There’s been a lot of talk about Batman in the past day or so, some about his past and some about the character’s future on the screen.
First up, DC Studios chief James Gunn has doubled down on talk about the final few episodes of “Peacemaker,” saying this week that: “we have some really big, big stars from the DC Universe that are going to be near the end of the season” while speaking with outlet PelucheEn ElEstuche.
That has led to plenty of wild speculation that the DCU’s Batman could be introduced, even as there has been no indication thus far of anything like that happening.
In terms of actually tangible Batman news, Colin Farrell spoke with The Wrap the other day and confirmed he’s “getting into the script” for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman: Part II” this week. Regarding his filming commitments reprising his role of The Penguin in the film, he says: “I’ll be there for however long. I don’t have many scenes, I don’t believe, but I’ll be there for whatever.”
The character came up again as well in an interview with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky over on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Host Josh Horowitz spoke with the “Caught Stealing” director to reflect on the time over two decades ago when Aronofsky was attached to direct an adaptation of Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One”.
That film didn’t happen, Warner Bros. instead shifting to what became Chris Nolan’s “Batman Begins”. Aronofsky tells Horowitz it came down to the fact he was way too focused on getting “The Fountain” made:
“I was really focused on ‘The Fountain,’ I never really took that seriously. I wanted to make ‘Fountain,’ that’s where I was at. [Frank Miller and I] co-wrote a script, but my whole strategy on that one was I wanted to make this totally wild, crazy film about love and the search for the Fountain of Youth, and I felt like if I was on ‘Batman’ they might let me make [‘The Fountain’], which is kind of what happened, sort of.
I think the Batman that me, and Frank pitched/wrote was really down and dirty, duct tape kind of movie. That was never really going to be selling Batmobiles, I don’t think I was the right guy at the right time. It was rated R…I think the whole world of superhero films had to come out first to scrape the bottom of the barrel before going to R-rated films like some of the later ones.”
During the interview, he confirmed he wanted Joaquin Phoenix for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, whereas the studio wanted Freddie Prinze Jr. for that version. He also confirmed he was never attached to “Man of Steel” and was involved in “Watchmen,” but literally for only a few days.
