We've been hearing a lot about The Batman being a Year Two story, but what about Year One? While none of us needs to see the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne again (or Bruce Wayne's decision to become Gotham City's Dark Knight, for that matter), there are stories worth telling in that period, hence why the HBO Max series about the GCPD is supposedly set during Batman's first year.
Last week, Lieutenant Jim Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright spoke to us about his role as one of the Caped Crusader's closest allies. Given the importance of this Year Two setting, we couldn't help but wonder whether he spent time talking to director Matt Reeves and co-star Robert Pattinson to figure out what might have happened in Year One and how those events could inform this particular story.
"We didn’t delve down too deeply into the details of that, but we came to a common understanding that we’re on the ground floor [and] that this may be, within our film, the first time they’re seen together in public. They’ve been taking one another into view from afar, but recognise out of this sense of desperation and a decaying Gotham, that there’s a utility in a partnership there. It’s a place that’s devoid of trust and credibility among those that should be credible."
"Gordon, I think, is more in need of Batman than perhaps Batman is of Gordon, but what he sees in him is an integrity and a type of honour. Clearly, the trust is still building and that was very exciting, too. Ours isn’t an origin story for Batman, but it’s an origin story for his emergence, though certainly not by going back to the death of the parents and all these things we’ve seen done before."
While it's a little surprising to learn that Year One didn't factor into conversations that much prior to shooting, the fact that this is so specifically a Year Two story no doubt goes some way towards explaining that.
Wright's insights about the dynamic between Batman and Jim Gordon are fascinating, though, and the signs are pointing to their partnership being a highlight in The Batman. The movie being described as "an origin story for his emergence" is also one of the most intriguing, exciting descriptions we've heard to date. Make sure to check out our spoiler-free review of the reboot by clicking here.
The Batman in cinemas 4th March.