While we await word that Zack Snyder has called Warner Bros.’ bluff and will foot the bill to complete the director’s cut of Justice League – hell, at this point, I’d even find some way to pay the tab myself – DCEU storyboard artist Jay Oliva, in a fascinating Twitter thread, explained the creative decision to depict Bruce Wayne as an established Caped Crusader in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.
According to Oliva, having been present in Gotham for twenty years, the Dark Knight in Dawn of Justice and the “extreme way he was handled as opposed to the Nolan version” was a conscious decision. Snyder and co. “started him in the Frank Miller version,” choosing not to showcase the gradual decline of Bruce Wayne’s morality and rather have him already be “severely flawed.”
As for Batman I hope you realize that the branding thing and his extreme way he was handled as opposed to the Nolan version was a character arc. Instead of starting the character the classic version and then turn them dark for their character arc, we did the opposite.
— Jay Oliva (@jayoliva1) June 4, 2018
As for why Batman has turned criminal, Oliva cited “the death of Robin and other events like The Killing Joke.” Bruce Wayne has “become something he doesn’t even recognize,” he said, which is corroborated through Alfred’s “the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men… cruel” discourse.
We started him in the Frank Miller’s version. A Batman who’s severely flawed. Who’s strayed from who he was because of the death of Robin and other events like the killing joke etc. and he’s become something he doesn’t even recognize. Alfred’s dialogue about “cruel” illustrates
— Jay Oliva (@jayoliva1) June 4, 2018
Oliva’s backing of the Batman has come in the midst of much speculation regarding Ben Affleck’s commitment to the part. Although the two-time Academy Award winner has long been rumoured to be leaving the role, earlier this week, scuttlebutt emerged suggesting that the actor would like to remain a vital part of the DC Extended Universe.
While we advise taking this with a grain of salt, having wrapped production on Triple Frontier for Netflix, Big Ben, who doesn’t appear to have any conflicting engagements, could very well be on his way back to the Batcave. Whether or not it’ll be in the Matt Reeves-directed The Batman, however, remains to be seen.
