Batman has a storied history on screen and, in the new DCU, the hero will be reimagined again for Andy Muschietti's The Brave and the Bold. Separate from Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise, it will be overseen by DC Studios and James Gunn.
Earlier this week, the Superman director and studio executive said there's no rush to make the movie. That's not because the hero isn't a priority; instead, the goal is to make sure the story is as strong as possible before cameras roll.
Batman has appeared in a very long list of live-action movies so how can this one stand apart from them and what does DC Studios need to do to make sure it's a success? And no, firing Muschietti (who directed The Flash) isn't one of our suggestions...even if it's an admittedly good one.
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5. New Villains
With Riddler, Penguin, and Joker, even Reeves seems to be heading down the route of utilising villains we've seen on screen countless times before.
It's true that most of the Dark Knight's foes have already shown up in theaters, but what about the likes of Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Hush, the Court of Owls, Hugo Strange, and even Man-Bat? Simply put, there are plenty of options beyond, say, the Clown Prince of Crime and Two-Face.
It's not just about seeing different villains on screen either; by focusing on different threats to Gotham, The Brave and the Bold can explore dynamics we haven't necessarily seen on screen before.
Sure, you can always tell another Joker story but, c'mon, let's see how Batman copes with fighting Killer Croc in Gotham's sewers or the madness that Professor Pyg brings to the table.
4. Make It Unlike Any Big Screen Batman We've Seen Before
With so many different versions of Batman having graced the screen over the years, it won't be easy for The Brave and the Bold to separate itself from the pack.
From Tim Burton's gothic Gotham to the campiness of the 90s and even the grounded world established by Christopher Nolan, this hero is one who we've seen interpreted through many different lenses (for Reeves, it's been about telling an epic crime saga).
So, what can this movie do differently? Gunn has already established that this Batman will be a father as the story will take its cues from a comic book run which saw him learn he had a son, Damian, who he trains as Robin.
That's an excellent start and moving away from the expected darkness that comes with this character to perhaps tell some campier, wackier high-concept tales might be the refresher Batman needs.
3. Embrace The Comics
This is a given, yes, but there are ways DC Studios can do this with The Brave and the Bold which help move Batman forward on screen in a way that will make the DCU's Dark Knight unlike any we've seen before.
For starters, the Batcave needs to be a huge, sweeping set full of the hero's trophies from past battles, countless Bat-suits and vehicles, and the all-important Bat-computer. F*** realism.
The costume needs to embrace the source material as well, ditching the armour and real-life weapons for Batman's sci-fi gadgets and even that classic blue and grey colour scheme. The villains should also wear their comic-accurate costumes.
Most Batman movies have told original stories, but with Gunn calling the shots, we hope to see some specific comic book tales brought to life on screen for the first time.
2. The Bat-Family
If Batman is old enough to have a 10-year-old son, we'd like to see a Dick Grayson who has already become Nightwing after serving as Robin and for Jason Todd to still be suspected dead after a run-in with The Joker.
Where does that leave Tim Drake? Well, we've always had something of a hard time accepting that Batman would enlist another child so soon after Jason's demise, so it might be best to sideline him until down the line.
Batgirl should absolutely be operating in Gotham City by this point and all of these characters should play small, yet important parts in The Brave and the Bold.
In Jason's case, the stage can be set for future stories - "Under the Red Hood" is crying out for the live-action treatment - and the likes of Nightwing and Batgirl could and should headline spin-offs. These relationships deserve to be explored on screen again.
1. Flesh Out Bruce Wayne's World As Well
Over the years, it feels like Bruce Wayne has become increasingly less important to the stories told in Batman movies. Heck, in The Batman, the billionaire had pretty much completely given up being Bruce!
In The Brave and the Bold, a greater focus on Bruce's life outside of the cape and cowl would be welcomed. There's a strong chance we'll get that by exploring his past romance with Talia al Ghul, but more time at Wayne Industries and more time spent with his supporting cast is a must.
Honestly, this movie just needs to give Bruce a love interest and spend more time exploring what he brings to Gotham when he's not dressed up at night fighting criminals.
Perhaps we need some Absolute Batman-style changes, with one of Bruce's parents still alive in the present day?