Some viewChristopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightas the seminal example ofcomic bookandsuperherofilmmaking. And to follow those three movies up with an all-new Batmanis surely an endeavor no ordinary filmmaker would ever attempt to take on. In fact, despite the presence of TheMan of Steel, directorZack Snyderwas a little hesitant to bring Bruce Wayne back to the big screen inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceafter such a short absence. It has been only 4 years, after all, that we last sawChristian Baledon the cape and cowl in 2012’sThe Dark Knight Rises. Because of that, Zack Snyder decided that he needed to get Christopher Nolan’s blessing moving the character into the future. And he certainly got what he asked for.
Speaking with Empiremagazine recently, Zack Snyder recounted his quest to get Christopher Nolan to sign off on this new iteration of thecaped crusader, who is much older and war weary than what we’ve seen before. Christopher Nolan not only directed the previous three Batman movies, but he also producedMan of Steel, which helped set up the current MCU. Zack Snyder told the acclaimed director that this time out, Superman will be fighting Batman. And that Batman is the bad guy.
“You tell me if you don’t want me to do it.”
The ball was completely in Christopher Nolan’s court. If he didn’t want to see the movie get made, it may not have been. Not so soon, anyway. He was silent for a spell after Zack Snyder made the proposal, asking for his blessing. But he eventually gave in, saying this.
“Well, we don’t own these characters. When you’re done making Batman movies, someone else will [make them].”
Zack Snyder fully understood Christopher Nolan’s hesitation. And would have gone in a different direction had that been the case. But both parties seem to be happy that it all worked out. Zack Snyder went onto say this.
“I think he found it a little bit hard. I would feel the same way. In a lot of ways Batman v Superman is a very personal concept. It is just two people trying to understand each other’s point of view.”
The Dark Knight Risesappeared to show Bruce Wayne retiring as Batman. And it seemed like a logical conclusion to the trilogy. It’s also a good jumping off point for this new caped crusader, though the vigilant superhero is very different in each of these separate sagas. Once Zack Snyder had his friend’s blessing, he set out to create a movie that was a little more intimate, creating a real dramatic arc between it’s two title superheroes.
