On October 16, 2021, DC Films released the second full-length trailer for The Batman (2022) during the DC FanDome event. Fans of the Caped Crusader have eagerly awaited new details regarding this film, especially since its release date was delayed due to COVID-19. A new trailer means another opportunity to don our detective hats and search for hidden details, one carefully composed frame after another.
Director Matt Reeves and his cast and crew know all too well that film buffs love theorizing about movies that have yet to hit theaters, and The Batman‘s most recent trailer has enough easter eggs to tide fans over until the March 4, 2022, premiere. We’re pretty sure that we broke the replay button while rewatching this trailer over and over again. As a result, we’ve found several hidden details that others might have missed. You have questions — and we have answers, theories and trivia galore.
Who Plays Batman in the New 2022 Movie?
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. That is Robert Pattinson’s chiseled jawline protruding from the Bat Cowl. The English actor is the next in a long line of Batmen that include the likes of Adam West, Christian Bale, George Clooney and Val Kilmer. Pattinson actually wore Val Kilmer’s Batsuit while he was auditioning for the role alongside Nicholas Hoult.
Robert Pattinson was always fascinated by Batman and jumped at the chance to craft an “out of control” version of the character with Matt Reeves. The actor has long been exclusively identified as Edward Cullen from the Twilight franchise, despite turning out harrowing performances in films like Good Time (2017) and The Lighthouse (2019). Pattinson’s turn as Batman may put the final nail in his typecasting coffin.
What Story Is The Batman Based On?
Numerous other films and comic books have inspired the aesthetic and story of The Batman. Several David Fincher projects, including Se7en (1995) and Zodiac (2007), have heavily influenced the setting, tone and possibly even the story of Matt Reeves’ new film. On the comic book front, aspects of Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Year One and Batman: Ego are purportedly woven into Matt Reeves and Peter Craig’s script.
Hidden Details
The Bat-Signal’s Location
- The Bat-Signal is typically located atop the GCPD headquarters. In this film, it seems tucked away in an area that’s still under construction. This mirrors Batman’s fledgling crime-fighting career and the fact that his legacy is still “under construction,” so to speak. It also implies that Jeffrey Wright’s Commissioner Gordon might have to keep his conversations with Batman off the record.
Familiar Face Paint
- Batman stalks, then squares off against, a group of young men who all wear face paint. The majority of these young men seem to be wearing skull-themed makeup. However, several of them wear face paint that bears an eerie resemblance to past Jokers.
The New Bat Symbol
- Many fans believe that Robert Pattinson’s Batman welded parts of the gun that was used to kill his parents into his suit. The new Bat Symbol is prominently displayed at several points throughout the trailer, and it does seem to bear a metallic sheen akin to gunmetal.
Arkham State Hospital
- Batman visits Arkham State Hospital to interrogate the Riddler. Arthur Fleck visited a building with this exact name in Joker (2019), suggesting that these two films share some sort of connection.
Hidden Details Return
Batman and Catwoman’s Relationship
- The Bat and the Cat have a long, flirtatious history both in print and on the big screen. Zoe Kravitz will portray Catwoman, who seems to be genuinely interested in Batman. Batman and Catwoman have gotten married in the comics — on several occasions, to be specific.
Alfred’s Scars
- Andy Serkis will portray Alfred Pennyworth in this film, and he looks much more rugged and world-weary than previous iterations of the character. The scars on Alfred’s face likely stem from his extensive military history and his service as an MI6 agent.
Batman’s Crime Board
- We see Batman standing atop an impromptu, spray-painted crime board halfway through the trailer. Several names and phrases are visible, each one linked to a Riddler question mark in the center. The phrase “the sins of my father?” is perhaps the most eye-catching feature. It suggests that Thomas Wayne might have had dirt on his hands, as he did in Joker.
The Court of Owls
- The Court of Owls is a cult with deep ties to Gotham City and the Wayne family. One of Batman’s wristguards bears a strong resemblance to the Court’s Talon enforcers. Lies and deception seem to play a big part in this film’s narrative. Someone might be fooling Batman into serving as an unwitting pawn.
Hidden Details Forever
The Penguin and the Iceberg Lounge
- Colin Farrell will portray the Penguin in this film, and he already seems to have plenty of skin in the organized crime game. We see Batman fight his way through a heavily armed club in several shots. This is likely the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin’s base of operations in the comics.
The Batmobile
- The new Batmobile has a janky, jury-rigged aesthetic. It’s not a technological marvel like the Tumbler or the Tim Burton Batmobiles. Rather, it’s a souped-up muscle car that Batman customized to chase down criminals. This seems very evocative of the Pursuit Special from the Mad Max franchise. Max Rockatansky is another character who regularly grapples with his inner demons, so this detail might not be a coincidence.
The Gotham Clock Tower
- Batman dives off of a large clock tower near the end of the trailer. Long-time Batman fans will know that Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, sets up shop in the Gotham Clock Tower when she becomes the Oracle later in her career.
Musical Cues
- Two songs play throughout the trailer — a theatrical rendition of Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” and a foreboding score that effectively functions as this Batman’s theme song. “Something in the Way” refers to a dark period in singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain’s life when he was coping with feelings of depression. If the score at the end of the trailer sounds familiar, it’s because it borrows a few chords from John Williams’ “The Imperial March.”
