The Batman's first trailer unexpectedly debuted at the inaugural DC FanDome event, and it may have spoiled how much The Riddler really knows about Batman. Matt Reeves revealed the exciting teaser at the end of the online fan event to huge acclaim online, with the noir-tinged comic book movie drawing immediate comparisons with Zodiac and Se7en. Reeves himself acknowledged that his first Dark Knight movie would be a noir and would follow Robert Pattinson's Bat in his second year as an active vigilante.
The trailer heavily hinted that Reeves' Gotham is a cesspit of corruption and that The Riddler's crime spree is linked to Batman's own discoveries concerning organized crime and influence in the police force and political arena. The director repeatedly talked up how corrupt the city was and how much The Batman will focus on Gotham's history before Batman's appearance. Pattinson's Bat is a young and inexperienced hero, still finding his feet, and the film is one of several origins - not only for Batman but also for several villains - though it seems Paul Dano's mysterious Riddler knows a fair bit about Bruce Wayne already.
The Riddler has, of course, already appeared in a Batman movie, courtesy of the zany antics (or unsanctionable buffoonery, if you ask Tommy Lee Jones) and disturbing spandex of Jim Carrey in Batman Forever. He was an entirely different creature to both the comics and the character Matt Reeves' first trailer is establishing, but he did share something with Dano's iteration. They both worked out that Bruce Wayne's dirty little secret wore a cape and a cowl to fight crime.
In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment after the logo appears, the end of The Batman's first trailer shows Bruce Wayne in his new version of the Batcave, presumably after completing some sort of mission. As he removes his helmet, one of the screen displays in front of him seems to be showing a picture of himself on it, which then fades to a message that leaves Batman looking particularly pensive. Could this be The Riddler sending another message to his "secret friend"? The audio over the top that has someone (presumably Dano's Riddler) telling Batman that he is "part of this" too is clearly from another scene, but the trailer is subtly leaning into the hint that Riddler knows Bruce Wayne is under the cowl. Quite how he's found out will have to wait until The Batman comes out in 2021.
In the comics, the mark of The Riddler's intellect (and self-worth) has often been him besting Batman and he has uncovered Batman's secret identity before, but to do it in the first movie of a reported series is a bold move. As long as it's done without The Riddler going to press - which he won't if his agenda mirrors Wayne's in bringing down corruption in Gotham - it's a smart move because it adds another new dynamic to The Batman and Reeves' Batman universe. It also sells the real threat of The Riddler and potentially revitalizes his movie image for those who still associate the character with green and black figure-hugging bodysuits.
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August 25, 2020 at 05:08AM
