Outside of what Zack Snyder tried to do with his “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Justice League” films, we never get to see a film version of Batman interact with a bunch of different superheroes in his solo films. Tim Burton didn’t do it. Joel Schumacher introduced Robin and Batgirl, but those characters are part of the Batman lore. And Christopher Nolan damn sure didn’t introduce a world with superpowers in his “Dark Knight” Trilogy. But now we have Matt Reeves’ reboot, “The Batman,” and fans have been hoping that the universe created by the filmmaker will include versions of the Caped Crusader’s superpowered buddies. Unfortunately, two of the stars of the film don’t think that’s going to be happening.
Speaking to Comicbook.com, Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz, who play Batman and Catwoman in “The Batman,” respectively, offered up their reasoning for why you won’t see superpowered heroes in this new universe. And it all comes down to the idea that “The Batman” introduces a truly “grounded” view of DC mythology. Basically, don’t expect Superman to pop in for a quick cameo.
“I love the idea of trying to figure out how make… We’ve been talking about how to get the fantastical elements because Matt’s world, his take on it is so grounded, and I’m thinking like, ‘How can you add…?'” Pattinson said. “Like, we were talking the other day, like, ‘Can you add Superman into it but he just doesn’t have any powers? He’s just a guy in a cape? He’s just like, ‘I’m Superman!’ And they’re like, ‘So?'”
Kravitz added, “The worlds kind of just don’t work together. ‘Sir, can you stop straining in the phone booth?’ [Laughs]”
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Despite the actors scoffing at the idea of having someone like Superman exist in the world of “The Batman,” we do know Reeves and Warner Bros. are hoping the film is the start of a new expanded universe. We already have reports that WB is developing HBO Max series spinning off of “The Batman,” but those two series are about the Gotham City Police Department and Colin Farrell’s version of the Penguin, so it’s unlikely that superpowers will play any role in those shows either.
Basically, it’s highly unlikely we’re going to see Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman hang out with the Justice League. That is, unless the Justice League are a bunch of plainclothes folks with no superpowers who like to hang out and shoot the shit at a bar or something.
“The Batman” arrives in theaters on March 4.