of plain sight from the average bystander. While also in essence playing upon more into the shadowy stealth like personality of Bruce Wayne as a whole. Personally I love it, & I think it’s damn near perfect! Vastly different from what we’ve seen in the past, & stands out on its own as one of the better more simple bat-mobiles made so far.

All of this in itself just goes to show exactly why Pattinson is without the shadow of a doubt going to absolutely kill it in this role! The man is a fully bonafide chameleon, and is more than capable of leading his own movie at this point. I don’t think any of us are truly ready for just the sheer insanity we’ll be seeing this time around with this new portrayal. Definitely bound to be a game changer for sure!

That’s about the end of my analysis on the trailer for now, but be sure to come back & revisit our site for any future posts we may have related to the upcoming film, and send us your comments on what you may have thought of the newly released footage. We’d love to hear from you, and as usual take care. Peace!

DISCLAIMER:

NONE OF THE IMAGES USED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE OWNED BY WRITER OR WEBSITE!

ALL IMAGES ARE OWNED BY DC ENTERTAINMENT & WARNER BROS!