The Batman/Trivia

A list of trivia related to ***The Batman***.

## Trivia related to DC Comics

* This movie marks The Batman Universe debut of Batman, Catwoman, Riddler, James Gordon, Carmine Falcone, Alfred Pennyworth, Penguin, Mackenzie Bock, William Kenzie, Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne, and Joker.
* The film takes inspiration from the *Batman: Earth One* novels.
	+ Riddler shares similarities with the comic version seen in *Batman: Earth One*, notably being a serial killer who targets corrupt officials and members of Gotham's organized crime and has an obsession with Batman.
	+ Batman responding "I'm vengeance" when the leader of the train gang asks him who he is appears to be an allusion to an exchange between Batman and Oswald Cobblepot in *Batman: Earth One* #1.
	+ *The Batman* marks the second time Martha Wayne is portrayed as a member of the Arkham Family, following a version of the character from *Batman: Earth One*. In most continuities, Martha is part of the Kane Family.
	+ Thomas Wayne ran for mayor of Gotham City months before his death in *Batman: Earth One #1*.
* Gotham City will apparently be set in New York, instead of New Jersey, like in the comics.
* The Riddler will go by his original name, "Edward Nashton" like in the comics before he changed it to Edward Nygma.
* Carmine Falcone mentions that Thomas Wayne once saved his life during an emergency surgical procedure at Wayne Manor while young Bruce watched from the staircase. This is a direct homage to a scene in *Batman: The Long Halloween* #9.
* A journalist named Edward Elliot who investigated Martha Wayne's past before his death appears in one of the Riddler's videos. Moments later, the word "Hush" appears in the video. In New Earth continuity, Edward Elliot was the great-great grandfather of Tommy Elliot and appeared in *Batman: Gates of Gotham*.
* The moment when Selina Kyle scratches Carmine Falcone's face is a reference to a scene from *Batman* #407 in which Catwoman scratched three scars into Falcone's cheek that left permanently scarred him.
* Two different identification cards are found when the Riddler is arrested by the Gotham City Police Department. While one shows his actual name "Edward Nashton", the other ID card says "Patrick Parker", an alias the Riddler has previously used in the comics.

## In-Universe Trivia

* The film is set during Batman's second year as a crime fighter.
* The film establishes that Batman encountered the Joker in his first year as an active vigilante.
* The film introduced Gil Colson, Bella Reál, Pete Savage, Don Mitchell Jr., and Martinez.
* The Shakespeare Bust from the 1966 TV series *Batman* can be seen at Wayne Tower during the scene in which Alfred opens the package from the Riddler.

## Production Trivia

* The film was originally going to be set in the DC Extended Universe with Ben Affleck playing the title role, however, In 2019, it was reverted to a newer and original universe with Robert Pattinson playing the title role.
* Ben Affleck confirmed on his Instagram account on August 30th that Deathstroke was originally going to be the main antagonist played by Joe Manganiello.
* Ben Affleck, who initially was attached as director, stated that he stepped down from the job so he could focus more on writing, producing and starring.
* Ben Affleck said that the movie was intended to tell an original narrative. However, it drew particularly from the comic book stories *Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth* (1989) and *Knightfall* (1992-94). Additionally, the subplot involving the breakout at the Arkham Home for the Emotionally Troubled, would've loosely derived from events in the video game *Batman: Arkham Asylum* (2009) developed by Rocksteady.
* On Monday, August 29th, there was supposed leaked footage of Deathstroke walking towards the camera in a steamy surrounding. It was posted on Ben Affleck's Instagram profile and the DC Extended Universe's official Instagram profile.
* Ryan Potter made a 58 second choreographed fight sequence video of him campaigning for the role of Tim Drake.
* Following Affleck's voluntary departure from the project due to a divorce and stint of alcholism, Matt Reeves was selected to replace him as co-screenwriter and director.
* Jared Leto was interested in reprising his role as the Joker, with talks of including in the film, but ultimately fell through.
* Matt Reeves opted not to use the script Affleck and Johns had been preparing when he was set to direct, preferring to start fresh with his own story.
* In March of 2021, Joe Manganiello revealed Batgirl would've debuted in this film.

## Live-action Adaptations

* This is the eleventh live-action adaptation of Batman. the first was the serial *Batman* (1944) and its sequel *Batman and Robin* (1949); the second was the theatrical film *Batman* (1966); the third was the theatrical film *Batman* (1989) and its sequels *Batman Returns* (1992) the fourth *Batman Forever* (1995) and the fifth was *Batman & Robin* (1997); the sixth was the theatrical film *Batman Begins* (2005) and its sequels *The Dark Knight* (2008) and *The Dark Knight Rises* (2012); The live-action adaptations came from the DC Extended Universe films seventh is *Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice* (2016), the eighth is *Suicide Squad* (2016), ninth is *Justice League* (2017) the tenth is *Zack Snyder's Justice League* (2021), and the eleventh is *The Batman* (2022).
* This will be the first live-action adaptation to have a person of color portray James Gordon.
* This will be the third live-action adaptation to have a person of color portray Catwoman, the first being Eartha Kitt in *Batman* and the second being Halle Berry in *Catwoman*.
* This marks the live-action debut of Mackenzie Bock and William Kenzie.