5 Years In the past, ‘The Batman’ Made Its Brutal, Moody Debut

On August 22, 2020, Warner Bros. held its first-ever DC FanDome, a weekend-long digital occasion meant to make up for that yr’s San Diego Comedian-Con, which was canceled because of the pandemic. When you’ve ever adopted huge trade occasions just like the Game Awards or… effectively, Comic-Con, you understand they typically include a huge trailer or two that’s meant to make all of it value it. And for WB, the large showcase for its inaugural, short-lived occasion was the very first take a look at Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Trailers for superhero films have regularly turn out to be an increasing number of of a giant deal, whether or not they’re telegraphed prematurely, leaked, or seem simply out of the blue. The Batman already caught the web’s eye with casting Twilight alum Robert Pattinson within the lead function, and pleasure really started to develop as soon as Reeves confirmed the actor in his Batsuit and essentially the most car-looking Batmobile in years.

It additionally didn’t harm that this was the primary solo Bat-movie in almost a decade and technically the true begin of WB’s plans to dabble round with a cinematic multiverse that stored this Batman in his personal world away from different goings-on on the time.

Inside 24 hours, that teaser amassed over 31 million views, and whereas these numbers are brief within the grand scheme, it did its job in getting individuals speaking about Batman once more. If on-line circles weren’t discussing its darkness compared to the Nolan movies, they have been gushing over Colin Farrell’s make-up job as Penguin or listening to Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” on repeat. For a film that was brazenly advertising itself again then as nonetheless within the works, it received sufficient of the web over immediately that they have been keen to observe Reeves to hell if it meant attending to see this on the large display screen.

Had issues gone to plan, The Batman would’ve come out in June 2021, however the pandemic compelled a readjustment. The Batman was 1 / 4 into manufacturing when it was indefinitely paused for many of 2020, throughout which the movie’s dialect coach Andrew Jack handed away from covid and Pattinson himself tested positive simply days after work resumed once more. In consequence, issues have been principally radio silent till late 2021, when the movie principally reintroduced itself with a new trailer that stored the temper and music however featured extra bombast and an ideal thought of what the film can be about. On simply certainly one of WB’s YouTube accounts, it’s gotten over 65 million views and closes on a shot that’ll probably outline Reeves’ whole Batman tenure. If there have been any doubts that individuals misplaced curiosity on this film due to the pandemic, that second trailer positive proved that mistaken.

Since that first trailer got here and went, The Batman (which hit theaters March 4, 2022) has continued to have a maintain on the web, which has been ready impatiently for its sequel. Like its predecessor, The Batman Half II has had no scarcity of manufacturing issues and delays, to the diploma that DC Studios head James Gunn politely (however firmly) instructed individuals to back off Reeves. The second film isn’t due for an additional two years and alter and solely just lately entered pre-production—however when the primary correct take a look at that one hits, count on comparisons between it and its predecessor’s first trailer as followers as soon as once more put together to fall in love with Reeves’ interpretation of DC’s ever-brooding main man.

Need extra io9 information? Try when to count on the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every little thing you want to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.