Warner Bros. head Toby Emmerich reveals The Batman shorter runtime didn't test as well with audiences as the longer theatrical cut. Matt Reeves is at the helm for the reboot of the DC Comics film franchise with an ensemble cast led by Robert Pattinson in the titular role alongside Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. The Batman is largely inspired by The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Year One and Zero Year.
Just over a month ahead of the film's release, discussion around The Batman became divided over its reported runtime, which was revealed to be clocking in just shy of three hours in length. Given the extended runtimes of most of the DC Extended Universe films, some felt this may turn audiences away from sitting down in a theater for the latest adaptation of the Dark Knight. These concerns would ultimately be proven unwarranted as The Batman debuted to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and a strong box office start this past weekend.
As the film soared to box office success, Toby Emmerich caught up with Deadline to discuss The Batman. The studio head revealed a shorter runtime was tested with audiences for the superhero epic, but it didn't test nearly as well as the theatrical cut of the film. Emmerich added:
"The last time I went to a premiere in Alice Tully Hall was Seven, and on Tuesday night, Batman reminded me of that: The audience was rapt.”
The decision for The Batman to keep its extended runtime was a divisive one ahead of the film's release, namely after last year's release of Zack Snyder's Justice League, which clocked in at just over four hours. Though it was better received than its theatrical counterpart, a product of studio and Joss Whedon intervention, it still received much criticism for its overlong runtime and led many to worry the same was set to happen with Reeves' superhero epic. Given The Batman was being set up to launch a new shared universe separate from the DCEU, many were concerned these plans would find themselves scrapped as with many previous DC franchises.
Thankfully, as Emmerich observed long before the film hit theaters, The Batman's shorter runtime would prove a worse idea than that of its three-hour theatrical cut, with test audiences finding themselves more engrossed by the fuller version. Within four days of hitting theaters, Reeves' film has already grossed over $258 million against its reported $200 million budget, the highest for any DC film since 2016's Suicide Squad, further bolstering its chances for a planned trilogy and multiple HBO Max spinoffs. Audiences can catch up with The Batman in theaters now.
Source: Deadline
