Paul Dano, who plays the Riddler in the highly anticipated The Batman, says that the film differentiates itself from other superhero projects. Directed by American filmmaker Matt Reeves, The Batman will once again see the part of Bruce Wayne/Batman recast, with Robert Pattinson stepping in to replace Ben Affleck for the lead role following the latter's DC Extended Universe appearances. Dano and Pattinson are joined by an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.
The story of The Batman revolves around the titular superhero in his second year of fighting crime as he ventures into Gotham City's underworld and uncovers corruption. At the same time, Bruce has to hunt down the Riddler, a sadistic killer targeting Gotham's elite who leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues in the process. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the film originally slated to release in 2021 was delayed twice, but is finally set to land in theatres on March 4th.
In a recent exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Dano says The Batman manages to capture a unique take for a film in the superhero genre. According to the actor, Reeves brought a strong sense of perspective to the material that led to something he had never seen in projects of its kind. Dano also reinforces the importance of "charting your own path" while trying to "dig into the history and iconography" that made Batman's story as iconic as it is. Check out his quote below:
You want to dig into the history, and the iconography, and the archetypes, and all the energy that's there while charting our own path, which was most important for this film. And luckily, Matt and his script brought a true point of view and something that I haven't seen before in, not only a Batman film but in a superhero film. So, scary, yes. But exciting.
Films exploring the Caped Crusader have always tried to break new ground in the genre, and there have been multiple attempts to kickstart a franchise since 1966's Adam West-led Batman, albeit with mixed results. 1997's Batman & Robin, which saw George Clooney take on the mantle of Gotham's Defender is often seen as the lowest point in the history of live-action iterations of the character, with 1995's Val Kilmer-starring Batman Forever also occasionally thrown into the mix. However, Tim Burton's distinct take on the DC hero in 1989's Batman and Christopher Nolan's more grounded approach to the Dark Knight trilogy have shown that it's very much possible to retell the story in inventive ways.
With critically acclaimed films like 2008's Cloverfield and the recent Planet of the Apes sequels, Reeves has more than proved his mettle as a director. Dano's comments are backed by Reeves' impressive filmography and the early promotional material, including trailers and some of Michael Giacchino's outstanding soundtrack. If The Batman turns out as unique as the actor hypes it up to be, fans of the famed superhero and general moviegoers alike are in for a memorable cinematic experience when the film premieres next week.
