Noir ‘The Batman’ footage thrills fans at DC virtual event

Entertainment Live: Robert Pattinson showcased “The Batman” footage and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hyped up his new anti-hero movie “Black Adam” as Hollywood A-listers and their comic-book alter-egos hosted a sprawling online event Saturday.

The virtual “DC FanDome” from Warner Bros comes after real-world extravaganzas beloved by comic-book fans such as Comic-Con were canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Headline billing went to “The Batman,” a dark, detective-style mystery take on the Caped Crusader which star Pattinson said had to shut down midway through production in March due to Covid-19.

Director Matt Reeves said his version — still due next year — is inspired by classic noirs like “Chinatown” and “Taxi Driver,” and will meet a “very human and very flawed” Bruce Wayne in his second year as Batman, trying to solve a series of crimes.

Saturday’s all-day event premiered footage and panels for follow-ups to blockbusters “Wonder Woman,” “Suicide Squad” and “Shazam!” — despite uncertainty over release dates, with many US theaters closed.

Details for “The Flash” movie — in which Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck are both set to reprise their former roles as Batman — were kept under wraps, except that its young hero will hop through time and space in the so-called “multiverse.”

Footage of “The Suicide Squad” showed Margot Robbie and Viola Davis return alongside new cast members Idris Elba, John Cena and Peter Capaldi.

The event comes as WarnerMedia which owns the movie rights to DC comics undergoes a massive restructuring, including the loss of hundreds of studio jobs.

Parent company AT&T is refocusing on new streaming service HBO Max, which has delighted comic-book obsessives with plans for a new director’s cut of ensemble superhero movie “Justice League.”

Director Zack Snyder stepped down from the 2017 original due to family tragedy, and fans disappointed by the end product have spent years campaigning for his vision to be restored.

Saturday’s panel on the “Snyder Cut” sent geeks around the world into social media meltdown, with Snyder confirming it will feature four, hour-long episodes twice the length of the studio-cut original.

 

Dhaka, 24 August (campuslive24.com)//MI

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