Batman’s Aging Problem: Will Matt Reeves Fix It?

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Summary

  • Robert Pattinson will age significantly by The Batman Part 2, raising concerns about depicting a young Batman.
  • The delays in The Batman Part 2 production may affect the storyline’s continuity.
  • Matt Reeves intends to have a small time jump in The Batman Part 2, but will it handle the actors’ aging discrepancies?

The prolonged wait for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman Part 2” is growing unbearable. DC Studios Co-Head James Gunn previously mentioned on Twitter that long gaps are typical in sequels. Whether this is accurate or not, what’s unusual is having a 15-year gap between an actor’s age and the youthful characters they portray. Robert Pattinson recently told “Hero Magazine” that he will be an old Batman by the time of the sequel, which is undeniably true. Since fans aren’t sure if Gunn and his team realize this: Robert Pattinson is not a real vampire; he does age.

In Matt Reeves’ movie “The Batman,” Robert Pattinson portrays Bruce Wayne, who is in his second year of battling crime and is still clumsy and heavy on his feet. During the filming of this initial installment of Reeves’ proposed Batman trilogy in 2019, Pattinson was 33 years old. This means he appeared somewhat youthful. Given that Reeves is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking, it remains to be seen how he will address this age difference. As Warner Bros. continues to push back the release date of the sequel, which is now expected near the end of 2027, Pattinson will have passed his young adulthood. This poses several challenges for Director-Writer Reeves as he portrays a second-year Batman.

Robert Pattinson Is Way Older Than A Young Batman Traditionally Is

You Can’t Teach An Old Bat New Tricks

In the comic books, Batman first appeared on Gotham streets at the age of 25, which is about the same age Robert Pattinson was when he starred in Twilight (2008). Interestingly enough, by Frank Miller’s graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, Batman was 55 after a ten-year retirement, so he would have been around 45 years old when he decided to hang up his cape.

In the making of “The Batman Part 2”, Robert Pattinson will be 41 years old, which might come as a surprise because Christian Bale was younger than Pattinson is now when he filmed “The Dark Knight Rises”. Since in that movie Batman took an 8-year break, this raises the question: how will director Matt Reeves address this age difference in the storyline?

Here are a few possible ways to rephrase the given text while maintaining its original meaning:

1. He has several choices available. One is to leap ahead in time to account for Robert Pattinson’s wrinkles, or he could simply disregard the aging Bruce Wayne, assuming viewers won’t be bothered by Batman grimacing during seated positions throughout the movie. Another option might be utilizing de-aging technology, but this method has been attempted since 1992 in films like “Death Becomes Her” and more recently in “Here” with Tom Hanks, and it left audiences feeling uneasy. De-aging technology may be advanced enough by the time “The Batman Part 2” is released in about three years, but it’s not there yet.

2. He’s got a few paths to choose from. One could be to skip ahead in time because of the extra lines on Robert Pattinson’s face, or he could opt to overlook the aged Bruce Wayne, hoping viewers won’t notice Batman wincing during seated scenes throughout the film. A third choice might involve using de-aging effects, but this technique has been around since 1992 in movies such as “Death Becomes Her,” and it was met with disapproval in Robert Zemeckis’s most recent attempt in “Here” featuring a ‘youthful’ Tom Hanks. De-aging technology might be up to snuff when “The Batman Part 2” premieres three years from now, but currently, it isn’t there.

3. There are several strategies he can employ. One is to move forward in time to accommodate the extra creases on Robert Pattinson’s face, or he could decide to disregard the older Bruce Wayne, assuming viewers won’t be bothered by Batman making faces during seated positions throughout the movie. Another alternative may involve utilizing de-aging technology, but this approach has been attempted since 1992 in films such as “Death Becomes Her,” and it was criticized in Robert Zemeckis’s latest effort in “Here” with Tom Hanks appearing younger. De-aging technology might be advanced enough by the time “The Batman Part 2” comes out three years from now, but for now, it isn’t ready yet.

In simpler terms, he might choose to overlook the aged Bruce Wayne, with the expectation that viewers won’t be bothered by Batman appearing uncomfortable while sitting during the entire movie.

Indeed, Reeves did hint at a timeline shift for “The Batman Part 2”, but it’s not the kind of leap fans might anticipate due to the real-world gap between the first film and its sequel. In an interview with Total Film Magazine, Reeves revealed that “The Batman” will move forward in time after a brief interval following the initial film. This temporal shift is primarily to accommodate Max’s “The Penguin”, which concludes only seven days after “The Batman” ends. Thus, “The Batman Part 2” will pick up a week after “The Penguin” ends. In the storyline of “The Penguin”, Carmine and Alberto Falcone meet their demise in November 2022, with Oswald Cobblepot taking control shortly thereafter. This means that not a significant amount of time elapses between “The Batman” Parts 1 and 2.

Speaking about the chronology of “The Penguin,” I recently shared with Collider that we don’t delve into Christmas or New Year celebrations, but we’re moving in that direction. Now, this tidbit might be intriguing for plot development, but let me clarify something – since The Batman is set in 2022, there have already been three real-life Christmases since then, with at least two more to pass before the story continues. That’s quite a leap, even for a character like Batman who’s aged from his early 30s to 41 years old in just over a month. So, it seems there might be some creative licensing going on with the timeline!

In Matt Reeves We Trust

The Very Long Halloween

In the upcoming movie, fans might need to have faith that director Matt Reeves will accurately portray Bruce Wayne’s apparent aging process. This could be explained by the intense pressures of his role, much like presidents who often age quickly during their terms. Given that Batman was significantly impacted by “The Long Halloween,” a graphic novel adapted into DC Animation by Jeph Loeb as per DC’s Tim Sheridan, it’s possible that this narrative could lend credence to the idea. Readers familiar with “The Long Halloween” are more likely to pick up on Robert Pattinson’s age, as they know Batman endures great hardship during that specific holiday season, which coincides with his second year of crime-fighting.

In the narrative, Batman encounters a foe known as The Holiday Killer, who is later revealed to be none other than Alberto Falcone, the same character Cobblepot kills at the start of The Penguin series. In The Long Halloween comic, Alberto orchestrates heinous murders within the Falcone and Maroni crime families, causing significant trouble for young Bruce Wayne. Although Reeves eliminates this crucial aspect from his graphic novel inspiration, there remains plenty of room for Batman’s hardships, such as the challenging lineup of villains he must confront. This roster includes Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and The Scarecrow, along with the ominous presence of The Joker in The Batman. With all these adversaries and The Joker lurking around, Bruce Wayne may end up bearing a great deal of damage rather swiftly.

By the close of the day, Batman stands out as a masked enforcer of justice, concealing his identity beneath a disguise while combating wrongdoing. If Robert Pattinson manages to grow into his character and Christopher Nolan crafts lines that resonate with vengeful intensity, viewers might be willing to overlook a few additional creases on the brooding Bat’s countenance. Given that Pattinson’s Batman is rather reserved, it’s likely that moviegoers won’t notice these wrinkles in any case.

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2025-03-07 16:50