MOVIES, SUPERHEROES

Casting Riddles Solved for 'The Batman'

Photo: John Neave @xJohnNeave

Once it was announced that Matt Reeves would be taking a stab at directing and writing the next entry into the vast catalog of Batman films, it was only a matter of time before we started getting production news. Over the last few months, we’ve learned the identity of the next man to take on the cape and cowl. Within the last few days, we’ve also discovered who will be running the streets of Gotham alongside the Caped Crusader. Let’s look at what we know about the Matt Reeves led film, The Batman.

Bruce Wayne/Batman

Back in May, we learned that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would be the next in line to become the Dark Knight. Reeves has said that this film will not be an origin story but will instead be an original, noir-driven story that will only make small connections to the greater DC Universe. Pattinson will show us the more detective side Batman and the story will take inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock.

Selina Kyle/Catwoman

Joining Bats in this latest entry into the Batman saga, Zoë Kravitz will suit up as the Queen of Thieves, Catwoman. Kravitz is no stranger to comic book films as she has previously played Angel Salvadore in X-Men: First Class and this is not her first time playing Catwoman. She voiced Selina Kyle in The Lego Batman Movie. She also voiced Mary Jane in the super smash hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Finally, like her castmate Pattinson, she’s also part of the Harry Potter Universe having portrayed Leta Lestrange in both Fantastic Beasts films.

Edward Nigma/Riddler

The latest casting news comes in the form of what could be the main antagonist for the film (depending on how they decide to write Catwoman in this version of the film). Paul Dano is set to wield the signature question mark cane in Reeves’ film. Riddler has only been seen in film as live-action in the form of Jim Carrey in the 1995 film Batman Forever, and more recently in the television series Gotham by Cory Michael Smith. Dano is known for films like There Will Be Blood, 12 Years a Slave, and Looper. Also, we don’t know if his name will be Nigma, Nygma, or Nashton, but that’s really not so important.

The Batman is set to hit theaters on June 25, 2021. While we have a ways to go before the movie releases, we’re in a prime position to start getting more and more production news at this point. Stay tuned for the latest.