The The Batman is released. The movie was originally conceived with Ben Affleck set to write, direct, and star, but Matt Reeves eventually was brought aboard to write and direct, with Pattinson then hired once Affleck dropped out.
For many, the pairing of Pattinson and Reeves for The Batman is exciting on its own, and the anticipation for the movie has only continued to grow as time goes on. Now that the first trailer has been released, the internet is buzzing over the direction of the next Batman franchise. The trailer sets up a story where Batman becomes tied to multiple murders that happen throughout Gotham. Even though his face isn't shown, Paul Dano's Riddler is believed to be the one behind the crimes and has a secret reason for bringing Bruce Wayne into the equation.
The Batman's detective noir story was at the forefront of the trailer, but it also introduced some other aspects of the film. Jeffrey Wright's Jim Gordon was shown working with Batman, who is just in his second year as a crimefighter, while the first look at Zoë Kravtiz as Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman arrived too. All of this came with The Batman completing just 25% of production so far, as it has been on pause since March due to coronavirus. Even though the extent of what The Batman showed was quite impressive, the trailer barely scratched the surface on the movie as a whole. There are several important characters and known story points that weren't addressed.
Oswald Cobblepot a.k.a. Penguin
The first trailer for The Batman didn't include Colin Farrell's iteration of Oswald Cobblepot a.k.a. Penguin — or so it would appear. Farrell's take on the character has already been one that has caused much debate as fans try to figure out what he looks like. Set photos from The Batman led many to believe a white-haired Cobblepot had been spotted, but Farrell refuted those claims. It was later revealed that he will wear some prosthetics in the movie to transform into Penguin. This could be why one character in The Batman trailer has once again inspired a debate over Farrell's possible Penguin look. Some are convinced that Farrell did appear in the trailer under heavy prosthetics, but others still doubt that this is the case.
At this time, it is impossible to know for sure whether or not the man some believe to be Penguin in The Batman trailer is actually him or not. Reeves has yet to confirm either side of the speculation. Even without confirming whether or not Penguin is in the trailer, Reeves has discussed that the version that Farrell plays is still a rising piece of Gotham's criminal underworld, and not yet the crime boss that most know him as. In fact, he doesn't even like the name Penguin when The Batman takes place.
Alfred Pennyworth
Andy Serkis will play Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman, but the trailer did not show him. Serkis' Alfred will be much closer in age to Batman than in past iterations, so fans have been eager to see what this new dynamic is like. Unfortunately, the debut trailer didn't provide any clues. Even though Alfred wasn't seen in the trailer, he did still have a small presence, as one line of dialogue from Serkis can be heard. So, the first look at Alfred might not have arrived yet, but at least fans know how he'll sound when The Batman is released.
Carmine Falcone
There was also no sign of John Turturro's Carmine Falcone in The Batman trailer. As one of the biggest crime bosses in Gotham, Falcone is a perfect fit for The Batman's story about the corruption of the city. Reeves mentioned that Turturro's Falcone is different from past iterations, but that tease didn't pay off with a glimpse of him in the trailer. The lack of Falcone is surprising given the various scenes of likely mob meetings. However, it won't be until future marketing materials or later set photos that the new Carmine Falcone will be revealed.
Gil Colson
Another main character in The Batman who wasn't in the first trailer is Peter Sarsgaard's Gil Colson. He is the district attorney and chief prosecutor in Gotham, and Sarsgaard's teases of the character connect nicely with what the trailer shows. The actor previously said Colson is a politician who "has trouble telling the truth." One of the biggest recurring themes of The Batman trailer was Riddler's trend of killing those who lie, as Gotham's mayor Don Mitchell is his first victim. As Riddler and Batman investigate the corrupt nature of Gotham, someone who lies as much as Colson could be wrapped up in the mystery. So, even though he wasn't featured in this trailer, there's a strong chance Colson will have an important role in the movie itself.
The Bat-Signal
The Batman trailer covered a lot of key aspects of Batman's mythos already, but it was without the first look at the film's Bat-Signal. The trailer makes it clear that Batman and the GD are already publicly working together, and the Bat-Signal traditionally is how Gordon and other of the GD the Dark Knight. It is expected that the bright light will once again appear in The Batman, but the trailer didn't confirm its presence or reveal the new design.
Catwoman Bike Chase
Catwoman is only shown in a few frames of The Batman trailer, but that didn't include her motorcycle chase with Batman. Some early set photos for the movie showed stunt doubles for Pattinson and Kravitz riding motorcycles through a cemetery. This location was shown in the trailer, as Batman rode his motorcycle alone on the path at one point. But, since set photos confirmed that Catwoman is also part of this scene, it did come as a surprise that she wasn't riding next to Bruce in the trailer.
Bruce Attacked By Gotham Gang
Other set photos from The Batman teased a scene where Bruce Wayne is jumped by one of Gotham's gangs during a walk through the park. The attack reportedly leaves Bruce unconscious on the ground. Even though this attack wasn't shown in the trailer, Bruce's retaliation likely was. The set photos had a gang with white face paint mob Bruce Wayne, and it appears the same gang is in the trailer — but this time, it is Bruce who does the attacking. One particularly vivid fight scene in The Batman trailer shows Batman brutally beat up a gang member, with the scene ending with Batman proclaiming "I'm vengeance." If these are the same guys who attacked Bruce in the park, then this act of vengeance and the line makes even more sense.
