Before I start this off, many people may be saying to themselves "Blasphmy, no one should try to even try Batman after Nolan" I understand your qualms, but hear me out. Batman has the problem of either being too campy, or being "grounded and realistic" It seems that there can not be a middle ground in the producers eyes. As much as I Burton's Batman films were influenced by Frank Miller, by giving us a less camp, more serious version of the character, it was still pretty Campy, especially Batman Returns. (Even the title is kinda cheesy. Where did he go? The Supermarket? Then we had Shumacher's films, which were just as campy as the 60's version. I mean a Bat credit card, really? However, a middle ground can be found. It has been done before, in both the Comics, and the Animated series. Live action is tricky though, you have to make people believe these things can happen in real life. It is especially difficult when you have a character that has no powers, therefore suspension of disbelief because the main character has powers is out of the question.
I think however, that a movie in similar tone to Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, could work. Introducing elements similar to the comics, but still making people believe this can happen. Here is my take on several elements that need to be included in a reboot.
1. NO ORIGIN STORY! We have had 2 movies already that have given us the origin story of Batman, we do not need another, although a new interpretation on it would be interesting, i think a simple flash back towards the middle of the movie about his parents being killed or working it into the dialogue could work.
2. Batman should have been active for a while! Maybe 2 or three years, cleaning up crime in Gotham. It is then we will introduce Super-Villains.
3. Set up villains in previous movies then pay them off later on. Jack Napeir could be a small time crook in the first or something as the red hood, and then Batman will create Joker and that can be used in a 3rd film. This way the universe of the movie feels bigger, and can create more tragic villains. Knowing someone is a good guy for 2 or so movies then he becomes evil in a third film, like Two-Face would be cool.
4. DO NOT REUSE VILLAINS! Of course we need the Joker for any Batman franchise to work, they are Yin and Yang, Batman needs his archenemy. Nolan (and God Bless the man) has only used 2 unused film villains in his movies. We had Seen Joker, Two-Face, Bane, and Catwoman all in the Burton/Shumacher films. We need more variety, or at least I do. To some extent I would say that Catwoman could be used again... but as more of an Anto-Hero/Love Interest. We need villains like Killer Croc, or Deadshot. I will make a Fanfic article later and propose the trilogy further and describe villains there.
5. Supernatural Elements and Comic correct costume does not equal cheesy. I can not stress this enough. I good enough filmmaker will be able to create elements like this and make it look good regardless of how "unrealistic" it maybe. Iron Man and his tech is extremely unrealistic,but we believe it because the film-making is so good. Loki's helmet is crazy, but we don't question it because we are focused on the character not the costume.
6. This one goes along with number 5, but needs its own section: Batmans costume. While Nolan did a very good job convincing me that the bat suit was realistic, i feel a reboot could go classic. Hear me out, Batman could wear a type of Kevlar underneath the fabric costume and pull it off. By wearing something that is so obviously Kevlar, criminals know how he survives shots. However using kevlar secretively can convince a bad guy that you are invincible, that is scary. Like in V For Vendetta when he pulled out the metal armor from underneath his costume. It made him look invincible so the people shooting at him were confused as hell. Also, it could give the illusion of extra muscles, making him look bigger than he actually is.
7. Franchise Franchise Franchise. While this is exactly why the 90's Batman movies got increasingly worse in the hands of capable directors who understand the source material, we will not have this problem. Making more movies can cause a decrease in quality in order to get them out on time, however, Treated correctly a franchise could very well cover multiple Robins, and a Dark Knight Returns film.
These are just a few ideas. When I feel more awake i will do a fancast, story ideas and director ideas. Tell me what you think. I know, it is a shitty article, but hey, could work. If you believe I need to expand on my ideas, tell me in the comment section below, i will gladly explain it too you, or edit the article to make it clear.
PEACE BE WITH YOU CBM! NUFF SAID.