There are some details about David Fincher’s best movies of the 1990s, as well as one of Fincher’s best works.

Set in an unnamed, crime-ridden city, Se7en follows Detective Lt. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), who, one week before he retires, is partnered with young detective David Mills (Brad Pitt). Together they investigate a series of disturbing murders inspired by the seven deadly sins. This leads them to John Doe (Kevin Spacey), the man behind the murders, who has one final horrifying surprise for Somerset and Mills. Despite being an original story, a theory suggests Se7en is linked to a famous superhero, and tells the origin story of its most notable villain.

Se7en Theory Suggests It’s Set In Pre-Batman Gotham City

Se7en's Unnamed City Might Be Gotham City

The city Se7en is set in is never revealed, but it’s a very grim one in every way. Not only is it plagued by crime and corruption, but it’s almost always raining, which only adds to the gloomy atmosphere of the city. The mystery of the city Se7en is set in, its atmosphere, and its high crime rate have led to a theory (shared on Reddit) that Se7en is set in Gotham City before the rise of Batman, hence why all the crimes.

It’s not just the overall atmosphere of Gotham City that makes it a believable candidate for the setting of Se7en, but also everything about John Doe’s murders. In the world of Batman, villains get dangerously creative with their crimes – surely, some of them fall into “ridiculous” territory, but many of them, if they were real, would be absolutely terrifying. Villains like Calendar Man and The Riddler have very specific themes, as does John Doe with the seven deadly sins, though the latter’s motives are more disturbing.

John Doe confesses to Somerset and Mills that he believes he was chosen by God to send a message about the ubiquity of and apathy toward sin, which is also why he had no remorse. The unnamed city in Se7en and everything about John Doe’s crimes fit with pre-Batman Gotham City, but there’s an extra addition to the theory that further connects Fincher’s thriller to the Dark Knight’s universe.

John Doe’s Final Murder & His Death Turned Mills Into The Joker

Yet Another Origin Story For The Joker

John Doe turns himself in after the pride victim is found, who was a model he facially disfigured and who killed herself as she felt she couldn’t live without her beauty. Doe threatens to plead insanity to avoid punishment unless Somerset and Mills escort him to an undisclosed location where they will find the final two victims: envy and wrath. Once at the spot, Doe reveals he represents envy, and because he envies Mills’ life with his wife, Tracy, he killed her and sent her head to Mills in a box.

The envy and wrath crimes push Mills over the edge, and along with the pain and grief of Tracy’s murder, he ends up becoming the Joker.

Doe’s final crime is intended to trigger the final sin, wrath, in Mills. Doe urges Mills to become wrath and teases him about Tracy’s death so he kills him and completes the crimes. Mills gives in and shoots Doe on the spot, killing him. Back to the theory, another Reddit adds that the envy and wrath crimes push Mills over the edge, and along with the pain and grief of Tracy’s murder, he ends up becoming the Joker.

The Clown Prince of Crime has had many origin stories over the years in comic books and movies as well, and Mills becoming the Joker is an interesting one. As Mills was a detective, that would give this Joker an advantage in his crimes and over Batman, making him a more complex and dangerous villain. Of course, this is just a theory, and whatever happened to Mills after Tracy’s murder and Doe’s death is left to the audience’s imagination.

Se7en Does Have 1 Link To The Best Batman Movies

Same Actor, Unrelated Characters

As fun as this theory is, it’s unlikely Se7en has any connection to the world of Batman and DC Comics, but it does have one link to the best Batman movies. Morgan Freeman played Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, a close friend and ally of Bruce Wayne who knows he’s Batman and gives him new weapons, vehicles, and more. Of course, this link didn’t go unnoticed on Reddit, and some have added it to the theory of Se7en being set in Gotham City.

A Reddit added that Somerset carried on with his retirement plans after the ending of Se7en. To make the transition smoother and less traumatic, Somerset changed his name to Lucius Fox and ended up working at Wayne Enterprises. This extra part of the theory is a stretch, and though Se7en is unrelated to Gotham City and Batman, they do have an interesting connection.

Source: Reddit.