LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight release date, pre-order and gameplay details
For those in the know, the LEGO games are some of the most slept-on titles around, but it looks like LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is going to get all the attention it deserves. With Shai Matheson as the caped crusader and the one and only Matt Berry as Bane, mixed with what is essentially a LEGO version of the Arkham games, and LEGO Batman is shaping up to be something incredible. Fingers crossed, we might get a new LEGO tie-in set, and if we do, then you can rely on us to net you the best LEGO deals when the time comes! But until then, here's everything you need to know about when LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's release date is, pre-order news, platforms and more! When is the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight release date? The LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight release date is 22 May 2026. The game had originally been slated for a 29 May release, but had its launch moved up by a week in March – lucky us! In the meantime, you can look ahead to all the other upcoming games to see if there’s something to keep you occupied until the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight release date! Can I pre-order LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? Yes, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is available to pre-order now. If you want to secure a physical copy, you can pre-order now on Amazon, or any other major retailer around the globe. Which consoles and platforms can play LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will be available to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch 2 release for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has been promised, but it won't be coming until later. It's not going to launch on the same day as the other versions. When that Switch 2 release date is confirmed, we will let you know! LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight gameplay and story details The FAQ page for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight states that the game is a "brand-new open world action-adventure video game that invites players to embark on Bruce Wayne's epic journey to become the hero of Gotham City". The title is said to be "inspired by decades of Batman films, television, comic books, and games, and jam-packed with Batman nostalgia, DC lore, and TT Games’ signature brand of fun-filled LEGO humor". Not only that, but LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight features seven characters to play as, with these being Batman, Jim Gordon, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul. Each character has unique mechanics, such as Batman’s Batclaw, Catwoman’s whip, Robin’s Line Launcher and Jim Gordon’s foam sprayer. There are also vehicles to drive, with the iconic Batmobile looking like it may give the Rocksteady rendition from Arkham Knight a run for its money. In terms of the plot, TT Games says that there will be a "story-led campaign from origin to legend, bringing together iconic moments from the Caped Crusader’s 86-year history in film, television, comic books, and games". The moment-to-moment gameplay too sounds like it is taking a leaf out of the Rocksteady recipe book, as there will be a "combat system delivering an authentic expression of Batman’s fighting style with fluid attack chains, over-the-top takedowns and powerful gadgets". Is there a LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight trailer? Yes, there is a LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight trailer. It was revealed during Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live, and it’s a real corker. Check it out just below! View oEmbed on the source website What immediately jumps out is just how gorgeous the game looks. Not only do the LEGO models look fantastic, but Gotham City looks suitably moody and rain-soaked, with excellent physically-based materials bringing a lot of texture and life to the visuals. At times, it almost looks like real LEGO come to life. What’s more, the TT Games brand of humour is on full show. Matt Berry Bane stepping on LEGO genuinely got a belly laugh out of us when we sat down to watch Gamescom ONL. And though we’ve already touched on it, it’s clear to see just how much of an inspiration Rocksteady’s Batman games were. After the disappointing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, this somehow feels like the true successor. If you want a better look, then you're in luck, as a Developer Diary from the Future Games Show Spring Showcase showed off a deep dive into the game: View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marvel movies legend tipped to join The Batman Part II in major role alongside Avengers' Scarlett Johansson – but who is he playing?
The Oscar nominee looks set to become the latest big name to star alongside Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader.
After some lengthy delays, we're finally seeing major progress when it comes to Matt Reeves's The Batman sequel – and it looks like the superhero flick may just have landed another exciting star. With Scarlett Johansson already set to join the cast in an as-yet undisclosed role, it's now being reported that another Marvel favourite is in line for a major part: Sebastian Stan. According to Deadline, the Bucky Barnes actor is "in talks" to join the film, which already boasts among its cast a number of high-profile returning stars including Robert Pattinson in the title role, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Andy Serkis as Alfred and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon. As for who Stan will be playing, that's not been confirmed just yet – but one rumour suggests he could be set to play iconic comic book character Harvey Dent/Two-Face, who has previously been played in film by Billy Dee Williams (Batman), Tommy Lee Jones (Batman Forever), Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) and most recently Harry Lawtey (Joker: Folie a Deux). That rumour has been heavily implied by Hollywood journalist Jeff Sneider on X, although that's by no means confirmation that Stan will definitely be playing Two-Face. Sneider had previously reported on TheInSneider.com that Dent, his wife, and his father would be playing prominent parts in the narrative, with Johannson set to play Mrs Dent and Brad Pitt having turned down the chance to play Harvey's alcoholic father. However, these reports also remain unconfirmed for now. Of course, while Stan is still best known for his long-running role in the MCU – which he will be reprising once again in this year's Avengers: Doomsday – he has recently won acclaim for his roles in non-franchise fare, including a standout turn in arthouse film A Different Man and an Oscar-nominated performance as Donald Trump in The Apprentice. He's also got several more director-driven projects in the pipeline, including Cristian Mungiu's upcoming Fjord, alongside Sentimental Value star Renate Reinsve, and Justin Kurzel's Burning Rainbow Farm with Leo Woodall. View Green Video on the source website It was announced last summer that The Batman II aimed to begin production in spring 2026, four years after the brooding first film opened to strong reviews in March 2022, with the sequel's release currently set for October 2027. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had previously defended the long gap between films, stating that Reeves "is committed to making the best film he possibly can". "No one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write," he wrote on Threads. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films." As soon as we hear any more concrete updates on the film's production timeline, we'll let you know. The Batman Part II is coming to cinemas in October 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How Batman: Arkham Knight changed my life 10 years ago today
It's been 10 years since Batman: Arkham Knight first released, and I still remember it so vividly. Reflecting on it now, it's safe to say that this game changed my life. In the build-up to the game's launch on 23rd June 2015, I noticed that Arkham Knight was skipping the old consoles and going straight to the new (at the time) PS4 and Xbox One. The problem, at my end, was that I hadn't yet upgraded from my PS3. I wasn't long out of university, and there hadn't been any releases yet since the PS4 came out (in late 2013) to tempt me into buying an expensive new console. As much as I had always loved gaming, I wasn't yet making a super comfortable living after graduating with a second-class Film Studies degree (who could've guessed that wouldn't lead to a high-paying job, honestly). However, the Arkham games up to that point were some of my absolute favourites. I remember playing the first one with my uni housemates, taking turns and passing the controller every time one of us died. So, when I realised that I wouldn't be able to play Arkham Knight on my trusty old PS3, I knew I had to find a way to make it happen. Luckily for me, one of my best friends was travelling to Australia for an extended period that year. And luckily for my bank balance, he wasn't planning to take his PS4 with him. After some fraught negotiations, I had my hands on a machine that could play Arkham Knight. Weirdly, I now see this as a Sliding Doors moment in my life. My girlfriend (now wife) and I had so much fun on PS4 (me with Batman, her with Crash Bandicoot) that I ended up buying a second-hand console after my friend got back from Australia. By that point, it wasn't such a big financial risk. It wasn't long after this that the editor of a website, which I had been freelance-writing for, asked if I was into gaming and set up on the latest generation of consoles. If I was, they could send some more work my way. Being able to truthfully say yes in the moment set my life on a path I'm still on now. A path where gaming was my main focus. One opportunity led to another, and with a few bumps along the way, here I am running the gaming section at RadioTimes.com. There are so many great games I wouldn't have played, cool places I wouldn't have visited, and lovely people I wouldn't have met if Arkham Knight hadn't encouraged me to get a PS4, putting me in a position to start writing about video games in a bigger way. As a way of saying thank you, I'm very tempted to give this game a fresh play for the anniversary. I remember being intrigued by the story, and I'm not sure if it's revisionist history to say that everyone kind of knew what the twist was gonna be. I think there was an element of mystery as to who the 'Arkham Knight', the villain of the game, was. I think it's interesting at this moment in time, as well, with the Switch 2 just coming out, to think about what games are really gonna sell a system and get people motivated to find a way into that ecosystem. I don't think the Switch 2 quite has that yet, although it has obviously sold very, very well. Other than Mario Kart World, what are people gonna buy it specifically to play? I remember playing Arkham Knight, absolutely loving it, racing through it. That being said, there are bits of it that are still somewhat derided in the fan base. I remember the idea that the Riddler had gone away and made a series of go-karting tracks around the city, which Batman had to drive his Batmobile around, and that that maybe slightly stretched the vaguely gritty and 'could happen in real life' vibe that those games were going for. I mean, it's a lot of effort on the Riddler's part! Those bits were quite fun, though. They were more fun than the bomb disposal tasks that you also had to do in the Batmobile. I thought it was a great story, and as my first experience on a new console, I remember being blown away by how big the world was, how kind of dense it was. They still do the thing of, 'There's not that many people running around in the open world,' but it was impressive at the time. They're like, 'Oh, everyone left,' within the first five minutes. But I remember loving it. And that game had some huge story beats towards the end, as well, that the recent Suicide Squad game had to reckon with. It was like, 'Wait, how is Batman alive?' There was a kind of hundred per cent ending that left enough of a breadcrumb for them to bring Batman back, and then kill him again, and then bring him back again. But I've got hope that this franchise will return. It sounds like James Gunn, in his new role over at DC, is talking to the folks at Rocksteady about what to do next. Here's hoping it's something that will scratch that Arkham itch. And hey, maybe it'll change someone else's life for the better. I look forward to reading about it in 10 years' time. View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Batman 2 gets big filming update via Robert Pattinson after release delay
The actor discussed the long-awaited sequel at the Mickey 17 premiere.
Robert Pattinson has issued an update on his long-awaited sequel to The Batman, letting slip when filming is scheduled to commence on the Caped Crusader's next mission. The first outing hit cinemas back in March 2022, earning strong reviews and adoration from fans with its moody interpretation of the source material, but a sequel has proven difficult to get off the ground. Late last year, Warner Bros announced that The Batman 2 had been delayed by a full year to October 2027, which is a date that the project is on track to meet if Pattinson's latest comments are any indication. Speaking to Deadline at the premiere of his new sci-fi flick Mickey 17, Pattinson told press "we haven't shot it yet" but that they'll be starting at the "end of the year", acknowledging that it'll be "a while" until we see his Dark Knight on the streets of Gotham again. When quizzed on the story of the next film, Pattinson declined to offer any details but simply remarked: "It's cool, though." Previously, returning writer-director Matt Reeves said that he's hoping to produce a follow-up that people are "really surprised by" – hopefully, that doesn't mean a jukebox musical legal drama, in the vein of Joker: Folie à Deux. The Batman ended with Paul Dano's twisted take on The Riddler being put behind bars, while it also gave us a glimpse of Barry Keoghan as a new incarnation of the vigilante's arch nemesis, The Joker. Whether or not the sequel will bring back Keoghan, whose profile has only grown in the last few years, remains to be seen, with fans also hoping for gritty reinventions of other iconic villains, such as Mr Freeze and Hush. Although more than five years will separate The Batman and its sequel (assuming the film makes its current date), fans of the franchise did at least have acclaimed crime drama The Penguin to tide them over in the interim. The HBO series was a major critical hit and scored numerous nominations at the SAG Awards and Golden Globes, where lead actor Colin Farrell took home a prize for his performance as the eponymous gangster. The Batman 2 is coming to cinemas in October 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Batman Part II: Release date, cast and latest sequel news
The Caped Crusader returns... eventually.
*Warning: Spoilers for The Batman ahead* Among all the excitement about the beginning of James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe this year, question marks have remained over some of the studio's existing films – perhaps none more so than The Batman II. The film – which will be the second to star Robert Pattinson as The Caped Crusader following The Batman in 2022 – exists separately to Gunn's new franchise, although there have been some suggestions (no more than rumours at this stage) that it could later be folded into the DCU. Fans have already been waiting a while for the second chapter in the saga, and although there's still a fair bit longer to go, we were given some good news at the start of 2025 that filming was set to commence later in the year. Speaking to Deadline at the Golden Globes, writer and director Matt Reeves said: "I can tell you that we’ll be shooting this year" while the trade publication also revealed that they'd heard a summer start date was planned, keeping things on track for the already delayed 2027 release. The sequel is set to be a star-studded event, with Reeves revealing that it will feature Colin Farrell's Penguin – who was most recently seen in his own critically acclaimed spin-off series The Penguin – as well as Andy Serkis as Alfred and Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon. Interestingly, Pattinson's Batman did not appear in The Penguin, with Reeves recently explaining to Digital Spy: "[Batman’s] out there trying to grapple with the aftermath of everything that happened, which to some degree he blames himself for." Reeves also said that fans can expect the film to "dig into the epic story about deeper corruption, and it goes into places that he couldn’t anticipate in the first one. The seeds of where this goes are all in the first movie. It expands in a way that will show you aspects of the character you never got to see". Fans are also expecting Barry Keoghan's Joker to make an appearance, following his cameo in the first film, but Keoghan himself has said he "can't say much" about his ongoing role in the franchise. But what else do we know about Reeves's plans for The Batman Part II? Be warned: spoilers for The Batman follow. The Batman Part II release date We still have a long time to wait, as the film is now scheduled to be released in cinemas on Friday 1st October 2027. On Friday 27th December 2024, it was reported that the release date for the film had been pushed back yet again. This is the second delay for the Batman sequel. In March 2024, it was delayed a year, from October 2025 to October 2026, and now it's been delayed until 2027. Following the second delay, James Gunn took to Threads to write: "Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films." He later defended the gap, explaining: "To be fair, a 5 year gap or more is fairly common in sequels. 7 years between Alien and Aliens. 14 years between Incredibles. 7 years between the first two Terminators. 13 years between Avatars. 36 years between Top Guns. And, of course, 6 years between Guardians Vol 2 and Vol 3." The title was confirmed on 31st January 2023 as The Batman Part II. The Batman Part II cast and character speculation Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz will be reprising their roles as billionaire socialite Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, and Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, in The Batman Part II, it was confirmed at CinemaCon 2022. Pattinson previously discussed his intentions for the trilogy in a 2021 interview with Empire, noting: "I’ve made a kind of map for where Bruce’s psychology would grow over two more movies. I would love to do it." He also confirmed that if Warner Bros was to approach him about reprising his role once or twice more, he wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. "I would love to do it," Pattinson said, as producer Dylan Clark added: "As the first stand-alone Batman in 10 years, the hope is we can lay a foundation that you can build stories upon." There's also plenty of scope for more character development when it comes to Selina Kyle (Big Little Lies' Zoë Kravitz), who is clearly still developing her alter-ego of Catwoman in The Batman. The same goes for detective James Gordon (Westworld’s Jeffrey Wright), who's only a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner, as he's more widely known. Sadly, John Turturro is unlikely to return as Falcone after he was shot and killed by antagonist The Riddler/Edward Nashton (Paul Dano), and the same goes for Peter Sarsgaard as the late DA Gil Colson. However, we do know that Colin Farrell is expected to be back as Penguin, following his character's development in his own spin-off show. Reeves told Variety in September 2024: "There are details that actually connect right into the way the next movie begins, and the way that Oz enters that world as we hand the baton back to Batman, and Batman is on another case." It also seems possible that Dano could reprise his role as The Riddler, having told RadioTimes.com, when asked about potential sequels: "If I'm called back to Gotham, I'll be there." Then, there's the question mark over Barry Keoghan's role as the Joker, after he was teased in a cameo scene at the end of the first film. Keoghan has remained tight-lipped about a potential appearance, but for our money it seems very likely he'll make at least another short appearance, perhaps teeing up a bigger role in a third film. Here's a list of who we expect to see in The Batman Part II: Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth The Batman Part II plot speculation Unsurprisingly, specific plot details are being kept under wraps for now, but Pattinson has shared which Batman villains he would like to see tackled next in the series. "I’d love to do something like Court of Owls," the actor told Den of Geek, adding: "There are elements of The Batman which are kind of horror and I think it really feels quite new for Batman." Pattinson has also mentioned the killer Calendar Man as a potential villain, as well as Mr Freeze. Reeves recently told Collider that he wanted to do explore a more "grounded" take on Mr Freeze, explaining: "In my view, I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything. So to me it would be a challenge in an interesting way to try and figure out how that could happen, even the idea of something like Mr Freeze, that is such a great story, right? "I think there's actually a grounded version of that story, which could be really powerful and could be really great." Asked around the time of the first film's release whether there were any specific comics he'd like to see adapted for a sequel, producer Dylan Clark was rather more vague. "I think it's incumbent on us to create new stories that are true to the comics that people know and love," he told RadioTimes.com. "So, you know, on this one, Robert read all the comics and there were certain things that we borrowed from multiple storylines. "But really, Matt wanted to create a unique way into Batman and create a unique story. And then my hope is that people go, 'Oh, that's from Long Halloween, that's from Year One, is that a little bit of Killing Joke? And is that Arkham Asylum there?' Those things are important to us, but really for us we wanted to do our own story." Clark also said the creative team "inevitably" had ideas about sequels, but remained relatively tight-lipped about what those ideas might be. "Do we have ideas about the sequels? You just inevitably do, because you'll start to say, you know, wouldn't it be cool if... you know, what we haven't seen yet. And, you know, we didn't get enough of Alfred in this movie, or, you know, Gordon's gonna do this in his career. "So, you know, with 80 years of Batman in the canon and all these great comics, there are multiple storylines that are just exciting." Speaking to Variety in 2024, Reeves teased the plot of the film even more, saying it is "going to dig into the epic story about deeper corruption, and it goes into places that he couldn’t anticipate in the first one. The seeds of where this goes are all in the first movie. It expands in a way that will show you aspects of the character you never got to see." He continued: "Batman is constantly battling these forces. But those forces can’t be entirely exorcised. So the next movie delves deeper into that." And at the Golden Globes at the start of 2025, he added to Deadline: "We’re doing something where the story continues from, but I hope that people will be surprised by." As for the idea of the films being folded into Gunn's DCU, he said: "I mean, it really comes down to whether or not it makes sense. What's been great is there was a story that I wanted to tell that we're calling The Epic Crime Saga which is the thrust of what we wanted to do. It's been important to me to be able to play that out. James and Peter have been really, really great about that and they're letting us do that." Is there a trailer for a sequel? Hold your horses! It's far too early for a trailer, but now that a sequel has been given the go-ahead, fans might not have too long to wait. Watch this space! Read more: The Batman ending explained: How does Robert Pattinson film end? Read more: How to watch Batman movies in order and where to stream Read more: The Batman producer reveals there are “inevitably” ideas for sequels Read more: The Batman soundtrack - full list of music in DC Comics film The Batman Part II will be released on Friday 1st October 2027. Check out more of our Sci-Fi or Film coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Batman games in order: Arkham & beyond in story or release order
Batman has a huge history in video games that dates all the way back to 1986. After the Arkham series, the Batman Universe games have been decent (read our Gotham Knights review), but never quite lived up to the glory days of these releases. If you're anything like us, playing them is a yearly occurrence. But if you're new, you might not know where to start. Let's take a look at all the games, and their corresponding DLCs. How to play the Batman Arkham games in story order If you want to play through the Batman Arkham games in story order, so you can really get into the head of Bruce Wayne without breaking the continuity at any point, this is how it goes: Arkham Origins Arkham Shadow Arkham Asylum Arkham City Arkham VR Arkham Knight Those four games, plus a couple of VR spinoffs, should keep you busy for a while! You'll be in full Dark Knight mode, sleeping upside down and berating your imaginary butler by the time you're finished with them. The most recent addition to the series is Batman: Arkham Shadow which is exclusively available for Meta Quest users. It's believed that the game slots into the Arkham timeline between Origins and Asylum. Where does the Arkham DLC fit in? However, you might be wondering about the various DLCs that came out with a few of the titles. Again, the chronology matters here. So if you want to play them all in story order, this is where they fit in with the full game releases: Arkham Origins DLC: Initiation Arkham Origins Arkham Origins DLC: A Cold Cold Heart Arkham Origins DLC: Blackgate Arkham Knight DLC: Batgirl - A Matter of Family Arkham Shadow Arkham Asylum Arkham City Arkham City DLC: Black Mask Challenge Campaign Arkham City DLC: Catwoman Arkham City DLC: Harley Quinn's Revenge Arkham VR Arkham Knight DLC: Batgirl Arkham Knight DLC: Harley Quinn Arkham Knight Arkham Knight DLC: Catwoman's Revenge Arkham Knight DLC: Red Hood Arkham Knight DLC: Robin - A Flip of a Coin Arkham Knight DLC: Nightwing - GCPD Lockdown View Green Video on the source website Batman Arkham games in release date order If you'd rather play through these games in the order they came out, so you see the graphics and gameplay improving (in theory) with each instalment, this release date order will serve you well... Arkham Asylum (2009) Available on: PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S To some, this is still the best of the bunch of the Arkham games and it is easy to see why. Restricting the game to the confines of the titular and iconic asylum was a brilliant move that fully absorbs the player in the twisted way the place is being run under the control of Joker. It dazzled us upon release and it remains re-playable all these years later. Buy Arkham Asylum from Amazon (prices from £14.99) Arkham City (2011) Available on: PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Wii U Leaving the asylum behind, Arkham City once again pits Bats against Joker, along with many other foes, and takes us to the streets of Gotham. This is a far bigger game than the first and one that is just as well regarded by most fans as Asylum. We get another tight story here too that is compelling from start to finish, and the Riddler challenges are taken to another level with the larger playing field. The DLCs for this game featured a couple of the most famous femme fatales of the DC universe. Both the Catwoman DLC and Harley Quinn's Revenge were released later, and shouldn't be missed. Buy Arkham City from Amazon (prices from £14.95) Arkham Origins (2013) Available on: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Wii U While Rocksteady Studios were behind the Arkham series, it was WB Games Montréal that took the reins for Arkham Origins - and it would be fair to say the game is not on many people's favourites list. It isn't a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but this prequel lacks the spark of the previous entries - although we did appreciate the lean into Batman's detective skills. The DLCs for Origins were A Cold Cold Heart and Blackgate. The latter is particularly interesting, with it's 2.5 dimensional side scrolling gameplay. Buy Arkham Origins from Amazon (prices from £17.42) Arkham Knight (2015) Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S The final game in the series was the biggest, but not quite the best. There is a lot to love about Arkham Knight, especially the story, and it features some brilliant set pieces that remain riveting to play even the second time around. But there were some issues, largely surrounding the overused Batmobile (we still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about tank fights), that made it feel like a disappointment to some - but it does enough right to make it feel satisfying overall. The only DLC for Arkham Knight is A Matter Of Family, in which Barbara Gordon jumps into the Batsuit and joins Robin to save her father, Commissioner Gordon. Buy Arkham Knight on Amazon (prices from £12.85) Arkham VR (2016) Available on: PC, PS4, PS5 (PSVR, HTC Vive or Meta headset required) The first game in this series to embrace virtual reality, Batman: Arkham VR lets you experience Detective Mode like never before. Playing from a first-person perspective, you will solve puzzles and use gadgets to unravel a mystery involving sidekicks going missing. The game is quite short, clocking in at under two hours for its main story, so we wouldn't say it's essential. If you have a VR set-up, though, why not give it a go? Although it's the last game to launch with 'Arkham' in its title, it actually fits into the story timeline between City and Knight. Buy Arkham VR on the PS Store (£15.99) or CD Keys (£2.99) Arkham Shadow (2024) Arkham Shadow is the second game to utilise virtual reality to deepen the immersion even more. Players will find themselves kicking baddies to the kerb in addition to completing puzzles to unravel the mysteries. It's a short and sweet game, meaning it's not necessarily essential to understand the full Arkham timeline – but if you're in possession of a Meta Quest headset, it's certainly worth playing. Buy Arkham Shadow on the Meta Store (£38.99) What about Gotham Knights? View Green Video on the source website Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S The makers of Arkham Origins, WB Montreal, released a game called Gotham Knights in 2022. It follows Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and Red Hood on a mission to clean up Gotham without The Dark Knight's help. If you're planning on playing all the Batman games, we'd recommend playing Gotham Knights last. Gotham Knights is technically set in a different universe to the Arkham games — so you can play it whenever you like, to be honest — but it does assume a lot of knowledge about Batman's past and all his sidekicks. Buy Gotham Knights on Amazon (prices from £29.99) What about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Coming to: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S The makers of all the other Arkham games, Rocksteady, released a game called Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League in February 2024. This one is set in the same timeline as the Arkham games, after the events of Arkham Knight, so we'd also recommend playing it after you've done the others. Buy Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League at Amazon (prices from £22.95) Read more: Is Suicide Squad crossplay? | Suicide Squad DLC | Is Suicide Squad down? | Suicide Squad plot | Suicide Squad Batman | Suicide Squad reviews situation | Suicide Squad PC requirements | Suicide Squad cast Listen to our One More Life podcast, subscribe to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter for all the latest gaming intel. Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Batman: Arkham Shadow release date and latest news
The launch of Batman: Arkham Shadow is hugely exciting for those wanting to take another trip to Gotham City. Following on from the trailer for the VR title that made its debut at Gamescom, attention has quickly turned to its release date, much to the delight of fans anticipating a fully immersive VR experience. What exactly do we know about Batman: Arkham Shadow? Let's take a closer look at all of the details so far. When is the Batman: Arkham Shadow release date? The release window for Batman: Arhkam Shadow is 22nd October 2024. An October launch for the game is particularly exciting, with plenty of other games scheduled to launch at the start of what's going to be an extremely busy end to the year. There are big VR titles such as Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro: Awakening slated for release towards the latter end of the year, as well. Given how few AAA VR games come out, perhaps players will only be too happy to buy them all. When is the Batman: Arkham Shadow UK launch time? Batman: Arkham Shadow will launch at midnight on 22nd October 2024. Thankfully, there's not much time to wait before you can take a trip to Gotham City once again and play through another chapter of Bruce Wayne's story. To tide you over, why not try some of the best VR games to play right now? If you have a Meta Quest 3, you are spoiled for choice of what to play! Which consoles and platforms can play Batman: Arkham Shadow? Batman: Arkham Shadow is releasing exclusively on Meta Quest 3. While we thought the Meta Quest 3 was pretty spiffy in our review, it will set you back a fair whack if you don’t already own one. Fortunately, we have you covered with the best Meta Quest 3 deals that we could find to help you save a bob or two. It’s currently unclear if Batman: Arkham Shadow is a timed exclusive or not. Developers Camouflaj's Iron Man was multiplatform, so there is a glimmer of hope that the Bat Signal may light up in the sky for PSVR 2 and VR on PC. Batman: Arkham Shadow gameplay and story details View oEmbed on the source website Batman: Arkham Shadow takes place two years after the events of Batman: Arkham Origins, in the run-up to 4th July as Batman races to save Gotham from the Rat King's "Day of Wrath". The mysterious Rat King has kidnapped Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Dent and others, and intends to execute them during this "Day of Wrath". With citywide rioting taking place in Gotham, the situation looks increasingly desperate. You can check out the official story trailer up top for more! Developer Camouflaj has translated the fluid gameplay of the Arkham games into a VR setting, so expect brutal melee combat while stringing together combos, just more up-close and personal than ever before. Players can skulk through the many dark back alleys and streets of a semi-open-world Gotham, using the shadows to their advantage with stealth mechanics alongside a slew of familiar and no doubt new gadgetry. Is there a Batman: Arkham Shadow trailer? There is indeed! Check out the gameplay trailer that dropped at Gamescom below: View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
New Batman Arkham game revealed: Watch the trailer for DC's VR sequel
A surprising move after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
The Batman: Arkham franchise isn't as dead as we thought, with Warner Bros Games today announcing a new entry in the beloved series. The new game, titled Batman: Arkham Shadow, will be the franchise's second VR-focused entry. It has been developed by Camouflaj, the makers of Iron Man VR, who are part of the Meta-owned Oculus Studios. This isn't the first time that a company outside of Rocksteady, which originated the Arkham franchise, has been allowed to play in this universe. Although Rocksteady did make 2016's Arkham VR, it was WB Games Montreal that made 2013's Arkham Origins. Batman: Arkham Shadow's official description simply says: "Evil stalks the streets. Gotham City is in danger. And you’re the only one who can save it. Prepare to enter Gotham for a new story set in the Batman: Arkham franchise." Check out the trailer below to get your first taste of the action! This short teaser is a bit more rat-focused than you might be expecting. View Green Video on the source website This news comes as something of a surprise after the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. That Rocksteady-developed multiplayer game was set in the Arkham universe, and it resulted in a not-so-happy ending for DC's Dark Knight. Our assumption here is that Batman: Arkham Shadow is probably set at a different point in the timeline, perhaps slotting into the chronology between Arkham Knight and the Suicide Squad game. This, or shunting the action to another corner of the multiverse, would allow the developers from Camouflaj to tell their own story without treading on Rocksteady's toes. The developers from Camouflaj said on their website: "We aim to deliver an authentic new entry in the celebrated Arkham franchise, something that the series' millions of fans will know is no easy feat. "The prospect of adding a new chapter to such a storied franchise is exhilarating. (And it's been a lot of fun.) We are committed to building upon the beloved foundation laid by the legendary team at Rocksteady, and driven to do it justice. "From the start, Batman: Arkham Shadow is being crafted to be the ultimate VR game and take full advantage of Meta Quest 3. Leaning into our eight years of dedicated VR game development history has enabled us to not only create a distinctly Arkham-feeling game but done in a way that leverages the immersive magic only VR can provide." The release date for Arkham Shadow has not been confirmed, but the official materials tell us to expect it in "late 2024". The game is launching as a Meta Quest 3 exclusive. We'll bring you more Bat-news as we hear it! View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The best Bane quotes from Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises
Batman and the many villains beleaguering Gotham City have some fantastic lines in the comics, TV shows and movies - but some of the best belong to Bane. And as such, we’ll be looking at the best Bane quotes from the world of Batman. We’ll specifically be looking at Tom Hardy’s depiction of Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, the final instalment of the Dark Knight Trilogy. Though there’s only been the one live-action portrayal of Bane, many have donned the mask and cape, so be sure to check out all the Batman actors and see who we at RadioTimes.com think did it best. But with so many Batmen, there’s a lot of films, and if you’re stuck with where to begin, we’ve got how to watch the Batman movies in order, as well as where to watch them. That list will gain another addition sometime down the road, when the Robert Pattinson-helmed The Batman Part II comes to cinemas in the not-so-distant future. But time is the bane of all of us, so let's get cracking (Batman’s back) and get to the best Bane quotes! The best Bane quotes from Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises Below are what we think are the 15 best Bane quotes from The Dark Knight Rises - but let's not stand on ceremony here, dear reader. Read on! "Oh, you think darkness is your ally. But you merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn’t see the light until I was already a man. And by then, it was nothing to me but blinding." – Bane to Batman in the Dark Knight Rises as he mocks him for assuming the darkness protects him from harm. Bane grew up in Santa Monica prison in eternal darkness and knows far more about it than Bruce Wayne would. "The shadows betray you because they belong to me." – A follow-up from the previous quote with Bane highlighting Batman’s naivety. "Peace has cost you your strength. Victory has defeated you." – Bane is pointing out that having stopped the Joker and the Scarecrow, Batman has become complacent - and Bane is exploiting this weakness. "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask." – This highlights the parallels between Bane and Batman. The masks are how they identify, and they are more themselves when they wear them as they seek to define themselves in the wake of their difficult childhoods after losing their respective parents. "It would be extremely painful… For you." – Bane possesses extreme strength but also a sharp tongue, which he brilliantly employs to warn a CIA operative of the dire consequences should he try and remove his mask. "Theatricality and deception - powerful agents to the uninitiated. But we are initiated, aren’t we, Bruce? Members of the League of Shadows." – Batman’s skills and tactics might work on lesser criminals, but not a fellow alumnus of darkness like Bane. He is able to match and exceed Wayne’s physical prowess and tricks of the trade and takes great pleasure in confronting Batman with the sobering fact. "The powerful will be ripped from their decadent nests, and cast out into the cold world that we know and endure." – Much of Bane’s bitterness and quest for vengeance is driven by the sordid and unfair beginnings he had. Though Bruce Wayne lost his parents too, he arguably had a much better time of it than Bane, as his fortune protected him from the harsh realities of life. "I am necessary evil." – Bane seeks to root out the corruption that plagues Gotham by any means necessary, even if that means the complete destruction of the city. "Let’s not stand on ceremony here… Mr Wayne." – To remind Batman that he is one step ahead of him, he addresses him by name, revealing he is aware of his true identity – something Batman works tireless to keep secret. "Now is not the time for fear... That comes later." – During the aeroplane heist to snatch Doctor Pavel from the CIA, Bane demonstrates his meticulous planning by employing some dramatic irony, as he knows exactly what fate awaits Pavel and Gotham City itself. "Do you feel in charge?" – Further highlighting his disdain for the wealthy elite, Bane belittles Daggett (who believes Bane is helping him to absorb Bruce Wayne’s company) by placing a gentle hand on his shoulder to strike fear after he rags on Bane and his assistant. This isn’t an empty threat, however, as Daggett soon finds out. "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." – Just before introducing Daggett to his own mortality, Daggett mentions Bane by name - only for him to suddenly show up with more dramatic irony in tow as, like the devil himself, Bane makes Daggett pay for his perceived sins. "When Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die." – Bane paints himself as a patient man who suffered more than his fair share, and is keen to eke out every last moment of pain and misery from his enemies – a fate he intends for Bruce Wayne, as Bane wants him to witness the destruction of his cherished city before he kills him. "You don’t fear death, you welcome it. Your punishment must be more severe." – Before the last quote, Bruce Wayne pleads for Bane to kill him, but Bane knows this would be an easy way out for him – a luxury he isn’t going to afford his mortal enemy. "Really, then why are you people here?" – This is in response to a stock broker who pleads with Bane by saying, 'This is a stock exchange, there’s no money you can steal,' which further highlights his disgust at the corruption of the elite. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Batman Arkham Asylum riddles: All solutions explained
Despite taking place on just a small island, the Asylum is chock-full of secrets, challenges and trophies But today, we're besting Riddler’s wit, as we’ve got all of the Batman: Arkham Asylum riddles and all their solutions and locations explained. Many newcomers to the game will no doubt be ticking these off as the Batman: Arkham Trilogy is now available on Nintendo Switch. If you want Batman on the go, you can check out the best Switch deals – if you think the Switch is worth it with a next-gen Switch 2 looming on the horizon. If you’re confused about where to start in the Arkham series, we’ve got the Batman games in order to keep you from guessing. With all that said, there are plenty of Batman games to play and riddles to tide us over until Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League releases. Read on! Batman Arkham Asylum riddles: All solutions explained Below, we’ve got all of Riddler’s riddles sorted by location - but do note that not all will be able to be solved during your first visit, as some require specific tools, meaning that some backtracking will be required. If you need to get somewhere specific quickly, use our handy jump-links just below. Jump to: Intensive Treatment Arkham Island East Arkham Island North Arkham Island West Medical Facility Caves Arkham Mansion Penitentiary Botanical Gardens Intensive Treatment Riddle #1 Location – Lobby. Riddle – Don't cut yourself on this Sharply observed portrait. Solution – On the west wall, find the portrait of Warden Sharp and scan it in Detective Mode. Riddle #2 Location – Locker room. Riddle – You don't know Jack about Gotham. Tune in to find out. Solution – On the radio in the locker room, use Detective Mode to zoom in on "Jack Ryder" and scan it to solve the riddle. Riddle #3 Location – Transfer Loop corridor. Riddle – A top hat and tails is the only dress code for this party in the North. Solution – Make your way eastwards along the Transfer Loop corridor and you’ll come across an office with shutters that have only closed halfway. Crouch under it and use Detective Mode to scan the poster with Penguin on the southern wall. Riddle #4 Location – Northeastern Holding Cell. Riddle – Where would I find my home sweet home? Solution – Use the Cryptographic Sequencer to unlock the cell and scan the room in Detective Mode. Riddle #5 Location – Elevator ventilation shaft. Riddle – Dr Jonathan Crane plans on elevating fear to new depths. Solution – In the western elevator shaft is a vent. Climb in and take the vent that veers to the right and you’ll find yourself in Scarecrow’s lair. Scan the room in Detective Mode to solve the riddle. Riddle #6 Location – Aaron Cash’s Office. Riddle – Hook up with the relatives before you're transferred out of here. Solution – Use the Cryptographic Sequencer to gain access to Aaron Cash’s office and scan the family photo in Detective Mode. Riddle #7 Location – Patient Pacification. Riddle – Even I was shocked when I saw how Maxie Zeus was treated! Solution – After gaining access to Patient Pacification with the Cryptographic Sequencer, use Explosive Gel or the Ultra Batclaw to destroy the concrete wall with holes in it in the southeastern part of the room and scan Zeus's cell with Detective Mode. Riddle #8 Location – Lobby. Riddle – A puzzle has many sides, but only some are visible. Solution – In the office located in the middle of intensive treatment, go into Detective Mode and look south. The top of the question mark is painted on the middle window and the dot is on the wall through the glass. Line them up and the riddle will be solved. View Green Video on the source website Arkham Island East Riddle #1 Location – Cemetery. Riddle – The legacy of this island has been well and truly buried. Solution – In the cemetery, you will find an unearthed grave. Scan the headstone in Detective Mode to solve the riddle. Riddle #2 Location – Gotham City skyline. Riddle – Gotham's greatest family towers over the city. Solution – In Detective Mode, scan the W of the Wayne Enterprises tower in the Gotham City skyline from the top of the clock tower. Riddle #3 Location – Top of Arkham Mansion tower. Riddle – My challenges appear to those with the correct position in life. Solution – Climb to the top of the highest point of Arkham Mansion and look south. In Detective Mode, line up the dot which is on the edge of the tower and the rest of the question mark that is on the roof below. Arkham Island North Riddle #1 Location – The entrance to the ruined building. Riddle – Now I see it, now you don't. Solution – Under the archway that forms the entrance of the ruined building, use Detective Mode to line up the question mark with the dot on the ceiling behind it and scan it. Riddle #2 Location – West Guardhouse ground floor. Riddle – Let's face it, there are two Dents on the wall. Solution – Blow the barrier’s fuse with the Cryptographic Sequencer and in Detective Mode, scan the poster of Harvey Dent on the southern wall. Riddle #3 Location – Arkham Asylum gates. Riddle – Tweedledum and Tweedledee SAW it, can you SEE it? Solution – Just to the east of the Arkham Asylum gates is a seesaw. In Detective Mode, scan the seesaw to solve the riddle. Arkham Island West Riddle #1 Location – Arkham Mansion Bonatical Gardens gate. Riddle – Does Scarecrow's gas break down barriers as it drives you insane? Solution – Using the Grappling Hook to climb up to the archway closest to the gate and along the wall you will see a destroyable wall above. Use the Ultra Batclaw to tear it down and grapple-hook your way up and using Detective Mode, scan the canisters. Riddle #2 Location – Balcony above the Penitentiary Gates. Riddle – Zsasz is counting on you finding his work. Solution – Use the Grappling Hook to get to the balcony above the Penitentiary gates and blow the fuse with the Cryptographic Sequencer with the Range Amplifier upgrade and scan the three dead guards playing cards inside. Riddle #3 Location – Balcony above the Penitentiary Gates. Riddle – Do you see what I can see? No? Then maybe I am in a stronger position. Solution – On the same balcony from Riddle #2, look at the terrace below in Detective Mode to line up the dot on the balustrade with the rest of the question mark. Medical Facility Riddle #1 Location – Ventilation shaft above the Morgue elevator in the Sanatorium. Riddle – Are you going to take your hat off to Harley, Bats? Solution – Use the Grappling Hook to get up to the ventilation shaft above the Morgue elevator to climb into the elevator shaft. Go down to the very bottom and you will see another ventilation shaft. Use the Grappling Hook to get inside and crawl through it. Eventually, you will come to the end of the shaft where on the right-hand side is another path. Follow this and drop down and scan the mannequin’s head with Harley's hat in Detective Mode. Riddle #2 Location – Surgery Room. Riddle – Shhhhsshh! Rumors persist that Tommy Elliot operates in Arkham. Can it be true? Solution – Use the Grappling Hook to get to the balcony overlooking the operating table and use Detective Mode to scan the whiteboard that reads "Arkham night shift, Feb, week 12" where you can see "Dr T Elliot". Riddle #3 Location – Experimental Chamber. Riddle – Is this bear the Bane of his life? Solution – In Detective Mode, scan the bear on the table in the Experimental Chamber. Riddle #4 Location – Patient Observation. Riddle – Was this fire fly too hot off the press? Solution – In the Patient Observation Room, use Detective Mode to scan the newspaper clipping that reads "Firefly Escapes". Riddle #5 Location – Sanatorium. Riddle – A question can only be answered from a new perspective. Don't you agree? Solution – In the Sanatorium is a destructible floor that requires the Ultra Batclaw or Explosive Gel to destroy it. Just underneath is the top mark of a question mark that has to be lined up with a dot on the floor below in Detective Mode. Riddle #6 Location – Morgue. Riddle – What silent killer of the oceans can be found in a tiny jar? Solution – In Detective Mode, scan the jar on the trolley in the centre of the morgue. Riddle #7 Location – Sanatorium. Riddle – TICK! TOCK! News flash! Someone is not getting out of here alive. Solution – On the ground floor, go to the western side of the Sanatorium and scan the broken jail cell with the skeletons lying inside. Riddle #8 Location – Medical Foyer. Riddle – Is the generosity of our benefactors on the Wayne? Solution – Along the northern wall in the southern corridor of the Medical Foyer, use Detective Mode to scan the gold plaque that reads: "City of Gotham. This unit was funded by Bruce Wayne. The Bruce Wayne Foundation for the criminally insane." Caves Riddle #1 Location – Main Sewer Junction. Riddle – A puzzle has many sides, but only some are visible. Solution – On the underside of the bridge above you will see the top half of a question mark if you use Detective Mode. Jump over to the supporting column and climb up and around it till you hit a wall with a broken portion. Go back into Detective Mode and line up the dot at the top of this wall and the question mark under the bridge. Arkham Mansion Riddle #1 Location – South Corridor. Riddle – This fiendish puzzle literally appears out of thin air. Solution – On the western wall of the corridor is a display cabinet. Entering Detective Mode reveals the top half of a question mark above it. Turn around and use the Grapple Hook on the vents above that lead you to an overlooking terrace. In Detective Mode, line up the dot on the edge of this terrace with the top half of the question mark. Riddle #2 Location – South Corridor. Riddle – What does a bird need in the rain? Solution – Along the eastern wall of the South Corridor is a display cabinet that features a top hat with penguin umbrellas. Use Detective Mode to scan the umbrellas. Riddle #3 Location – Warden’s Office. Riddle – Isn't the Warden too old for a puppet show? Solution – In the Warden’s office is a display cabinet with a puppet inside. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #4 Location – Mail Hall. Riddle – Who is the main man in the main hall? Solution – In the southeastern part of the Main Hall is a portrait of Commissioner Gordon. Use Detective Mode to scan the portrait. Riddle #5 Location – Dr Young’s Office. Riddle – It'll be a cold day in Hell when this Ghul rises again. Solution – In Detective Mode, scan the identification tab reading “Ra’s al Ghul” tied to the corpse’s toe in the morgue. Riddle #6 Location – Arkham Records Room. Riddle – Our records show that a Strange transfer request was made in this room. Solution – Along the southern wall is a barrier to the records room. Use the Cryptographic Sequencer to disable the barrier and then use the Line Launcher to get across the hallway. On the right-hand side of the room will be records spilling out of filing cabinets. Scan these in Detective Mode. Riddle #7 Location – North Corridor. Riddle – Did Amadeus go mad, or was he just dizzy? Solution – From Dr Young’s office, go past the morgue and down the stairs and you will see the opening of a large ventilation shaft. Grapple Hook up there and follow the ventilation shaft that takes you above the North Corridor and the second at the other side. Drop down and you will find yourself in front of three cells. The one on the right had a series of circular scribbles. Use Detective Mode to scan them. Riddle #8 Location – East Wing Corridor. Riddle – A game of Cat and mouse can be painful. Solution – At the southern end of the East Wing Corridor is a Catwoman display cabinet. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #9 Location – Dr Young’s Office. Riddle – How do you mask your feelings without losing control? Solution – Grapple Hook to the ventilation shaft in the morgue and drop down into the office at the end. Scan the skull mask on the wall in Detective Mode. Penitentiary Riddle #1 Location – Main Block Cell. Riddle – This room is the end of days for even the most celebrated killer. Solution – In the middle of the three cells in the northeastern corridor is plastered in calendar pages, use Detective Mode to scan them. Riddle #2 Location – Guard Room. Riddle – When is something right in front of you but still hidden from view? Solution – Use the Grapple Hook to get up to the ventilation shafts above and you’ll find a destructible wall. Use Explosive Gel or the Ultra Batclaw to destroy it. Beyond that, there is another destructible wall that requires the Ultra Batclaw. Pull this wall down and then use the Batarang to destroy the panel to the left which will top the gas pouring in. Drop down and use Detective Mode to line up the question mark from where you just came from. Riddle #3 Location – Extreme Incarceration. Riddle – All alone in your cell? Why don't you break the ice with the most dangerous prisoners? Solution – In Detective Mode, scan Mr Freeze’s frozen cell. Riddle #4 Location – Security Control Room. Riddle – A case of mistaken identity? Solution – In Detective Mode, scan Commissioner Gordon in the south of the room. Riddle #5 Location – Main Cell Block. Riddle – Two people, one voice, no gun? Solution – Grapple Hook up to the floor above via the shaft above the dead security guard and make your way to the northern wall and scan Ventriloquist’s Thompson submachinegun in Detective Mode. Riddle #6 Location – Controlled Access. Riddle – What has four walls, two sides, and one ex-DA? Solution – Along the southern wall in front of the chattering dentures, scan the "Vote Dent" poster in the cell in Detective Mode. Riddle #7 Location – Guard Room. Riddle – Prometheus, Arkham guards' most wanted and most hated. Solution – After stopping the flow of gas in Riddle #2, jump down and go to the top right corner of the room and use Detective Mode to scan the wanted poster for "Prometheus". Riddle #8 Location – Cell Access. Riddle – How do you reflect on your successes and failures, Batman? Solution – In the women’s toilets, use Detective Mode to scan your reflection. Botanical Gardens Riddle #1 Location – Botanical Glasshouse. Riddle – What time is tea time in Wonderland? Solution – Up one floor in the glasshouse, you will find a tea set laid out in the northeastern corner. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #2 Location – Statue Corridor. Riddle – Remember the Waynes? How could anyone forget? Solution – At the end of the corridor, scan the plaque on the bench in Detective Mode. Riddle #3 Location – Ventilation System. Riddle – The Ratcatcher needed more than just his charm to lead his army. Solution – From the Flooded Corridor, enter the Ventilation System and take the first left. Follow this until you come across a grating below that has the Ratcatcher’s gloves and gasmask. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #4 Location – Abandoned Chamber. Riddle – This challenge can only be seen by those with a different view on life. Solution – In the Abandoned Chamber, you need to make your way up the central column. You will need the Batarang to cut down a gangway. Once you’re at the top, crouch under the last column at the top and in Detective Mode, line up the question mark on the floor with the rest of it on the platform beneath. Riddle #5 Location – Flooded Corridor. Riddle – Looks like all the king's horses trampled all the king's men. Solution – Follow the northern part of the Flooded Corridor until you come across a bench. Use Detective Mode to scan the broken figurines. Riddle #6 Location – Flooded Corridor. Riddle – Is this a tribute to what a mad dog left behind? Solution – In the eastern wing of the Flooded Corridor, use Detective Mode to scan the plaque at the bottom of the statue. Riddle #7 Location – Aviary. Riddle – There's no closet in the Gardens, so someone is using the roof instead. Solution – On the southwestern wall of the main chamber in the Aviary is a skeleton placed quite high up. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #7 Location – Aviary. Riddle – There's no closet in the Gardens, so someone is using the roof instead. Solution – On the southwestern wall of the main chamber in the Aviary is a skeleton placed quite high up. Use Detective Mode to scan it. Riddle #8 Location – Glasshouse Entrance. Riddle – Is the number up for these guards? Solution – On the western wall are two dead guards with one sitting on a bench with an open book and the other above him in the planter. Scan them in Detective Mode. Listen to our One More Life podcast, subscribe to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter for all the latest gaming intel. Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
All the Batman actors: ranked and in film order
From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, here's our definitive ranking.
In an age of multiverse shenanigans, there are more superhero movies than ever before, meaning multiple iterations of the same character appearing in the same film, most recently seen with Batman in The Flash. But to answer who did the Caped Crusader best, we have all the Batman actors ranked and rounded up the Batman actors in order by film appearances too. With the arrival of DC’s League of Super-Pets, Robert Pattinson and his portrayal of Bruce Wayne in The Batman is no longer the most recent depiction, with Keanu Reeves making for a surprisingly good yet silly Batman. Pattinson isn’t done yet though and we’ll get to see him in all his moody glory in The Batman Part II. But that's quite enough chit-chat from us, get to the Bat-Signal to see how all the Batman actors compare! All the Batman actors in film order Ten actors have played Batman on the big screen since the 1960s. Here's the complete list of Batman actors, organised according to the start of their tenure in the role: Adam West – Batman (1966) Michael Keaton – Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), The Flash (2023) Kevin Conroy – Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) Val Kilmer – Batman Forever (1995) George Clooney – Batman & Robin (1997) Christian Bale – Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Ben Affleck – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), The Flash (2023) Will Arnett – The Lego Batman Movie (2017) Robert Pattinson – The Batman (2022) Keanu Reeves – DC's League of Super-Pets (2022) We asked a panel of pop-culture enthusiasts the great geek question of our time: Marvel versus DC – who is the king of superhero cinema? Watch the full debate show to find out who came out on top. View Green Video on the source website Of this group of actors, West is the only one to have also played Batman in live-action on television (in the show which directly preceded the movie), although archive footage of Michael Keaton's Batman is used in the short-lived 2002 series Birds of Prey. Conroy went on to reprise the role in numerous television shows, straight-to-DVD movies and video games, including fan-favourites Batman: The Animated Series and the Arkham trilogy. Other actors to play Bruce Wayne include David Mazouz (Gotham), Iain Glen (Titans) and Warren Christie (Batwoman), while Dante Pereira-Olson portrayed the character as a child in 2019's Joker. All the Batman actors: ranked 10. George Clooney You probably saw this one coming. Joel Schumacher's 1997 flop Batman & Robin remains infamous among comic book fans for its stunning butchery of the source material, which repulsed audiences to such an extent that the entire franchise was canned for almost a decade. In the centre of this storm was then-rising star George Clooney, who had been garnering plenty of buzz around Hollywood from his performance on medical drama ER and early film projects. Clooney was unquestionably miscast in this role, likely because executives were still figuring out where his considerable acting talent is best put to use. In the end, he crafted an extremely successful career primarily from dramas, thrillers and comedies, rather than becoming the action star that perhaps some expected at the time. Clooney himself has been first to poke fun at this early misstep, telling Howard Stern it "physically hurts" him to go back and watch it. 9. Val Kilmer It's easy to forget that Top Gun: Maverick star Val Kilmer donned the cape and cowl for 1995's Batman Forever, taking the reins from an outgoing Michael Keaton. That's partly because the film itself was a critical dud, best remembered for a behind-the-scenes feud which ended with Tommy Lee Jones telling Jim Carrey: "I cannot sanction your buffoonery." Never has there been a more savage putdown. But with all due respect to Kilmer, another big reason is that his take on Bruce Wayne is just a bit dull. If Clooney's Batman cheesed it up far too much, this version goes in the polar opposite direction, being so stoic and flat as to detract any palpable chemistry from his co-stars. Kilmer would later admit that he had little interest in the character, hence why he never reprised the role, and that lack of enthusiasm is sadly visible on-screen. 8. Keanu Reeves Combining the grit of Christian Bale and the campness of Adam West and Val Kilmer, Keanu Reeves's showing as Batman in DC's League of Super-Pets was a fun and lighthearted take, poking fun at how serious the character has been in prior films by showing him immediately melt and bond with a dog with a troubled "puppyhood". Whilst it didn't break any new ground, by virtue of it not being bad, it ranks higher than Clooney or Kilmer's unfortunate depictions but it cannot match Adam West's version purely for how iconic it still is today. 7. Adam West A spin-off from the television series of the same name, Adam West's distinct take on Batman still holds a fond place in the heart of viewers around the world. Why is he celebrated for what Clooney is lambasted for? Well, for starters, this series came out during the height of the Comics Code Authority, a regulatory body that greatly restricted what comic book writers could include in their stories. Therefore, at the time, Batman was a somewhat lighter character even on the printed page. In this sense, this Batman film and preceding television series encapsulate this era of the character, with West's portrayal of the vigilante being a perfect fit with the absurd plotting. It also helps that, in a far cry from both Kilmer and Clooney, West seemed to have a genuine passion for the role. He returned to voice the caped crusader in several animated projects throughout his career, with the last being 2017's Batman vs Two Face, which was released posthumously. 6. Will Arnett The dulcet tones of US comedy star Will Arnett proved a perfect fit for the supporting role of Batman in 2014's The Lego Movie, but few could have expected just how well he would fare in a solo spin-off. As it stands, The Lego Batman Movie is right behind The Dark Knight on the list of most acclaimed films starring Gotham City's resident hero, with critics wooed by its sharp sense of humour and star-studded voice cast. While the success of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy means we're unlikely to ever move away from "dark and gritty" Batman in live-action, it's refreshing to see this family friendly take lean into the zanier aspects of the character. Arnett does a stellar job in the lead role, retaining the faultless comic delivery he previously demonstrated on the likes of Arrested Development, while staying true to the spirit of the character. 5. Kevin Conroy It's a shame that 1993's Mask of the Phantasm went widely unnoticed by movie-goers when it was hastily dropped into cinemas, as Kevin Conroy is one Batman actor who deserves more mainstream recognition. Of course, avid fans will be well aware of the voice performer's storied history with the caped crusader, but he remains largely unknown to the vast majority who don't consume DC's animated output. Conroy began his tenure back in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series, which was a mammoth hit that spawned a theatrical feature-length spin-off in Mask of the Phantasm. Over dozens of later appearances, he enthralled viewers with his distinct, subtle performances as both Bruce Wayne and The Batman, with many fans passionately arguing that he captures the essence of the character better than anyone else – even his live-action peers. If you're yet to hear Conroy in the role, fix that pronto. 4. Michael Keaton Three decades on, Michael Keaton's first appearance in the Batsuit can still be considered a huge watershed moment in DC Comics history. Up to this point, West's campy take on the character was still best known to the general public, so Tim Burton's gothic reinvention seemed truly radical at the time – even if it was only bringing the screen portrayal closer in line with the source material. Keaton succeeded at both aspects of the role, proving compelling as socialite Bruce Wayne and suitably intimidating as nocturnal vigilante Batman. His performance has an edge to it that is echoed through modern counterparts Bale, Affleck and Pattinson, which is perhaps why Warner Bros have decided to bring him back for their upcoming slate of DC films. If Keaton's recent work is any indication, it's going to be an epic return. Keaton returned to don the Bat-Suit once more in 2023's The Flash as an older and wiser Batman and offered one of the most compelling takes on the character to date. He was also slated to appear in the cancelled Batgirl though we're sure he's not too hung up about it seeing as a source with links to the production told the New York Post it was "irredeemable". 3. Ben Affleck When news broke that Ben Affleck would be taking over the role of Batman in Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe, the internet almost imploded from the sheer amount of hate directed at the actor by toxic fans. That's why it will never stop being funny that those very same fans are now begging to have Affleck reinstated in the role, as Warner Bros looks to shift focus back to Keaton and newcomer Robert Pattinson. Those with an open mind wouldn't have been surprised to see Affleck excel as Bruce Wayne and his caped alter-ego, given how the actor had spent years reforming his image as both a serious dramatic actor and an Oscar-winning director. Snyder's Batman v Superman and Justice League remain divisive topics of conversation among comic book aficionados, but Affleck is considered a bright spot in both – even if he might have benefitted from stronger material. Affleck also returned in The Flash as Batman, warning Barry Allen “We’re not meant to go back and fix them" when he wants to undo time to save his mother. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck told them “I finally figured out how to play the guy. I was like, ‘Hold on, I quit. I know I quit. But I got it now!’” and we'd have to agree with him. 2. Robert Pattinson After a few false starts, DC fans got their first solo Batman film in a decade earlier this year and it proved more than worth the wait. Though Robert Pattinson was subjected to similar disdain after his initial casting in the movie, a mid-pandemic teaser trailer quickly silenced haters and stoked up enthusiasm. The Batman is arguably the most faithful adaptation of the character's modern comic book stories to date, bringing both the vigilante himself and his home of Gotham City to life in vivid form. Pattinson's traumatised take on Bruce Wayne makes even Bale's version look like a barrel of laughs, with the addition of an internal monologue giving viewers a deeper insight into his twisted psyche. The only thing missing from Reeves's dark crime thriller is the duality of Wayne's personality, given how he lacks the polished socialite persona that has proven a useful tool in the comic books. Surely, that will emerge in the now-confirmed sequel, at which point Pattinson could be bumped up to the top spot. 1. Christian Bale For our money, Christian Bale remains the greatest Batman on the silver screen. He and superstar director Christopher Nolan refined the blueprint set out by Burton and Keaton years earlier, bringing the Dark Knight crashing down to earth with a powerful thud. While Batman has always been one of DC's most popular heroes, this screen incarnation captured the attention of viewers like none before it, propelling the character to record box office and even Oscar gold (for the late Heath Ledger). There's still room for debate on Bale's overly husky Batman voice, but his presence in the suit was certainly formidable, while his epic journey as Bruce Wayne proved highly compelling. From his origins with the League of Assassins to his greatest loss and final test, the Dark Knight trilogy charts a satisfying arc with no shortage of exhilarating moments along the way. We stand by our readers' 2020 verdict: Christian Bale is the best screen Batman. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on tonight. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. 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The Flash fans think they've spotted Christian Bale in new trailer
Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton are back as their Batmans in The Flash, but fans think Christian Bale's Dark Knight may be returning as well.
Warner Bros released the first full-length trailer for The Flash on Super Bowl Sunday, teasing the long-awaited DC film and Michael Keaton's return as Batman – although the Emmy winner wasn't the only Bruce Wayne spotted in the clip. DC fans took to Twitter yesterday to speculate whether Christian Bale will be back as his iteration of Batman after his character's Batpod make a brief appearance in the trailer for The Flash. "Is this Christian Bale as Batman in the Flash movie?" one viewer wrote alongside a screenshot of the iconic motorbike. View oEmbed on the source website Meanwhile, another fan wrote: "I'm probably wrong, but I can't be the only one who thought it was Christian Bale's Batman in the The Flash trailer when Batman was riding the batcycle," and others suggested that they heard a music reference to Hans Zimmer's Dark Knight score in the trailer's soundtrack. A cameo from Bale wouldn't be out of place in the upcoming film, which sees Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) become trapped in an alternate reality whilst travelling back in time to stop his mother's murder. View oEmbed on the source website Ben Affleck will be returning as the most recent version of Batman, while Keaton will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne from the alternate reality depicted in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. Read more: Superman and Batman reboots to kick off DC movie relaunch Christian Bale reveals minor Star Wars character he's always wanted to play Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash will see Michael Shannon reprise his role as General Zod from Man of Steel, while Sasha Calle (Supergirl), Ron Livingston (Henry Allen), Maribel Verdú (Nora Allen), Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) and Antje Traue (Faora-UI) will also feature in the cast. The film will arrive in cinemas on 15th June, making it the first DC film to be released since Batgirl was axed last year. For more DC watching, you can pre-order Zack Snyder's Justice League on Amazon. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Movies hub for all the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Gotham Knights release date: UK launch time & Game Pass status
With Batman and Commissioner Gordon dead, the Gotham Knights must rise up...
The Gotham Knights release date is finally arriving this week, and everyone can soon play through the latest foray into Gotham City. Without Batman or Commissioner Gordon to protect the city following their deaths, the task is instead left up to the Bat-Family of Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and the Red Hood. In your way stands the mysterious secret society the Court of Owls. It's a decent game, too. In our three-star Gotham Knights review, we called it "a mixed bag" but noted that, "once you stop comparing it to Arkham in your head", you should find plenty to enjoy. Enough of our babbling, here's everything you need to know about Gotham Knights from its release date and trailers to how to pre-order it for yourself. Plus, is it on Game Pass? Gotham Knights release date The Gotham Knights release date will take place on 21st October 2022, the developers have confirmed. You can buy your copy from the likes of Amazon. The game has already seen a number of different release dates come and go, but it looks like the delays are over and this one will stick! undefined What time does Gotham Knights launch in the UK? For console players, the Gotham Knights launch time in the UK is midnight BST, just as the clock ticks over to 21st October. PC players, meanwhile, have to wait until 5pm on 21st October to play the co-op game on either Steam or the Epic Games Store. Read more on Gotham Knights: Gotham Knights review - our final verdict Gotham Knights multiplayer - is it crossplay? Gotham Knights cast - all actors revealed Gotham Knights villains - who is confirmed? Why isn't Gotham Knights on PS4 and Xbox One? We explain Gotham Knights PC requirements - the specs you need Gotham Knights versions - what are the different editions? Can you change character in Gotham Knights? How to switch Gotham Knights achievements & trophies - the full list Gotham Knights length - how many hours will it take? Gotham Knights guide - how to overcome the toughest puzzle Can I pre-order Gotham Knights? Gotham Knights pre-orders have begun. At GAME, prices are live now for the physical versions. The Standard Edition costs £59.99 on Xbox or PlayStation, but there's also a Special Edition (£64.99) and a Collector's Edition (£279.99) on offer. If you're not fussed about getting a boxed edition, it's worth checking out CD Keys, where you can buy a digital code instead. The PC version is just £36.99 at CD Keys at the time of writing. Which consoles can play Gotham Knights? Warner Bros has confirmed that Gotham Knights will only be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The official press release tells us that decision was made "to provide players with the best possible gameplay experience". The developers confirmed in no uncertain terms that Gotham Knights "will not be available for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles." Is Gotham Knights on Xbox Game Pass? It's sad news for subscribers to Microsoft's service: Gotham Knights is not on Xbox Game Pass at launch. This doesn't mean it will never appear on the subscription service in future, though. Many a game has eventually launched on Game Pass so it would not be surprising to see Gotham Knights make its way onto the service sometime in the future. Is Gotham Knights a sequel to Arkham Knight? Although WB Montreal did work on Batman: Arkham Origins and several other tie-ins to Rocksteady's Arkham franchise, it has been confirmed that Gotham Knights is not an official sequel to Arkham Knight. And Batman will not appear in Gotham Knights as a playable character, as far as we know. The story of Gotham Knights exists in its own universe, entirely separate from the Arkham series of games. Despite the fact that there are similarities between the ending of Arkham Knight and the beginning of Gotham Knights (both games hinge on the idea of Batman being taken out of action), Gotham Knights is very much its own thing. Rocksteady, the main developer of the Arkham games, is working on another new game called Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League - that game, unlike Gotham Knights, is considered part of the Arkham canon. Not confusing at all, is it? Is the Gotham Knights game connected to the Gotham Knights TV show? If you were wondering, the Gotham Knights game is also totally unrelated to the Gotham Knights TV show, which will launch on The CW next year. Despite sharing a name, these projects feature totally different groups of characters. They do not share a continuity in any way as far as we can tell, even if they might cover similar storytelling ground in terms of lesser heroes stepping in to protect the city in Bruce Wayne's absence. Holy lack of corporate synergy, Batman! Which characters feature in the Gotham Knights story? What better to tell you that than the official game synopsis: "The game is set in Gotham City, after the death of Bruce Wayne/Batman and that of Police Commissioner James Gordon, which has resulted in a rise of crime and lawlessness. "Players assume the role of Batman's former proteges – Dick Grayson (Nightwing), Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), Tim Drake (Robin), and Jason Todd (Red Hood) – as they attempt to continue his legacy by protecting Gotham upon receiving a pre-recorded message from Batman. "During the game, the heroes encounter several supervillains, including the Court of Owls and Mr Freeze. Supporting characters include Bruce's former butler Alfred Pennyworth and Police Captain Renee Montoya, one of the few honest cops left in the city." The main villains of the game are set to be the Court of Owls, a secret society entrenched within the city with a legion of brainwashed assassins called Talons. This will be the society's first major appearance outside the comics, aside from a few episodes of Gotham, and they look suitably creepy... View oEmbed on the source website Will Joker be in Gotham Knights? We know that Batman and Commissioner Gordon are both dead at the start of Gotham Knights, but we do not know if the Joker will appear. The Clown Prince of Crime was a staple of the Arkham games (even appearing as a persistent hallucination after this death), but we're waiting to learn if he's still alive in Gotham Knights' separate continuity. However Joker's on-off girlfriend Harley Quinn is confirmed for Gotham Knights, with creative director Patrick Redding telling IGN that players will meet an older, wiser version of the character that "has a very clear sense of what her identity is, and she's going to present herself in this much stronger, developed supervillain way". Who is in the Gotham Knights cast? The main cast list for Gotham Knights includes Gildart Jackson as Alfred Pennyworth, Christopher Sean as Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Sloane Morgan Siegel as Tim Drake/Robin, Stephen Oyoung as Jason Todd/Red Hood, America Young as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Michael Antonakos as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Gotham Knights gameplay footage View oEmbed on the source website The video above was shared by the developers a few months ago, giving fans their best look yet at Gotham Knights gameplay in action. You can expect the gameplay to be somewhat similar to what has come before, but with some new additions, one being that Robin can now teleport thanks to some fancy Justice League technology. The Batcycle will be the vehicle of choice as you make your way through Gotham, and look for a new style of enemy to the Batman games - these thugs and goons level up as you do, meaning you'll rarely face an easy fight. Whilst still having the single-player experience as the main focus, you will be able to play with a friend in co-op mode as well. And better still, they can just drop in and out of your story without impacting your progression. There's no word on whether Gotham Knights will have cross-play, though. Gotham Knights trailer Behold, a brooding and action-packed glimpse of what we can expect from this game! As you wait for the Gotham Knights release date on 21st October, feast your eyes on the Gotham Knights reveal trailer here. View oEmbed on the source website Follow Radio Times Gaming on Twitter for all the latest insights. Or if you're looking for something to watch, see our TV Guide. Visit our video game release schedule for all upcoming games on consoles. Swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
The Batman ending explained: The Riddler, Catwoman mysteries solved
Who was that mystery character, and what was the Riddler's plan? We break down the conclusion to Matt Reeves' new Batman movie. **CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Matt Reeves’ The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the iconic Caped Crusader, is finally here. It picks up with Bruce Wayne in his second year of crime-fighting in Gotham when a menacing serial killer called the Riddler (Paul Dano) starts a deadly game that targets the city’s institutional corruption. Don’t worry – this isn’t an origin story, so we’re spared from yet another slow-motion shot of Martha Wayne’s pearls cascading to the floor in Crime Alley. Instead, Bruce is already an effective vigilante on the streets, but this new threat forces him to become something more than a brawler to unravel the mystery behind the killer. The gripping tale takes its cues from classic thrillers like William Friedkin’s The French Connection and David Fincher’s Se7en thanks to its many twists, as well as the noir take on the Caped Crusader. But how does it all play out for Bruce, the Riddler, and Gotham? Read on for everything you need to know about the ending of The Batman. Be warned, full spoilers are ahead – so if you haven't seen The Batman yet, look away now. The Batman ending explained Who is el rata alada? At the centre of the Riddler’s twisted machinations is a mysterious figure he calls ‘el rata alada’ AKA the rat with wings. This person is the anonymous informant inside the mob that’s responsible for giving the police information to put notorious mobster Salvatore Maroni in prison, which was a crushing blow to Gotham’s drug trade. Although Batsy suspects Penguin (Colin Farrell) at first, he simply doesn’t know enough to be the rat. Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz) is ultimately the one to figure this one out as she desperately investigates the death of her best friend, Annika, who had a secret affair with Mayor Mitchell (Rupert Penry-Jones). The Mayor told her all about the Renewal money becoming a criminal slush fund, as well as the truth regarding Sal Maroni – as the GCPD and the Mayor worked with another gangster, Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) to put Maroni away. Falcone even took over the narcotics business while the GCPD was applauded for the huge drug bust, even though it didn’t really have an effect whatsoever. Unfortunately, this gives Falcone a lot of power over the city, because he can blackmail anyone involved with the scheme to do as he pleases. He even views himself as the real Mayor of Gotham. When Gordon and Batman arrest Falcone, the Riddler shoots him with a sniper rifle, effectively cutting out the city’s rotten core. Why does the Riddler target corrupt officials in Gotham? So what’s Riddler’s whole plan about anyway? Paul Dano’s twisted killer leads Batman and the GCPD on a merry chase around the city as a way of proving that the corrupt wealthy elite are the true cause of Gotham’s rotten core. When Batman and James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) lock the Riddler up in Arkham following Falcone’s death, the killer is revealed as Edward Nashton. He grew up in Gotham’s poorly funded orphanages before becoming a forensic accountant, where he stumbled on the financial records of the Renewal project. Renewal was originally founded by Thomas Wayne and was intended to help the poorer citizens in Gotham, orphanages included, but after the Waynes were murdered this money disappeared. As the media’s attention turned to the tragedy surrounding the newly orphaned Bruce Wayne, officials worked with gangster Sal Maroni to line their own pockets as the billion-dollar Renewal fund was quietly repurposed. This obviously meant that orphans like Nashton were doomed to live in poverty, all because of the greedy, corrupt elite. He even explains that it led to babies dying every year in the winter because the orphanages simply had no money to properly house the children. To make matters worse for Bruce, he has to grapple with the true nature of the Wayne legacy and his father’s Mayoral campaign. The Riddler reveals that Martha Wayne was part of the Arkham family, and she struggled with mental illness over the years which led to her being briefly institutionalised. The Riddler insinuated that Thomas had a journalist killed so Martha’s past wouldn’t come out and ruin his run for Mayor. But as Alfred (Andy Serkis) reveals, Thomas only wanted to keep the story quiet so his wife’s struggles would be kept quiet, and he was heartbroken that Falcone had killed the journalist instead of scaring him off. The interesting thing is that the Riddler was actually inspired by Batman’s own war on crime because he saw that someone could actively make a difference to the city by taking matters into their own hands. It’s that old “two sides of the same coin” approach, where the hero and villain are similar in different ways. But where Bruce forges his pain into a force for good, Riddler’s warped personality transforms him into a sadistic serial killer. Unfortunately, he also has a devastating plan to flood Gotham as a way of cleansing the city of its endless list of sins. How does Catwoman fit into the film? The Batman met Selina Kyle in the Penguin's club, the Iceberg Lounge, where she works, but her investigations into the death of her friend Annika reveal another twist: Selina is the neglected daughter of Carmine Falcone. Selina's mother used to work beneath the Iceberg Lounge and was the lover of Falcone. When Falcone's actions are revealed to have been responsible for Annika's death, Selina confronts Falcone with the plan to kill him. Despite a struggle, Bruce eventually persuades Selina into not taking revenge and Falcone is arrested. However, he is ultimately murdered regardless due to the machinations of The Riddler. Selina departs but later saves Bruce's life from the cronies of The Riddler. Despite a strong romantic connection, Selina ultimately leaves Gotham at the end of the film, going her separate ways to Bruce. How does Batman save Gotham? Surprisingly, the Riddler actually manages to go through with his plan, using seven bombs to destroy Gotham’s sea wall, flooding most of the city and causing mass chaos. Although he misses out on the carnage because he’s locked up in Arkham, a small group of his online fans show up at the Gotham Arena where thousands of citizens are seeking shelter. They start shooting from the rafters, even wounding the new Mayor, Bella Reál (Jayme Lawson). But thankfully Batman and Catwoman swoop in and start beating the living snot out of the Riddler’s gunmen. Although Gotham is devastated in the floods, the tragedy makes Bruce realise that he can become something more meaningful than just a brutal vigilante. The way he helps the survivors out of the wreckage and into the light proves he can be a watchful protector. Although Bruce’s quest for “vengeance” was born out of pain and tragedy, he ends the film knowing he’s transforming into a symbol for hope. Unfortunately, he also sacrifices any chance he has at happiness with Selina Kyle, who leaves Gotham for Blüdhaven (hello, Nightwing!) at the end of the film. Given the huge personal journey he’s just gone through, it’s understandable that he wants to stay and fulfil his duty to the city. Is Barry Keoghan playing The Joker? OK, let’s touch on the Clown in the room. When Riddler weeps over being thwarted by Batman, he’s comforted by a sinister inmate in the adjacent cell in the Arkham Correctional Facility. This unknown individual has a grisly smile and a frightening voice, as he tells Nashton: "You know what they say, one day you're on top of the world and the next day you're a clown." Well, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that this implies the Joker is already in Gotham just waiting to cause havoc – although it’s not clear why he’s in Arkham, or if he’s already crossed paths with the Bat in the two years since Bruce first donned the cape and cowl. Eternals star Barry Keoghan is the man behind the clown for this new version of the Batman mythos, which is a little surprising given the huge success surrounding Joaquin Phoenix's 2019 film Joker. But by introducing their own Clown Prince Of Crime, Matt Reeves and co-writer Peter Craig have complete creative control rather than having to work around Phoenix’s character and the timeline that film set up. Will we get The Batman 2? Matt Reeves has already teased the possibility of The Batman 2, telling The Independent “we have started talking about another movie", so it’s highly likely Keoghan will reprise the role in the future. With that said, the director also told Collider that he’d love to explore a grounded version of Mr Freeze, saying: "I think there's actually a grounded version of that story, which could be really powerful and could be really great.” So give it a few years and we might see Robert Pattinson go up against a gritty version of Victor Fries – assuming Warner Bros gives Reeves the green light for The Batman 2, anyway. Is there a post-credits scene for The Batman? Well, it's not quite a full scene but there is a slight tease connected to The Riddler. Read More: Meet the cast of The Batman: Full list of DC Comics characters Read More: How to watch Batman movies in order and where to stream Read More: The Batman producer reveals there are “inevitably” ideas for sequels Read more: Where was The Batman filmed? Read more: The Batman soundtrack - full list of music in DC Comics film The Batman is in UK cinemas now. For more, check out our dedicated Movies page or our full TV Guide. 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The Batman: Release date, run time, trailers and latest news
Robert Pattinson stars as billionaire-turned-vigilante Bruce Wayne.
The Batman has opened to critical acclaim and box office takings of $248.5 million worldwide, with Robert Pattinson leading as the latest Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves' superhero movie. Supporting cast members include Paul Dano in the iconic role of the Riddler, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and Jeffrey Wright as Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon. Discussing his take on the role, Pattinson recently told GQ: “The first shot is so jarring from any other Batman movie that it’s just kind of a totally different pace. It was what Matt was saying from the first meeting I had with him: ‘I want to do a ’70s noir detective story, like The Conversation.’ And I kind of assumed that meant the mood board or something, the look of it. "But from the first shot, it’s, 'Oh, this actually is a detective story'. And I feel like an idiot, because I didn’t even know that Batman was ‘the world’s greatest detective’; I hadn’t heard that in my life before – but it really plays. Just ’cause there’s a lot of stuff where he’s in amongst the cops. "Normally, when you see Batman he arrives and beats people up. But he’s having conversations, and there are emotional scenes between them, which I don’t think have been in any of the other movies.” Warner Bros has already released a trailer for the film which really shows off the Bruce/Selina relationship. “We’ve seen a lot of great stories about Bruce Wayne witnessing his parents’ murder and then trying to find a way to cope with that by perfecting himself into Batman,” Reeves told Empire Magazine. “But I wanted to do a story where he’s already been through the origins and does not yet really know exactly how to be Batman. It is a Year Two story. And I wanted you to connect to him. Not only as Bruce but as Batman.” If that wasn't enough, we have a whole host of villains to face Batman in the new adventure in the form of The Riddler, The Penguin and more. Warner Bros clearly has very high hopes for The Batman, which is expected to be one of the biggest films of 2022, as it has recently started work on its second HBO Max series set to spin out of the blockbuster. Two spin-offs are on the way, one based on the Gotham City Police Department and one on Colin Farrell's iteration of The Penguin. As we wait for more details on the film, read on for everything we know about 2022's The Batman so far. The Batman release date The Batman was released in UK cinemas on Friday 4th March 2022. Previously, it had been pencilled in for a release in June 2021, before moving to a Halloween-themed October date, and then jumping another five months to its current spot in the calendar. The project first got underway on 27th January 2020, but The Batman filming was halted as the pandemic spiralled into a global crisis that March, with three-quarters of the movie still left to film (via Deadline). Fortunately, work was able to resume in September 2020, after then-Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden MP announced that major productions would be able to film in England as long as they operate in a tightly controlled "bubble". Just days later, the movie went on hiatus once again after star Robert Pattinson tested positive for COVID-19, but fortunately he recovered from the illness and returned to work after his isolation period. In March 2021, more than a year after cameras started rolling, director Matt Reeves announced a wrap on The Batman's principal photography, meaning there's every hope it will be able to make its current release date next year. Four months later, Pattinson, Farrell and Reeves reunited for reshoots that took place over multiple weeks in the cities of Glasgow and York, according to The Daily Record. Reshoots are very common for major blockbuster movies and not necessarily a cause for concern, so fans have no reason to worry about the quality of the reboot at this stage. Read More: How to watch The Batman – can you stream it? The Batman trailers Fans of the Caped Crusader were treated to multiple looks at the upcoming film. The teaser trailer was first released as part of the virtual DC FanDome event on 22nd August. Following this, the end of DC FanDome on 16th October saw a full trailer released for the film which showed off the ensemble cast. View oEmbed on the source website Meanwhile, an international trailer for the film has also made its way online, offering a further look at the upcoming film from Matt Reeves. The trailer also showed a further look at Paul Dano in the role of The Riddler. Another trailer, delving into the relationship between Batman and Catwoman, was released on 27th December 2021. View oEmbed on the source website The Batman runtime The Batman runs for two hours and 55 minutes. This makes the film the longest of any solo Batman movie, and just behind Marvel's Avengers: Endgame (three hours and one minute), according to The Hollywood Reporter. Well, you can't say you will be low on Batman content! The previous longest Batman film was Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight Rises (2012) which ran for two hours and 45 minutes. Read more: Where was The Batman filmed? The Batman Rotten Tomatoes score The Batman has a rating of 85% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, which means that a majority of the proportion of reviews regarded the film to be 'Fresh'. The critics' consensus reads: "A grim, gritty, and gripping super-noir, The Batman ranks among the Dark Knight's bleakest -- and most thrillingly ambitious -- live-action outings." Robert Pattinson has been described as a "revelation" by Slant Magazine, and delivering "the best live-action Batman since Michael Keaton", according to Insider. The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney called the film a "soulful nocturne of corruption and chaos, and as much as I longed for a few more glimmers of humour, at no point during the hefty three-hour run time did my attention wander." Paul Dano, Zoe Kravitz and Colin Farrell have also received praise for their performances as the Riddler, Catwoman and the Penguin respectively. Be sure to read our own RadioTimes.com review below. Read More: The Batman review: A terrific mood piece, an underwhelming mystery When is The Batman set? The film is set during the second year of the Caped Crusader's existence, with Bruce Wayne in the midst of his crime-fighting days and finding his feet as a vigilante – so don't worry, it's not another origin story. Director Matt Reeves confirmed the timeframe at 2020's DC FanDome, during a discussion of the distinctive Batsuit, which we got a close-up look at in the officially released camera test. "It's very practical, the idea is that [Batman] made it himself," Reeves said at DC FanDome in August 2020. "It needs to look like he can move, but it's still evolving. He's in Year Two of being Batman." "It's early and Batman's still a vigilante," the directed continued. "[Gotham's people] wonder, 'That guy sounds a little dangerous.' He's not yet the symbol of hope. He's still a growing legend. People wonder whether he exists. It's one of the things he will confront in the story." The Batman cast The cast of The Batman is listed below. Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce Wayne Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman/Selina Kyle Paul Dano as The Riddler/Edward Nashton Jeffery Wright as Lieutenant James Gordon John Turturro as Carmine Falcone Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson Barry Keoghan as Unseen Arkham Prisoner with Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as The Penguin/Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál Alex Ferns as Commissioner Pete Savage Rupert Penry-Jones as Mayor Don Mitchell Gil Perez-Abraham as Martinez Charlie Carver and Max Carver as The Twins Con O’Neill as Mackenzie Bock Robert Pattinson leads the cast of the hotly anticipated movie as billionaire socialite Bruce Wayne, who has a secret side-hustle when night falls, becoming the brutal crime-fighting vigilante known as Batman. Variety broke the news back in May 2019, revealing that Pattinson had faced stiff competition from the likes of X-Men star Nicholas Hoult, but ultimately secured the gig off the back of indie film buzz from Good Time and The Lighthouse. This latest incarnation of the Batman will have his work cut out for him from the beginning, with Matt Reeves' movie set to feature several key figures from his iconic rogues gallery. Meanwhile, Big Little Lies star Zoe Kravitz plays Catwoman aka Selina Kyle, a cat burglar who has been a friend, foe and even lover to Batman at various points in the comic books. This isn't her first run-in with the character as she had previously been considered for 2012's The Dark Knight Rises (losing out to Anne Hathaway), while she also lends her voice to Catwoman in The Lego Movie and its spin-off The Lego Batman Movie. We got our first look at Kravitz in action in the debut teaser trailer for The Batman, where she sports an early lo-fi version of the character's trademark look. Paul Dano stars as classic antagonist The Riddler/Edward Nashton, who acts as the main villain of the story as a serial killer leaving riddles for detectives - including Batman - to solve. It sounds like it really took a toll, as Dano told Entertainment Weekly: "There's a sequence with Peter Sarsgaard's character. That was intense. There were some nights around that I probably didn't sleep as well as I would've wanted to just because it was a little hard to come down from this character." Read more: The Batman's Andy Serkis: ‘I was Alfred by day, and made Venom by night’ Fresh off his physical transformation for BBC Two's The North Water, Colin Farrell is near-unrecognisable once again as he portrays crime boss Oswald Cobblepot – better known as The Penguin. In a recent interview on the Happy, Sad, Confused Podcast, Farrell revealed that he has a relatively minor role in the film, although we wouldn't be surprised if he ends up returning for the inevitable sequel. "I'm only in it for five or six scenes, so I can't wait to see the film because it won't be ruined by my presence," he said. "Really, it's a freebie for me. I'll get a little bit uncomfortable for the f**king nine minutes I have, and then the rest of it, I cannot wait to see how [Matt Reeves, director] brought this world to life." Fans were shocked to learn that Farrell was the star hidden underneath prosthetics in the moody teaser, but the considerable make-up does bring his appearance closer in-line with how the character is depicted in the comic books. Farrell is set to reprise the role in a spin-off series centring on the character. Read more: The Batman ending explained Another recurring villain in the DC universe has also been confirmed for The Batman, with The Plot Against America's John Turturro set to play mob boss Carmine Falcone. But don't worry, Bruce Wayne will have some friends too. Fresh off his recent voice role in Marvel's What If...?, where he played cosmic witness to the multiverse The Watcher, Jeffrey Wright has returned to Earth to play Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon. The character, who has recently been portrayed by Gary Oldman, JK Simmons and Ben McKenzie, is a close ally to Batman, as well as the eventual father of Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (who is not expected to appear in this chapter). Discussing the project, Wright told The Hollywood Reporter: "It was gothic. It was sleuthful, if that’s a word. It was mysterious, and it was tricky. It was tricky because of the conditions that we were working in. "It was isolating for those of us who were away from home, out of the country, over in London. I experienced more quarantines than I would wish on anyone, going back and forth over the last six months. So it was a pretty dogged one to try to pull off." Another essential figure in the Bat-family is Bruce Wayne's faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth, with this latest incarnation of the character skewing younger than what we've seen previously, with Venom 2 director Andy Serkis taking the role. The Batman marks a reunion for Serkis and Reeves, who previously collaborated on the critically-acclaimed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and its 2017 sequel, where he played motion-capture character Caesar. Rounding out the supporting cast are Peter Sarsgaard (Dopesick) as Gotham's District Attorney Gil Colson, Alex Ferns (Chernobyl, EastEnders) as Commissioner Pete Savage, and newcomer Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Reál. In March 2020, The A.V. Club broke the news that twins Max and Charlie Carver, known for appearing together in MTV's Teen Wolf series, had also joined the cast in undisclosed roles. They play henchmen of The Penguin. Later that year, Eternals star Barry Keoghan was announced as Jim Gordon's GCPD colleague Stanley Merkel in the official video description for the first trailer. However, fans theorised that Keoghan would actually be portraying The Joker. Viewers will have see the film and find out for sure. The Batman premiere The Batman premiered in New York City on 1st March 2022. The Batman also enjoyed a screening event in Paris, France on Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Among those who attended the event were director Matt Reeves and stars Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz. View oEmbed on the source website Pattinson and Kravitz looked suitably chic against the dark Paris skies for the event - how apt! Meanwhile, Pattinson has also been out and about for press junkets in London and was spotted in all-black - keeping on brand for the Caped Crusader. The stars later turned out for a special screening at the BFI IMAX in Waterloo, London on Wednesday 23rd February 2022. Robert Pattinson was in attendance, along with Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Andy Serkis and Jeffery Wright. Once again the cast looked suitably glamorous for the event. What is The Batman about? The movie is directed by Matt Reeves, best known for his work on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and its sequel, and will see Batman go up against a serial killer known only as The Riddler. Speaking about the film's plot at DC FanDome 2020, Reeves said: "The whole idea is that this is all an experiment in the movie. The idea that we’re in Year two, it’s the Gotham experiment; it’s a criminal, logical experiment, trying to figure out what he can do to finally change this place. And in our story, as he’s in that mode, that’s where you meet him and you see that he’s charting what he’s doing and he doesn’t seem to have any effect on what he wants to happen.” Reeves also seemed to hint that the film would delve far more into the history of Gotham's corruption - and how that might connect back to Batman's origins after all, but in a new and unexpected way. He continued: “And that is when the murders start to happen, and then the murders begin to describe sort of the history of Gotham in a way that only reinforces what he knows about Gotham, but it opens up a whole new world of corruption that goes much farther. But as that story starts to come out, without being an origin tale for him, it ends up being something that touches on his origins. "So you start to describe this epic history of corruption in Gotham that you start to understand, ‘Well, where did my family sit in that?’ And in that sense... is a way to take a story, a point-of-view story, a mystery," added Reeves. "It’s got, of course, action, and all that kind of stuff, but at the end of it, it’s incredibly personal for him even though it’s in the story where he’s trying to understand and unravel this mystery.” Robert Pattinson has also teased details about the movie, promising fans that it will be "radically different" to the numerous Batman movies that have come before it. "For some reason, Batman has always stood out as one of the major characters of the 20th century, and so many people connect with it on such a deep level for so many different reasons," said at CinemaCon 2021. "From the first conversation I had with Matt about it, I just knew that there was something radically different [here]." The Batman HBO Max spin-offs Warner Bros is investing heavily in their new Batman film franchise, with two spin-off streaming shows reportedly on the way to HBO Max. The first to be announced was a prequel series focusing on the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD), which would presumably be a more grounded and gritty interpretation than what we saw in FOX's Gotham. "The Gotham PD series will go into the corruption of the Gotham Police Department," Matt Reeves said at the DC FanDome in August 2020. "It goes back to Batman Year One... we'll see these characters from a perspective we've never seen before." Initially, Boardwalk Empire's Terence Winter was to act as showrunner on the series, but he quit the job in late 2020 over creative differences (via The Hollywood Reporter). Two months later, Giri/Haji creator Joe Barton was announced as his replacement, assuring a fan on Twitter that his show is going to be "very different" to Bruno Heller's Gotham, which ended its five-season run in 2019. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Jeffrey Wright teased the possibility of his Jim Gordon putting in an appearance. “Well, yeah, there's been a little talk about that,” Wright teased when asked if he was set to appear in the show. “I do think that the film is going to leave fans longing for more. So if there's an opportunity to explore more of this specific Gotham in a granular way through a show like that, it'd be very exciting.” In September 2021, a separate The Batman spin-off series was revealed to be in development for HBO Max, which hopes to focus on Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobblepot (who will go on to be known as The Penguin). Variety said that the project is in "very early stages" of development, with Farrell yet to sign a deal to reprise his role, but Agents of SHIELD writer and producer Lauren LeFranc were attached to pen the script. It is understood that The Batman director Matt Reeves will executive produce both shows, which should help keep his growing corner of the DC Universe tonally consistent. It was then confirmed in December by Variety that Colin Farrell had signed on for the upcoming series. It also reports that Matt Reeves and the film’s producer Dylan Clark will executive produce the show. Will there be a sequel to The Batman? While not officially confirmed, that is the plan. The Batman is intended as the first part of a new trilogy of Batman films from director Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce Wayne. The Batman is a standalone story but there are plans to continue with this iteration of the character. This new trilogy will be at the centre of a fresh shared universe in which the spin-off series on HBO Max will also feature. Pattinson and Reeves have already discussed their intentions for the trilogy. Speaking to Empire, Pattinson noted: "I’ve made a kind of map for where Bruce’s psychology would grow over two more movies. I would love to do it." Meanwhile, Pattinson also shared which Batman villains he would like to see tackled next in the series. "I’d love to do something like Court of Owls," the actor told Den of Geek, a story about a hidden secret society ruling Gotham. He added: "There are elements of The Batman which are kind of horror and I think it really feels quite new for Batman." Pattinson also highlighted the data-obsessed killer Calendar Man as a potential villain. Finally, director Matt Reeves made clear when speaking to press including Collider that he wanted to do explore a more "grounded" take on Mr Freeze. He explained: "In my view, I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything. So to me it would be a challenge in an interesting way to try and figure out how that could happen, even the idea of something like Mr Freeze, that is such a great story, right? "I think there's actually a grounded version of that story, which could be really powerful and could be really great." We'll have to wait and see! What other Batman films have there been? The Dark Knight is one of the most-depicted superheroes in cinema, with various iterations of the character played by different actors cropping up over the last few decades. Read More: How to watch the Batman movies in order Excluding 1940s serials, the first time Batman turned up on the screen was in a spin-off from the popular 1960s TV series starring Adam West, with Batman: The Movie released in 1966 and remaining a cult classic to this day. Following this the character was adapted by Tim Burton for 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns, where he was played by Michael Keaton opposite foes like Jack Nicholson's Joker, Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman and Danny DeVito's Penguin. After Burton and Keaton departed (though Burton remained as producer) Joel Schumacher took over for the Val Kilmer-starring Batman Forever (1995) and its sequel Batman and Robin (1997), which starred George Clooney after Kilmer had scheduling conflicts. Following the poor critical and commercial response to the film (which is still remembered as one of the worst-ever superhero movies) Batman didn't return to screens again until Christopher Nolan's reboot origin story Batman Begins, which starred Christian Bale and sparked two critically-acclaimed sequels – 2008's The Dark Knight and 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Following that trilogy the character was rebooted again for Warner Bros' connected DC universe, with Ben Affleck cast for 2016 crossover movie Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck's Batman also appeared in villain-based spin-off Suicide Squad (also in 2016) and 2017 team-up movie Justice League, the poor performance of which ended up inspiring Affleck to pass the baton to Pattinson. That said, he did shoot some brief new material for 2021 re-edit Zack Snyder's Justice League and is due to appear in a small farewell role in 2022's The Flash, starring Ezra Miller. For a lighter version of the caped crusader, check out 2017's The Lego Batman movie, which saw Will Arnett reprise his role as Lego Batman from The Lego Movie for a critically-acclaimed, fourth wall-breaking riff on the DC Comics franchise. Is there a post-credits scene for The Batman? Well, it's not quite a full scene but there is a slight tease connected to The Riddler. Read More: The Batman ending explained: How does Robert Pattinson film end? Read More: Meet the cast of The Batman: Full list of DC Comics characters Read More: How to watch Batman movies in order and where to stream Read More: The Batman producer reveals there are “inevitably” ideas for sequels Read more: The Batman soundtrack - full list of music in DC Comics film The Batman is in cinemas now. Check out more of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage, or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
How to watch Batman movies in order and where to stream
Your essential guide to every iteration of the Bat.
Few superheroes can boast of having quite as many big-screen iterations as Batman, whose film career spans multiple decades and several different Hollywood stars. To get the most out of the Caped Crusader, here's exactly how to watch all the Batman movies in order. How to watch Batman movies in order of release date The following Batman films were released in release date order. Batman (1989) Batman Returns (1992) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) Batman Forever (1995) Batman & Robin (1997) Batman Begins (2005) The Dark Knight (2008) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Suicide Squad (2016) The Lego Batman Movie (2017) Justice League (2017) Joker (2019) Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) The Batman (2022) DC League of Super-Pets (2022) The Flash (2022) Batgirl (2022) We asked a panel of pop-culture enthusiasts the great geek question of our time: Marvel versus DC – who is the king of superhero cinema? Watch the full debate show to find out who came out on top. View Green Video on the source website The Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher Batman film Series Batman (1989) Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance. Technically, Batman's film career begins in the 1940s with two 15-part serial films, while 1966's Batman: The Movie is also fondly remembered by some who enjoyed the campy television series it span out from. However, for all intents and purposes, the Batman film franchise as we know it today began with 1989's Batman, with visionary director Tim Burton placing a distinctive gothic tone over the proceedings. The film starred Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as his arch-enemy the Joker, and while it isn't hugely faithful to the comic books, it has nevertheless remained a fan favourite. Rent or buy Batman (1989) from Amazon Batman Returns (1992) Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Murphy, Vincent Schiavelli. Tim Burton and Michael Keaton reunited for this sequel, which saw the introduction of Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, arguably the most famous depiction of the femme fatale in film history. Danny DeVito also stars as Oswald Cobblepot, better known by his criminal alter ego The Penguin, who must be stopped from hatching a sinister plan that puts thousands of lives at stake. Rent or buy Batman Returns from Amazon Batman Forever (1995) Starring: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle. Joel Schumacher took over for Tim Burton in this third outing, with Michael Keaton also jumping ship to be replaced by Val Kilmer. The result is a markedly different Batman film, with a zanier tone amplified by Jim Carrey's outlandish performance as The Riddler. Tommy Lee Jones also stars as Two-Face, while Chris O'Donnell joined the franchise as Dick Grayson (aka Robin), who would go on to share top billing in the next film. Rent or buy Batman Forever from Amazon Batman & Robin (1997) Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Elle Macpherson. And this is where the wheels came off the Batmobile. Joel Schumacher returned to helm Batman & Robin, which leaned a tad too heavily on building a children's cartoon version of Batman, complete with cheesy one-liners, absurd action and ridiculous villains. George Clooney inherited the mantle for this edition in a rare career misstep for the world-famous actor, while Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman disappoint as comic book icons Mr Freeze and Poison Ivy. No one would argue that it's a good film, but Batman & Robin might carry a certain charm for fans of so-bad-it's-good movies or those who remember it fondly from their childhood. Rent or buy Batman & Robin from Amazon The Dark Knight Trilogy Batman Begins (2005) Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, and Morgan Freeman. The rebirth starts here! Christopher Nolan scrapped the ailing continuity of Tim Burton's Batman universe for a completely new take, which prided itself on being grounded, dark and gritty. Christian Bale was cast as Bruce Wayne for this origin flick, which recounts his training under the League of Shadows and his first clash will Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow. Rent or buy Batman Begins from Amazon The Dark Knight (2008) Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman. Nolan took things to the next level with the middle chapter of his trilogy, reintroducing The Joker to a whole new generation with an electric performance from the late Heath Ledger. The film is widely heralded as one - if not the - greatest Batman movie of all time. Rent or buy The Dark Knight from Amazon The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Morgan Freeman. The Dark Knight trilogy concludes with this epic finale, which sees the caped crusader go up against a mysterious enemy known as Bane, a powerful figure who might just break the Bat for good. The film also adds new cast members Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate. Rent or buy The Dark Knight Rises from Amazon DC Extended Universe Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot. With Christopher Nolan keen to move onto other projects, the future of Batman was passed onto director Zack Snyder, as he was revealed to play a key role in his Man of Steel sequel. When news broke that Ben Affleck had been cast in the role, there was initially an unreasonable amount of outrage, but ironically his performance would go on to be well-liked by most die-hard DC fans. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a divisive film in the Batalogue, as it conjures up a somewhat convoluted way to make the two iconic superheroes fight. That said, many do enjoy its dark tone and epic action sequences, while the score from Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL is another winner. Rent or buy Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice from Amazon Suicide Squad (2016) Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne. While not strictly a Batman film, the Dark Knight does make a brief appearance in David Ayer's 2016 antihero flick, and so does two of his most dangerous enemies: Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and The Joker (Jared Leto). Suicide Squad saw a generally negative reception from critics, but did huge business at the global box office. Rent or buy Suicide Squad from Amazon Justice League (2017) and Justice League: The Snyder Cut (2021) Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, Amber Heard, with J. K. Simmons, and Ciarán Hinds. Ben Affleck returned to the role of Batman for this mega-budget crossover flick, which was sadly hit by behind-the-scenes trouble when director Zack Snyder had to step down due to a personal tragedy. Avengers helmer Joss Whedon took over the reins, which led to a film that felt disjointed and inconsistent for many, sparking an insatiable fan campaign for Snyder's original vision to be realised which was ultimately successful. Justice League sees Batman assemble a team comprised of Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg when an extraterrestrial threat emerges. Stream Justice League on Netflix Stream Justice League on Amazon How to watch Justice League: The Snyder Cut The Flash (2022) Starring: Ezra Miller, Ron Livingston, Michael Keaton, Kiersey Clemons, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Sasha Calle, and Ben Affleck. And here's where things get complicated. Up to this point, each new iteration of Batman has been neatly separated from the last, with no substantial overlap or cause for confusion. However, as announced at the recent DC FanDome event, the upcoming Flash movie starring Ezra Miller is set to change all that, with two Batmen announced for the cast. Ben Affleck will return one last time in a small role, but seemingly he'll be passing the baton backwards to Michael Keaton, who will be reprising his role from 1989's Batman. The exact circumstances of this return aren't yet known, but it's believed the film will draw inspiration from popular crossover event Flashpoint, which sees The Flash inadvertently create a wildly different present after travelling back in time. *The Flash is scheduled for release on 4th November 2022. Batgirl (2022) Starring: Leslie Grace, J. K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton, Ivory Aquino. Leslie Grace has been cast as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in this new DC Extended Universe instalment Batgirl arriving on HBO Max in 2022. J.K. Simmons will reprise his DCEU role of Commissioner James Gordon in the film, while Brendan Fraser shall portray the Gotham villain Firefly. Meanwhile, Ivory Aquino will feature as Alysia Yeoh, a bartender and Barbara Gordon's best friend. Finally, Michael Keaton will also reprise his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne after returning to the iconic role in The Flash. Will he be left as the central Batman of the DCEU following The Flash? Batgirl will be released on HBO Max in 2022. Matt Reeves' series The Batman (2022) Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffery Wright, Jeffery Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, with Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell. The latest Batman has strapped on his cape and cowl for this moody new trilogy, which unfolds outside of the mainline DC Extended Universe. Robert Pattinson has teamed up with Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves for the flick which was unveiled in an intense teaser trailer at DC FanDome, and is now available to watch in cinemas across the UK. The film already has two spin-off series on HBO Max lined up in the form of a series centred on Gotham City Police Department and another on The Penguin, played by Colin Farrell. There are also plans for sequels in this series with the stars signed on for multiple films. The Batman was released in cinemas across the UK on 4th March 2022. Other films Some Batman films aren't directly linked to any one film franchise and thus can be watched at any time. Batman: The Mask of the Phantasm (1993) Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda, Stacy Keach. As part of the DC Animated Universe and a theatrical film spin-off of the acclaimed series Batman: The Animated Series, The Mask of the Phantasm offers a new take on the Caped Crusaders' origins and also a love story. Just as Bruce Wayne's long-lost love Andrea Beaumont (voiced by Dana Delany) returns to Gotham, a vicious vigilante emerges in Gotham and begins killing gangsters in an apparent mission of revenge. Mark Hamill features as the voice of The Joker. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) Starring: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes. Off the back of his popular appearance in 2014's The LEGO Movie, Arrested Development's Will Arnett lent his trademark gravelly voice to this comedic spin on the Batman. The film's light-hearted story involves a classic clash between Batman and the Joker, who is hatching yet another dastardly scheme. The all-star voice cast includes Michael Cera as Robin, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon, and Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth. Rent or buy The LEGO Batman Movie from Amazon Joker (2019) Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy. Director Todd Phillips is behind this recent take on Batman's arch-nemesis The Joker, which sees Joaquin Phoenix take on the role of the iconic villain. An origin story set during Bruce Wayne's childhood years, don't expect any appearances from Batman himself, but do look out for the interesting way in which this film adapts the DC Comics mythos. Joker is available to purchase from Amazon Take a look at our When is Black Friday 2022 explainer, for the latest news and advice on when to start your shopping this year. Batman movies in order of Rotten Tomatoes score The following are the Batman movies as rated by their score on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The Dark Knight, which starred Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker, remains the most critically acclaimed film in the franchise. Meanwhile, Joel Schumacher's film Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell as the titular heroes, remains the most critically panned of the group. New addition The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, is currently sitting in fourth place. The Dark Knight (2008) - 94% The Lego Batman Movie (2017) - 90% The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 87% The Batman (2022) - 85% Batman Begins (2005) - 84% Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) - 84% Batman Returns (1992) - 80% Batman (1989) - 72% Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) - 71% Joker (2019) - 68% Justice League (2017) - 40% Batman Forever (1995) - 39% Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - 29% Suicide Squad (2016) - 26% Batman & Robin (1997) - 12% So, if you fancy watching from critically "worst" to "best" this is the way to go. Batman movies in order of IMDb score The following are the Batman movies as rated by their score on the audience-voted entertainment website IMDb. Once again, Christopher Nolan's second film in his Batman trilogy wins again - The Dark Knight,. However, Matt Reeves' most recent offering The Batman is nipping at its heels as one of the audiences' favourites. The Dark Knight (2008) - 9.1/10 The Batman (2022) - 8.7/10 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 8.4/10 Joker (2019) - 8.4/10 Batman Begins (2005) - 8.3/10 Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) - 8.1/10 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) - 7.8/10 Batman (1989) - 7.5/10 The Lego Batman Movie (2017) - 7.3/10 Batman Returns (1992) - 7.1/10 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - 6.5/10 Justice League (2017) - 6.1/10 Suicide Squad (2016) - 5.9/10 Batman Forever (1995) - 5.4/10 Batman & Robin (1997) - 3.7/10 Once again, Joel Schumacher's 1997 film Batman & Robin remains the least popular with fans and critics. Ice to see you! Read More: The Batman ending explained: How does Robert Pattinson film end? Read More: Meet the cast of The Batman: Full list of DC Comics characters Read More: The Batman producer reveals there are “inevitably” ideas for sequels Read More: Who is Barry Keoghan playing in The Batman? Spoilers within If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide.
The Batman director Matt Reeves plans for movie to launch Batverse
Bruce Wayne is set to return to the big screen next month with the release of new film The Batman – and director Matt Reeves has outlined his hopes for the movie to launch an all-new 'Batverse'. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reeves said he's spoken to Warner Bros about the possibility of crafting a series of movies based around the version of Gotham that appears in his film – but he insisted his own movie is very much standalone. "What I really wanted this movie to do is create a Batverse," he explained. "You don't do a story and go, 'This is Chapter 1' because you might not get to do Chapter 2. So, the story had to stand on its own. "But the thing about it is that the Bat world is so rich with character that as you're starting to come to an end, you can already start thinking about the next thing. Because the idea, of course, is that Gotham's story never ends." Asked more specifically about the possibility of a Catwoman spin-off series, Reeves replied: "You should really talk to the HBO Max reps! I mean, look, what we're really trying to do is to launch this world. If the world embraces this, we have a lot of ideas we want to do and sure we want Selina to continue. "Their relationship and what they are to each other is, to me, that's the heart of the movie is the push-pull between the two of them and the way that she's going to evolve and where all of that will go. So we're talking about a lot of things, but we're about to release this movie and it really comes down to how people receive it." The Caped Crusader has appeared in various iterations on the big screen in the last few decades – with everyone from Michael Keaton and George Clooney to Christian Bale and Ben Affleck playing the iconic character. In Reeves' film, it's Robert Pattinson's turn to star as The Dark Knight, and he's joined by a mightily impressive supporting cast that includes Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Jeffery Wright as Lieutenant James Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot. Read more: Ryan Reynolds 'promises' Deadpool isn't in Doctor Strange 2 Jordan Peele's Nope trailer teases mysterious horror starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer Has Tom Cruise really been spotted in the Doctor Strange 2 trailer? The Batman is scheduled for release on 4th March 2022. While you're waiting, check out more of our Sci-Fi and Fantasy coverage, or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Speculation that Robert Pattinson's Batman would receive an R rating can finally be put to rest.
Matt Reeves's vision of The Batman will be landing on our screens in March this year after a tumultuous production marked by delays in the midst of the pandemic. Despite the challenges of filming, some intriguing first-look images and strong trailers, including the most recent one released in December, have generated plenty of excitement for the latest movie featuring DC's brooding Caped Crusader, played by The Lighthouse's Robert Pattinson this time around. Though there had been rumours that Reeves's take would receive an R rating, fuelled by the violent scenes we saw in The Batman trailer, FilmRatings.com has confirmed that it will be a PG-13, just like Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher and Christopher Nolan's big-screen takes on the character. The website cites "strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material" for the rating, so we can still expect The Batman to pack a punch. The movie hasn't yet been rated for the UK by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), but a PG-13 rating usually translates into a 12A or 15 certificate. The Batman is confirmed to feature a hefty amount of classic villains, including Paul Dano as serial killer The Riddler, Zoe Kravitz as the hero's sometimes foe, sometimes friend and sometimes lover Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, gangster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and the future Penguin himself, Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell). There are also rumours that Eternals star Barry Keoghan could be playing the Joker. Keoghan is set to play GCPD officer Stanley Merkel in The Batman, but plenty of fans have wondered whether he'll somehow turn out to be the Clown Prince of Crime himself. We'll likely have to wait until March to find out for certain. The Batman is scheduled for release on 4th March 2022. While you’re waiting, check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage, or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
Robert Pattinson has plans for 2 more Batman movies
The former Twilight star makes his debut as the Caped Crusader next year.
Robert Pattinson is keen to explore his Batman across a full trilogy of films, the actor has revealed in a new interview about his hotly anticipated DC Comics blockbuster. While he rose to international stardom through the divisive Twilight film series, Pattinson has since earned acclaim for his work in projects such as Christopher Nolan's Tenet and Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse. This gave way to a generally positive fan reaction when he was named the next Bruce Wayne, with Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves taking creative lead on the striking new reboot. The Batman swoops into cinemas next March, but Pattinson is already talking about future outings for his Caped Crusader, telling Empire Magazine that he has a three-movie arc laid out in his mind. “I’ve made a kind of map for where Bruce’s psychology would grow over two more movies,” he explained. “I would love to do it.” That will be reassuring to the executives at Warner Bros, who are betting heavily on the success of The Batman with two HBO Max spin-off shows in development – one following the GCPD and another reportedly involving Colin Farrell's Penguin. “As the first standalone Batman in ten years, the hope is we can lay a foundation that you can build stories upon,” said producer Dylan Clark. Reeves seems less focused on the franchise at large and more intent on delivering a strong opening salvo, explaining that he's taking The Batman "even more" seriously than his preceding films. “When you know something has been done well before, and is so beloved, you can’t just come in and sleepwalk through it," he added. "You have to shoot for something. We’re trying to leave our mark on this." The Batman is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on Friday 4th March 2022. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.
How to watch Justice League: The Snyder Cut – epic blockbuster headed to Blu-ray and DVD
The much-discussed Snyder Cut is being made available to own shortly after making its streaming debut.
Zack Snyder's Justice League finally became available via on-demand platforms last month and soon it will be making a splash once more as it gets a flashy release on physical media. Warner Bros has confirmed that the four-hour epic will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD in May, along with a limited edition steelbook for die-hard fans. The re-edited superhero blockbuster is the result of a tireless campaign to bring Snyder's untempered vision of the DC Comics pantheon to screens. While critics were divided on the end result, it proved to be everything that fans had hoped for with many now demanding that Warner Bros "restore the Snyderverse". Here's everything you need to know about Zack Snyder's Justice League (aka The Snyder Cut), including how you can watch it right now and its release date on DVD and Blu-ray. When is Zack Snyder’s Justice League cut released? Zack Snyder's Justice League was released in most countries on Thursday 18th March 2021, arriving on HBO Max in the US and alternative on-demand services in other territories. How to watch The Snyder Cut of Justice League Zack Snyder’s Justice League (as opposed to the version reshot and released by Joss Whedon) is an exclusive title for HBO Max, the new streaming service set up by Warner Brothers and HBO that launched in the US last year. In other words, US fans will need to subscribe to HBO Max to watch the Snyder cut of Justice League, but movie buffs living elsewhere will have more viewing options at their disposal. In the UK, Zack Snyder's Justice League is currently available to stream via NOW TV's Sky Cinema Pass (charged at £11.99 per month). Those not subscribed to the service can hold out for the film to be released on other platforms as a digital download on Wednesday 19th April or wait for the DVD, Blu-ray and 4K release on Monday 24th May. Zack Snyder's Justice League is available to pre-order on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K on Amazon. Can I watch the Snyder Cut in the UK? UK fans can watch Zack Snyder's Justice League on Sky Cinema and NOW TV as of Thursday 18th March. The film will be available on other platforms as a digital download on Wednesday 19th April and released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K from Monday 24th May. How to watch Zach Snyder's Justice League: Justice is Gray A black and white version of the Snyder Cut titled Zach Snyder's Justice League: Justice is Gray is now available to stream in the US on HBO Max. View oEmbed on the source website No details have been released on an international release for this black and white cut – RadioTimes.com has reached out to Sky to confirm if this version will be available in the UK. What is the Snyder Cut of Justice League? We’ve written about the Snyder Cut before, but essentially the story is this – director Zack Snyder was forced to leave Justice League during filming due to personal tragedy, with Warner Bros. hiring Joss Whedon to finish the film and make significant changes. Whedon completed the film ahead of its release in November 2017, at which point the finished movie underperformed critically and commercially. Soon, a movement sprang up from fans who wanted to see the ‘real’ Justice League which they believed was ready to go, hidden somewhere in Zack Snyder’s possession. Read more: What if the real Snyder cut was the friends we made along the way As time went on, the calls for Warner Bros to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut only grew louder. Fans hired a plane to fly a banner with the hashtag over San Diego Comic-Con, while the film’s cast noted their hopes it could be released as well, tweeting their support for the movement on the two-year anniversary of Justice League’s release. Snyder had long teased the Snyder Cut on social media and now the reason behind that is clear – for a while, Warner Bros had been planning to make fans’ dreams a reality. “I can’t really tell you anything aside from the fact that all I know is that HBO Max will be releasing it, I believe, and it’ll be Zack’s final vision for the movie, and I don’t know anything more than that," Cavill said. “With Justice League when it came, there was a mix of visions and the movie wasn’t well received,” he continued “And then over the subsequent years, there was a big push to see the fabled Snyder Cut. And now that time has come, and I think it’s going to be very enjoyable to watch Zack finally release his version.” What are the Snyder Cut differences? "It will be an entirely new thing, and, especially talking to those who have seen the released movie, a new experience apart from that movie," Snyder told the Hollywood Reporter. "You probably saw one-fourth of what I did." Later, Snyder released an image on social media confirming that fan-favourite villain (and planned Big Bad for the Justice League) Darkseid would appear in his version of the film, suggesting that we could expect some new flashbacks or battles in the finished version. View oEmbed on the source website At the DC FanDome Panel, Zack Snyder teased his cut of the Justice League, telling fans that he was excited to develop Cyborg's character, played by Ray Fisher, more in this version. "Cyborg is the heart of the movie, Cyborg is the thing that I think in the end holds the team together in a lot of ways, and I'm excited for fans to see just how that is realised on camera," he said. It will likely be the last DC film Fisher appears in for some time, with the actor having announced that he will not work with DC Entertainment President Walter Hamada again. Meanwhile, Snyder also said that fans will get to see a bit more of The Flash's emotional arc in his cut and his powers, adding: "You're going to see something of Flash in this film that I don't think you've ever seen before, something that has to do with his abilities which you know he's a quantum character and he interacts with time and space." In January 2021, images were revealed which teased redesigned looks for Steppenwolf and Darkseid played by Ciaran Hinds and Ray Porter respectively, while later that month Harry Lennix confirmed that he would be playing Martian Manhunter in the film. Then in February fans were treated to a look at Knightmare Batman, with a still that came from 2020 reshoots, while later social media was abuzz with a first-look image of Jared Leto's cameo as the joker in the film. View oEmbed on the source website Also in February, Snyder revealed what he had hoped to eventually achieve with his DC films, telling Vanity Fair, "I’d always wanted to explore the death of Robin. And if there ever was going to be a next movie, which, of course, there probably won’t be, I wanted to do a thing wherein flashbacks we learn how Robin died, how Joker killed him and burned down Wayne Manor, and that whole thing that happened between he and Bruce.” Although, according to producer Deborah Snyder, the recut version of Justice League consists largely of what was already shot prior to Zack's departure from the original film, telling LightCast Podcast that they "literally shot one [new] scene". Read our guide to all the Justice League changes made by the Snyder Cut. Zack Snyder's Justice League reviews Many of us had been waiting for the Snyder Cut reviews with a mixture of curiosity and dread, with the early consensus proving to be predictably polarised. Robbie Collin gave the film a glowing five-star review for The Telegraph, hailing its improvements on the theatrical cut and describing its action sequences as "thunderously spectacular". On the other hand, The Hollywood Reporter's John DeFore offered a rather scathing verdict, condemning Zack Snyder's Justice League as an "unimproved" version of the film and "nearly unendurable" to watch in a single sitting. In RadioTimes.com's own Justice League: The Snyder Cut review, we gave the film two stars, noting that while an improvement on the Whedon version, it was still overlong, overstuffed and ultimately "a chaotic experience". Review aggregate site Metacritic currently states that the film has "mixed" reviews, but notably its overall score has hovered roughly 10 points higher than that of Joss Whedon's theatrical cut. The prognosis is better on Rotten Tomatoes, which argues that around three-quarters of the reviews for Zack Snyder's Justice League have been positive thus far, but this figure is subject to change once all critics get their hands on it later this week. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Is there a trailer for The Snyder Cut? Yes, there have been a few Snyder Cut trailers, with the latest arriving on 14th March 2021 – and it's fair to say that it isn't holding back on the indulgence. Check it out below: View oEmbed on the source website Warner Bros unveiled another trailer in February, appropriately uploaded on Valentine's Day as many fans certainly loved it, which showed a return to the moody tone of Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. View oEmbed on the source website Previously, HBO Max released this (very) brief sneak peek at the new movie in June 2020, which gives a taste of what the tone will be and how the project picks up where Batman v Superman left off. The teaser begins with the voice of Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor as he maniacally claims that "the bell's already been rung," referring to how Superman's death has left Earth vulnerable to extraterrestrial threats. We see some new footage of Gal Gadot's Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman), examining an ancient tomb that has an inscription which seems to foretell the coming of Darkseid. Then, we get a short glimpse at the big bad himself, surrounded by spaceships and fire, but its unclear whether this is his home planet Apokolips (yes, that is how it's spelt) or an attack somewhere on Earth (some have speculated the Amazonian territory of Themyscira). View oEmbed on the source website Zack Snyder’s Justice League cut is out now Sky Cinema and NOW TV. Read our guide to a possible Justice League sequel, or check out our Sci-Fi hub for all the latest news. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV guide.
The Batman resumes filming after second COVID-19 shutdown
Warner Bros Pictures confirmed the movie was filming after the fortnight closure.
Robert Pattinson's superhero debut in The Batman is back on track after production was suspended two weeks ago when a member of the team, believed to be the star, tested positive for COVID-19. A Warner Bros Pictures spokesperson confirmed the news to Variety: “Following a hiatus for COVID-19 quarantine precautions, filming has now resumed on The Batman in the UK.” Although it was never confirmed by either Warner Bros or his representatives, it's believed that Pattinson tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the temporary shutdown. Filming at Warner Bros studio at Leavesden, Hertfordshire, shut down on 3rd September while Pattinson recuperated and obviously quarantined. The Batman director Matt Reeves said that the blockbuster was about one-quarter filmed when the coronavirus pandemic began shutting down the industry worldwide in March. Reeves revealed to the New York Times in April that the crew had already been affected by COVID-19: “The whole thing is quite surreal. As much as we wanted to proceed, we wanted to make sure we were safe. We didn’t want anyone on our crew to get sick. But there was a crew member who actually got it, an incredible dialect coach named Andrew Jack, and he passed away. We were all in utter shock and heartbroken. It’s been weeks since we shut down, so I don’t think it was passed among the crew.” The Batman co-stars Paul Dano as the Riddler, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin. Andy Serkis plays Batman/Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred, while Peter Sarsgaard, John Turturro, and Jeffrey Wright are also key figures in the DC Comics film. The Batman is scheduled for release in October 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV guide.
Christian Bale voted the best Batman ever by fans
The British actor beat out the likes of Michael Keaton, Adam West and Ben Affleck to win the title of our favourite Caped Crusader.
With Robert Pattinson currently in the (delayed) process of bringing a new Batman to the screen in The Batman, fans are desperate to see how he’ll bring Bruce Wayne to life – but when he does finally arrive in cinemas, he’ll have a job to supplant previous actors who’ve played the role, with one ex-Caped Crusader in particular leaving pretty big Bat-boots to fill. You see, despite leaving the role behind in 2012, it’s been revealed that Christian Bale is still the UK’s favourite Batman, with RadioTimes.com readers voting in their thousands to name the British star the number one Dark Knight in a new poll that featured the most notable actors to play the role. “The Dark Knight rises! After starring in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed bat-trilogy and reinventing the character for a new generation, it’s no surprise that Christian Bale is still fans’ favourite version of the Caped Crusader eight years after he left the role,” RadioTimes.com Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor Huw Fullerton said of the result. View Riddle on the source website “He might not have shark-repellant bat-spray or a loyal boy sidekick, but after capturing over 40 per cent of the vote it’s clear to see that this particular Batman’s popularity is still not on the (Bruce) wane.” First appearing as the iconic superhero in 2005’s Batman Begins, Bale’s turn as Batman/Bruce Wayne was a key part of director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, with the actor winning plaudits for his performance across sequels The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises before departing the role in 2012. But eight years on, he’s still the Batman to beat. Scoring 42 per cent of the total vote in our poll Bale was far ahead of his nearest competitors, with 1960s Batman Adam West coming in second with 14 per cent, quickly followed by Michael Keaton’s version of the character with 13 per cent of the vote. They in turn were followed by Ben Affleck’s most recent version of Batman and animated voice actors Kevin Conroy and Will Arnett, with Val Kilmer and George Clooney trailing at the bottom of the leaderboard. In other words, new Batman Robert Pattinson has a challenge ahead to put his stamp on the role when Bale is clearly still fondly remembered by so many. How to do it? This sounds like a job for the World’s Greatest Detective… The Batman is released in October 2021. Want something to watch today? Check out our full TV Guide.
The Batman is shut down again after Robert Pattinson tests positive for COVID-19
The DC Comics movie had only restarted filming again this week.
The Batman has been hit by another COVID-19 production shutdown just days after filming restarted and it's been reported that star Robert Pattinson has tested positive at the Warner Bros studio at Leavesden in Hertfordshire. “A member of The Batman production has tested positive for COVID-19, and is isolating in accordance with established protocols," Warner Bros said in a statement. "Filming is temporarily paused.” Vanity Fair has reported that Pattinson tested positive for the coronavirus. His representative hasn't yet responded to requests for an update about his condition. WarnerMedia Studios & Networks chief Ann Sarnoff was bullish about the shutdown. “We’re still in the middle of investigating what is the situation. We’re pausing temporarily for now until we have more information, but we have all the protocols set up to do contact tracing and hopefully get back up into production very soon,” she told Deadline. Filming on the Robert Pattinson-starring movie originally closed down in early March with 25 per cent of the film shot. Pattinson revealed that he had been sitting out the lockdown with his girlfriend at an apartment in London, while The Batman crew had been constructing sets during August. Producers of The Batman were anxious about further outbreaks undermining the production schedule, but they must be alarmed that one occurred so soon after the resumption. The Batman marks Pattinson’s entry into the DC Comics universe and he’s co-starring with Paul Dano as The Riddler, Andy Serkis as buttler Alfred Pennyworth, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon and John Turturro as Carmine Falcone. According to EW, director Matt Reeves gave more details about Pattinson's take on the superhero at the recent DC FanDome event: "It’s about the early days of him being Batman and he’s very far from being perfect." He described Bruce Wayne's development as Batman as "a criminological experiment" and trying to change the city's dark side. "That's when the murders start to happen... and it opens up a whole new world of corruption," he said. "Without being an origin tale, it ends up touching on his origins. It's a detective story, a mystery... it's got, of course, action, and it's incredibly personal for him. He's kind of a growing legend and [criminals] are afraid of him. He's not a symbol of hope yet. One of the things he has to deal with is how he's perceived... What was exciting for me was not doing the origin [story] but to meet him in the middle and to see him make mistakes and grow and fail and be heroic in a way that felt very human and very flawed." The Batman has been rescheduled for release in October, 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV guide.
Christopher Nolan reveals he was "thrilled" about Robert Pattinson Batman casting
The director worked with Pattinson on action blockbuster Tenet.
Tenet director Christopher Nolan has shared his thoughts about Robert Pattinson's Batman casting, saying that he was "thrilled" about the star landing the role. Nolan, who famously directed the Dark Knight trilogy starring Christian Bale as the caped crusader, worked alongside Pattinson on Tenet. And although he says he stopped short of offering the former Twilight star advice, he said that the pair did discuss the challenges that would come with the role towards the end of production on the action blockbuster. "He certainly did not ask me for any advice," the director said. "We kept a respectful silence around the issue 'til very near the end of the shoot. "We said a couple of things and made a couple of jokes. We did have a little bit of a conversation about the various aspects of what he was going to be putting himself through. "But I was thrilled that he was cast. I think that he'll do an amazing job and I'm really excited to see what he does with that character." Production on Matt Reeves' The Batman is set to recommence in September after having been shut down in March as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. According to reports in Deadline, a quarter of the film has already been shot, with the movie now scheduled for release in October 2021. The film marks Pattinson’s first foray into superhero territory, and he’s joined by an impressive supporting cast that includes Paul Dano as The Riddler, Andy Serkis as butler Alfred Pennyworth, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner James Gordon and John Turturro as Carmine Falcone. Meanwhile Nolan’s Tenet has earned more than $53 million (£40 million) in its first weekend of limited release globally, before the mind-bending espionage thriller has even been released in the United States. Tenet is in UK cinemas now, and will be released in US cinemas from September 3. Find out what to watch with our TV Guide.
From Adam West and Kevin Conroy through to Will Arnett and Ben Affleck, plenty of different actors have donned the cape and cowl – but which is your favourite?
As more and more details emerge about Robert Pattinson’s new take on The Batman, excitement is high. Will he bring an exciting edge to the Dark Knight, or be a bigger flop than his Bruce Wayne fringe? And how will he compare to the pantheon of previous actors to play the role, aka the Batmen? For now, we’ll have to wait and see as the film is some time from release – but the questions got us thinking. Just who is the best Batman, and what makes a truly great incarnation of the character? Is it the campy fun of an Adam West, the tortured acting power of a Christian Bale or something in between? View Riddle on the source website To find out, we need your help. We’ve assembled a poll of the most notable Batman actors (with apologies to Lewis G Wilson, Robert Lowery and the as-yet-unseen Pattinson), and will be collecting votes to determine which actor is the greatest version of the Caped Crusader. Vote now – or, if you want a quick reminder of each actor in action, scroll down to our recap below. Adam West While he wasn’t the first screen Batman, West’s campy and comedic take on the Dark Knight defined the character for a generation, shark-repellent-Bat-Spray and all. Logging more hours as Bruce Wayne than almost any other actor, West’s version still divides fans, but with a TV series, the 1966 movie and even more modern animated adventures, it’s impossible to deny his impact. Michael Keaton Tim Burton’s Gothic-styled Batman movies were among the first successful superhero movies, and a lot of credit for that has to go to Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight. At the time it was a controversial casting – 50,000 letters of complaint were sent to Warner Bros after he was hired – but today, he’s regarded as one of the greatest versions of the caped crusader. No wonder he may be returning to the role… Val Kilmer Kilmer is one of the shorter-lived Batmen, only starring in one film (1995’s Batman Forever) and leaving under something of a cloud due to some behind-the-scenes tensions. But while many thought he wasn’t a patch on Keaton, Batman co-creator Bill Finger was a fan, and for an entire generation of '90s kids Kilmer was Batman. George Clooney OK, look – Batman & Robin is a bit of a low point for the franchise, stuffed with nippled Bat-suits, bizarre creative choices and far too many villains, and it’s safe to say that George Clooney’s Batman isn’t on many people’s best-of lists. But he’s certainly one of the lighter, more suave takes on Bruce Wayne…and he, er, always keeps his Bat-credit card to hand. Who doesn’t love a hero who’s prepared? Christian Bale The first actor to play Batman and Bruce Wayne for more than two movies, Christian Bale teamed up with director Christopher Nolan to create an unassailably great trilogy of superhero movies from Batman Begins through The Dark Knight to The Dark Knight Rises. As with the earlier Burton films, a lot of credit for that success has to go to Bale’s for his restrained performance – even if we’re still not sure about his “Batman voice”. Ben Affleck The so-called “Batfleck” was another unpopular casting decision – these seem almost traditional with Batman – but when Affleck made his debut in 2016’s Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, fans were impressed with his muscular, brutal version of the character. Sadly, they didn’t have long with him, Affleck only reprising the role for 2017’s Justice League (and a cameo in Suicide Squad) before departing the role. Or so we thought… because while Robert Pattinson is taking over the top job, rumour has it that Affleck might make one more appearance in the upcoming Flash movie, along with Keaton. And who knows? If two Batmen aren’t enough, maybe one or two other Dark Knights from this list could be making similarly surprising comebacks. Will Arnett He may not be a live-action Batman, but Will Arnett’s LEGO version of the character was a hit with fans and scored him his own spin-off from the LEGO movie – not bad for someone less than an inch tall. Really leaning into the comedy of the character and lore, Arnett’s tortured Bruce Wayne was more often the butt of the joke, but still brought some poignancy to the lonely figure. And has any other Batman released such great original music? We think not. Kevin Conroy How could we compile this list without including Kevin Conroy? The actor and voice artist’s vocal stylings as Batman (which began in acclaimed cartoon Batman: The Animated Series) have seen him dubbed the best Batman by many fans, and he’s certainly the longest serving at time of writing, continuing to play the character from the early 1990s through to the present day and even popping up in live-action to play an older version of the character in The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. That’s our shortlist of Batmen – but which is your favourite? Scroll up now and vote, or forever hold your peace… The Batman will be released in October 2021. If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV Guide.
Justice League's behind-the-scenes drama explained: From Zack Snyder's departure to Joss Whedon accusations
Get the complete story on this troubled blockbuster.
You may have thought that the official announcement of Justice League's long-fabled Snyder Cut would effectively put an end to any controversy surrounding the film - but you were wrong. While director Zack Snyder is officially returning to complete his vision for DC's iconic heroes, this strange Hollywood story continues to develop in unexpected ways. The ill-fated 2017 Justice League movie made headlines once again at the beginning of July, as star Ray Fisher made serious accusations about the behaviour of stand-in director Joss Whedon during filming - and in August 2020, Fisher revealed that the circumstances of the film's production were being formally investigated. This saga has become quite the epic, so in the immortal words of Aquaman star Julie Andrews: "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start." Here's your full timeline of every shocking Justice League story (so far): 22nd May 2017: Zack Snyder steps down from Justice League and Joss Whedon takes over In late May 2017, news broke that director Zack Snyder would be leaving his role on Justice League to mourn the passing of his daughter, who had taken her own life two months prior. Joss Whedon (The Avengers) was announced to be stepping in to finish the movie, but initial reports suggested his involvement would not drastically alter the finished product. As Variety reported at the time, his influence was said to extend across only "a handful of reshoots that had already been scheduled prior to Snyder’s daughter’s death" and the post-production process. 26th May 2017: Joss Whedon was "already working" on Justice League before taking over A few days later, at an event celebrating the launch of Gal Gadot's solo Wonder Woman film, producer Charles Roven revealed that Whedon had already been working on Justice League reshoots before formally stepping in as director. Roven told Variety: "We were saddened by the events that caused Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder to have to leave and turn the reins over to Joss Whedon. "He was already working with us on some of the scenes for the additional photography that we’re gonna be doing shortly, and it was fortunate that Zack convinced him, and he agreed to step in and finish the movie, help Zack finish his vision, and we’re excited about that." View oEmbed on the source website 14th June 2017: Junkie XL dropped as Justice League composer One of the first major red flags for Zack Snyder purists came in June, when composer Junkie XL (Deadpool) was dropped from Justice League and replaced by Danny Elfman (Batman Returns). The decision proved controversial as fans had enjoyed Junkie XL's work alongside Hans Zimmer on the Batman v Superman score, including the distinctive theme music they had created for Wonder Woman. Junkie XL said via Twitter: "As my mentor Hans Zimmer told me: you haven't made it in Hollywood as a composer until you get replaced on a project. So I guess I finally graduated this week. "It pains me to leave the project, but a big thanks to Zack for asking me to be part of his vision, and I wish Danny, Joss, and Warner Bros. all the best with Justice League." View oEmbed on the source website 18th July 2017: Zack Snyder removes Justice League imagery from his social media Unease among Zack Snyder fans only grew later that summer, when the director removed all promotional imagery for the Justice League movie from his Twitter account. As he was still said to be billed as director on the project, some commentators speculated that he was unhappy with its new direction, but his exact motives were never confirmed. 24th July 2017: Variety reveals "extensive" reshoots and moustache-gate An investigation by Variety revealed the extent of Joss Whedon's work on Justice League, contradicting initial reports that he would be making minimal tweaks to Snyder's vision for the project. The publication explained that while reshoots on big blockbuster movies are common practice, they usually only take one or two weeks and cost less than $10 million. By contrast, insiders leaked that Justice League reshoots had been ongoing for two months and skyrocketed to an estimated cost of $25 million. The amount of time being poured into these last-minute changes had caused scheduling conflicts with some members of the cast, most notably Superman actor Henry Cavill. He had to take a break from filming Mission: Impossible - Fallout to return for the reshoots, but was contractually obligated to keep the moustache he had grown for his upcoming spy flick. In an odd turn of events dubbed as "moustache-gate", the facial hair was digitally removed from Cavill's face in Justice League's post-production, although most fans and critics found the effect distractingly obvious. Questions also began to be asked over whether Whedon would be listed as co-director on the film or if Snyder would retain the sole credit, which ultimately he did. 29th August 2017: Joss Whedon gets screenwriting credit In late August, it was officially confirmed that Whedon would be credited as a writer on Justice League, which is significant as it indicates he had penned more than 33 per cent of the film (according to Writers Guild of America guidelines). Snyder and his co-writer Chris Terrio were also given writing credits, implying that their input was still present to some extent in the theatrical cut of the movie. 17th November 2017: Justice League released to poor reviews Despite behind-the-scenes turmoil, Justice League did meet its originally scheduled release date of 17th November 2017, but the critical response was weak to put it kindly. While there was some praise for Gadot's performance and a few of the action sequences, most critics complained that the CGI was poor, the jokes felt forced and the film felt creatively disjointed. This tepid reaction was mirrored in Justice League's box office takings, earning $650 million worldwide, which was well below expectations and barely enough to cover the film's inflated budget. 19th November 2017: #ReleaseTheSnyderCut is born After years of anticipation, many DC fans were understandably miffed that the epic crossover they were promised had turned out to be a dud, positing much of the blame on Joss Whedon's involvement. They began demanding that Zack Snyder's original version of the film be released, said to be a more direct and faithful follow-up to his work on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This movement soon became known as #ReleaseTheSnyderCut, spawning numerous petitions and dominating many Twitter threads with calls for the unreleased edit. The community of fans courted some controversy over the next two years, launching what Vanity Fair describes as "harassment campaigns" and occasionally outright abuse on certain media figures. Regardless, it had undeniable momentum and succeeded in getting the attention of Justice League's stars, including Snyder himself... 17th November 2019: Justice League cast unites in support of Snyder Cut campaign On the two-year anniversary of Justice League's release, supporters of #ReleaseTheSnyderCut scheduled another big push to get the film back on the agenda. What made this particular instance noticeable was that Zack Snyder, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher all got in on the action, igniting fresh hope that Snyder's original vision could finally see release. 20th May 2020: Zack Snyder's Justice League announced for HBO Max Some months later, the fateful day arrived: Zack Snyder's Justice League was officially announced for release on US streaming service HBO Max in 2021. The ambitious project is said to be a $20-30 million investment for Warner Bros and promises to be wildly different to the theatrical cut of the movie. 1st July 2020: Ray Fisher accuses Joss Whedon of "abusive" behaviour on set The most recent development in this Hollywood saga came in July, when Justice League star Ray Fisher accused Joss Whedon of "gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable" behaviour on set. View oEmbed on the source website The actor, who plays Cyborg in the DC Comics crossover, had praised Whedon prior to the film's release, but took to Twitter in late June to "forcefully retract" those earlier comments. View oEmbed on the source website Justice League producer Berg told Variety that it is "categorically untrue that we enabled any unprofessional behaviour" on the set of Justice League, while both Whedon and Warner Bros are yet to publicly respond to Fisher's claims. It is unclear what exactly happened during filming to provoke such a firm backlash, but it seems Fisher wasn't the only one who had a bad time making the film. Back in March, Ben Affleck described Justice League as having "one problem after another" and said that he lost his passion for the Batman role after his experience working on the movie. 20th August 2020: Justice League investigation launched by WarnerMedia Ray Fisher recently revealed that the circumstances of the film's production were now being formally investigated - adding that the working environment had been "toxic and abusive". View oEmbed on the source website Fisher wrote: "After 5 weeks of interviews with various cast/crew, @WarnerMedia has officially launched an independent third-party investigation to get to the heart of the toxic and abusive work environment created during Justice League reshoots.This is a MASSIVE step forward. "I believe this investigation will show that Geoff Johns, Joss Whedon, Jon Berg (and others) grossly abused their power during the uncertainty of AT&T's merger with Time Warner. "Thank you @WarnerMedia and @ATT for making strides to ensure a safer workplace for all!" Zack Snyder's Justice League has no specific release date just yet beyond sometime in 2021, so there could well be more dramatic developments in store before the mythical cut becomes available... If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV Guide.
Yes, that is Colin Farrell in The Batman trailer
Some fans can’t believe that it’s the Irish actor under layers of prosthetics.
The first-look trailer for Caped Crusader reboot The Batman has the internet abuzz, with fans around the world debating Robert Pattinson’s new take on Bruce Wayne, the darker tone of the movie as well as exactly what Paul Dano’s duct-taped Riddler is up to. But above it all, people had one question in particular nagging at them…wait, was that REALLY Colin Farrell? View oEmbed on the source website For a long time, fans have been keen to see how the Irish actor would transform himself into iconic Batman foe The Penguin, a villain whose squat, long-nosed usual appearance appeared to be far away from Farrell’s usual look – and the new trailer appears to finally show the truth, featuring a character who certainly seems to be the Penguin slightly before his top-hatted, exploding bird-robot days. View oEmbed on the source website Still, some fans had their doubts. Was this genuinely Colin Farrell as the Penguin under heavy make-up and prosthetics, or was it a different actor, possibly playing an entirely different character? Considering how different he looked to Farrell and how big the film’s cast is, it certainly seemed possible. Look, it was unlikely, but people were wondering – so for the avoidance of any doubt, we took a quick look round the internet, and the fact that this character is both the Penguin and a prosthetically-enhanced Farrell appears to have now been confirmed thanks to prosthetic artist Mike Marino. View oEmbed on the source website Marino, who worked on the makeup team for the film, shared images of his work on Instagram, naming Farrell as the man behind the jowls and putting any doubts to bed permanently. THIS is our Penguin – and it’s definitely an impressive piece of work, even if it does deprive the world of the Hot Penguin / Sexy Oswald Cobblepot that fans had hoped could truly challenge and evolve the medium of superhero cinema. View oEmbed on the source website Alas, we will have to wait another day for a heartthrob Penguin – but at least we now know exactly what R-Battz will be facing when he dons the cape and cowl to save Gotham in 2021. And that is… well, Twitter said it better. View oEmbed on the source website The Batman is released in 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.
The Batman trailer fascinates fans with "unrecognisable" Colin Farrell as The Penguin
One of the key talking points of the first trailer is the Irish star's make-up.
DC Comics fans were excited by the appearance of the first trailer for The Batman starring Robert Pattinson but much fascination was reserved for the appearance of Colin Farrell, as arch-villain The Penguin. The handsome 44-year-old Irish actor was difficult to recognise, to say the least, in his momentary appearance and fans went into overdrive on social media. "I had to search the eyes to confirm this is, in fact, my man Colin Farrell," wrote one superfan on Twitter. View oEmbed on the source website "Completely unrecognisable" was the overwhelming response from fans. View oEmbed on the source website Many wondered why The Batman producers didn't just hire Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Kind to play the role. View oEmbed on the source website Farrell for his part has talked about how "ecstatic" he was to become part of the DC Comics world, playing Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin. He told SFX magazine: "The whole prospect is really exciting. I'm ecstatic to be part of that universe. There are certain words that are part of my internal lexicon and those words are Gotham City, Penguin, Joker, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent... all of those things." The Dublin-born actor added: "I have been watching the Batman films with my kids, but this script is something that feels incredibly original. "It leans into it but it doesn't borrow; it's born of the mythology of that character, Bruce Wayne, Batman and Gotham. But it feels like a treatment and a version that I hadn't seen before. Matt Reeves has done an incredible job of keeping it familiar and at the same time unique and new. It's really exciting to be a part of it." View oEmbed on the source website Farrell talked of the impact Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992) had on him when he was a teen, especially Danny DeVito's "devious" Penguin. It's hard to see Farrell playing the role with the same degree of humour. While many fans were fascinated with Robert Pattinson's first appearance as Batman, and Farrell, a smaller group were going buzzing about the appearance of former EastEnders villain Alex Ferns (Trevor Morgan) as Commissioner Pete Savage. View oEmbed on the source website Ferns is fresh from his BAFTA Scotland TV Award for Best Actor for his role in HBO/Sky thriller series, Chernobyl. View oEmbed on the source website The Batman will resume production at Warner Bros Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire in early September, with the film scheduled for release in October 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV guide.
Zack Snyder's Justice League gets first trailer as director confirms four specials
The wait is over: Zack Synder's Justice League finally has a first trailer. Fans have been campaigning for years to see the director have his chance to finish the film he started back in 2014. And finally, Snyder took to the DC FanDome to reveal his creation - and confirm that it will be an epic four-hour series airing on HBO Max in 2021. The Synder Cut trailer, set to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, follows individual members of the Justice League - that's Batman (played by Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) - before they come together. Snyder used his panel at the DC FanDome to address how his cut would be different to Joss Whedon's, which was criticised for being too comedic and had many parts missing. The director confirmed we will see more Cyborg, who was notably quite absent in the original Justice League, with Snyder claiming he will be the "heart of the movie". It also looks like we're going to see a different side to The Flash, as Snyder told the panel: "I have a huge love for The Flash. You're going to see a little bit more of his emotional arc, and I hope fans enjoy seeing that." And to prove that's the case, we get a glimpse of The Flash's love interest, Iris West. View oEmbed on the source website He also hinted at some new powers for our beloved hero, teasing: "You know... he's a quantum character. He interacts with time and space. So you might see him do something... I don't know." The Justice League was released by Warner Bros. in 2017 and it wasn't without its difficulties. Snyder stepped down from production following the death of his daughter and he was replaced by Whedon, who finished the film. Whedon implemented many reshoots and brought more humour and lightness to the film, all at a run time of 120 minutes. The film didn't perform well at the box office and after release, fans started campaigning for Snyder to release his own director's cut, which would align more with his original vision of the film. Zack Snyder's Justice League is expected to be released on HBO Max in 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.
The Batman trailer gives first-look at Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in Easter egg-filled clip
It was a good night for DC FanDome viewers who got a pretty big glimpse at Robert Pattinson in The Batman. Director Matt Reeves may have only filmed 25 per cent of the highly-anticipated movie, but he managed to bring along a pretty substantial trailer for his new film. We get our first look at Paul Dano's Riddler, along with a couple of other surprises and Easter eggs along the way. The trailer opens with a man dressed in a green coat, gas mask and has his face completely covered - though we don't know his identity, it appears this may be our Riddler. He's seen taping up a man's face in a gruesome scene, which fans of the comics might spot as a reference to super villain, Hush, who is often seen with a taped up face for a costume. Hush has previous ties to the Riddler and their paths most definitely cross in the universe, but where he normally wears surgical tape over his face, this duct tape effort is most certainly a grim twist on the character. View oEmbed on the source website But while we don't get a clear identifying shot of Riddler, his presence is still very much in the trailer. Batman - who is donning his newly revealed costume - is called to a crime scene, and though he doesn't have a good relationship with Gotham City PD from the looks of things, they most definitely need his help. A card is addressed to Bruce Wayne and features riddles, code, and a healthy bit of rhyming: "From your secret friend. Who? Haven't a clue? Let's play a game just me and you." Speaking of his villain, Reeves said: "Paul Dano plays a version of the Riddler that no one has ever seen before. What he's doing is, I think, going to blow people's minds. "It's always about trying to square what you know with what's new." Elsewhere in the gripping trailer, which is set to Nirvana's Something in the Way, fans get their first-look at Catwoman, played by Zoë Kravitz. She seems to be breaking into somewhere and it isn't long before she ends up in a fight with Bruce. Director Reeves also confirmed an early release date for The Batman, placing it at October 2021. The Batman will be released in October 2021. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide.