The The Batman movie an even more enticing prospect. There are few superheroes that are as rich in iconography as Batman – from the scalloped cape of his Bat-suits, to the bold image of the Bat-signal against black clouds, to the dreamlike skyline of Gotham City itself. These are all vital parts of the visual language of the character, recognized the world over and across 80+ years of history. And in that glossary, there are few things that are more iconic than the Dark Knight’s signature mode of transportation: The Batmobile.
Ever since his original appearance in Detective Comics #27, published in 1939, Batman has relied on this stylish vehicle to speed him off to save lives, or catch criminals in the act, and it has been included in literally every mass media adaptation ever since. Like its driver, the Batmobile has been re-imagined and reinterpreted over the decades, and by studying it, you can actually tell a lot about the different creative visions behind each version of the character. The strange, otherworldly quality of Michael Keaton's Batmobile paired well with Tim Burton's Gotham City; Joel Schumacher had a vehicle that matched the campiness of his movies; the Batmobile in the Dark Knight trilogy, "The Tumbler", reflected contemporary fears of the threat posed by terrorism.
This also goes for Pattinson's version of the Caped Crusader's car, which was officially unveiled by The Batman director Matt Reeves. Not only does it look great, but it gives some exciting clues about what to expect from The Batman.
Pattinson's Batmobile Makes Exciting Reveals About The Batman
Since the Nolan films, most Matt Reeves’ film The Batman, which he has described as “a point-of-view-driven, noir Batman tale”, promises to pull the series back from set-piece-driven spectacle, to a moodier, more stripped-down narrative. The recently-revealed on-set photos of Robert Pattinson’s Batmobile give us the best, most tantalizing glimpse yet of what this means.
In many ways, the new Batmobile is the exact opposite of its flashier or heavier forbearers, eschewing nightmarish art deco or military motifs for a muscle car that wouldn’t look out of place in a 1970s crime thriller, the same sort of movies that inspired WB’s most recent success with the franchise, 2019’s Joker. It’s mean-looking, but doesn’t bother itself with bat-wing-shaped fins; it’s powerful-looking, but not so much that it would stand out while on a stakeout in some dingy parking garage, or by some dockside warehouses. And while it’s almost certain that the car has some surprises in store for us, it doesn’t look like it costs a CEO’s salary, or an Army R&D budget.
Perhaps this could reflect that, at a time when eccentric billionaires have largely fallen out of favor with much of the film-going public, this Batman will be more judicial with how he allots his crimefighting budget; instead of spending a small fortune on physics-defying super-cars or casually destroying private property with his own personal assault vehicle, he’s decided to drive something relatively closer to the common man. It still looks great, but it’s also more economical, and indicative that Robert Pattinson's Batman may rely less on his wonderful toys, but more on his own brains and brawn.
Given Pattinson’s Batman is to match wits with The Riddler, as played by Paul Dano, then that's particularly fitting. The Riddler is an enemy known for managing to stay two steps ahead of the World’s Greatest Detective, with his elaborate riddles often misdirecting the hero one way or another. Many times in his stories, a misunderstanding of the Riddler’s clues can leave Batman on the opposite side of town from where he really intends to strike, can mean the difference between life or death for his victims, with only minutes to spare. If that is what Matt Reeves means by a more mystery noir Batman movie, then it makes sense his Batmobile trades gadgetry and showiness for speed and versatility, and the vehicle suggests it really will deliver on that exciting promise. It’s a detective’s car, meant to get The Batman to the scene of the crime as soon as possible, and heaven help anyone who gets in its way.
