Behind the camera onThe Batmansat director Matt Reeves, who brought the vigilante to life in an arena he never envisioned for himself. Unfortunately, the world of comic book franchises felt distant to Reeves, who couldn’t foresee how his creative interest would succeed in the genre. The freedom, as Reeves stated, felt absent, which is why Marvel films are not an area of interest.
The Batmanis a reboot of an estimated $5 billion franchise that has gone through creative pandemonium over the years. Reeves undoubtedly had nerves heading into this project, haunted by previous misguided attempts to tackle the masked vigilante, but he had the freedom that allowed him to take the narrative on a different course, especially since it would sit in a world seperate from Warner Bros.‘other DC projects.
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The freedom allowed Reeves to craft a standalone film rooted in his vision. If Reeves had to stay in line with the current structure of DC’s universe, the freedom to craft something entirely new might have been off the table. Unfortunately, Marvel falls beneath the same umbrella, comprised of films bridged together and set in their creative direction. “I have such respect for Kevin Feige and also for the Marvel filmmakers, but to be honest with you, I just don’t know how I would make my way through that,” expressed Reeves while speaking with Variety. “There has to be some level of discovery for me, where I have some freedom to find my way. If I have to come into something that’s already set too firmly, then I think I would get lost. And I don’t think they would be happy with me either.”
However, despitethe freedomThe Batmanpresented, Reeves was very hesitant about diving into the superhero genre but could see the industry’s path. “The industry has changed so dramatically that if you’re going to make a movie that’s going to be in movie theaters, you’re not making anything that isn’t recognizable IP,” stated Reeves. “That’s just where the audience has gone. I’m not saying that I’m happy about that. I’m just saying it is what it is.” Reeves isn’t the first director to address the industry’s current state, but he’s taken the project and made it work for him in his own unique way. Pattinson pointed out Reeves’ methodical approach and how every decision is tailored toward building an experience that is utterly convincing.
“What’s exciting about doing a ‘Batman’ movie is the opportunity to do something on a scale that you really can’t do unless you’re doing that kind of movie and still make it feel personal and distinctive,” expressed Reeves.The Batmanhas already amassed $5.3 million at the international box office overseas and $21.6 million domestically in box office previews. With the weekend approaching, those numbers look to rise higher, which speaks to the buzz Reeves has created with his rendition of the character. The franchise, however, has seen many talents and stories, prompting some to wonderwhy another version ofThe Batmanis needed. Reeves needed to find the purpose of his character, and after early projections, it appears he’s done just that.
Marvel has faced criticism for its formulaic approach at times, but the performance of the studio’s films is hard to ignore.Spider-Man: No Way Homecontinues to perform well at the global box office, and many can expect the same to ring true for other films in the newly established multiverse. However, for many directors, the grossing revenue isn’t worth the loss of creative freedom, which is the lane Reeves sits in. While it is in the genre,The Batmanoffered Reeves the chance to presenta different version of Bruce Wayne, and it’ll be intriguing to see how his method comes across.
