The DC Universe can learn an important lesson from the secret fourth film in the Dark Knight series

No live-action DC film released to date has attempted what the fourth Dark Knight installment, Batman: Gotham Knightachieved. Say that Christopher Nolan's acclaimed film The Dark Knight the trilogy was incredibly influential to the superhero genre and Hollywood cinema as a whole would be an understatement. Not only did The Dark Knight The trilogy offered one of the most beloved villainous performances in Heath Ledger's Joker, but it also proved that comic book adaptations could thrive on the big screen as high-quality cinema.

Although Christopher Nolan The Dark Knight trilogy was a huge box office success, its chances of becoming a cinematic universe were slim from the start. Nolan envisioned the trilogy as a grounded, self-contained story with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end. So there were never plans for a fourth Dark Knight film, and despite the passing of the torch caused by The Dark Knight Rises'final sequenceJoseph Gordon-Levitt's Robin was never supposed to star in his own spin-off film. However, there is an obscure DC film that also takes place within The Dark Knightuniverse.

The secret fourth film in the Dark Knight series explained

Batman: Gotham Knight connects Batman Begins to the Dark Knight

The 2008 animated anthology Batman: Gotham Knight occupies where Christopher Nolan is Batman begins stopped, with Batman continuing his crusade against crime after the defeat of Ra's Al Ghul. Batman: Gotham Knight comprises six animated shorts produced by four different studios - all starring an animated version of Christian Bale's The Dark Knight.. While Batman: Gotham Knight could be considered The Dark Knight fourth part of the trilogy, given its links with Batman begins'characters and plot, its canonical status remains ambiguous after the events of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Riseswhich neither recognizes nor contradicts the story of the animated film.

Batman: Gotham Knight revisits Christian Bale's Dark Knight through the eyes of four Gotham children in "Have I Got A Story For You" and showcases Batman's ability to combat Gotham's organized crime single-handedly in "Crossfire" and "Field Test." , where he stops Sal Maroni and strengthens his bond with James Gordon. Batman: Gotham Knight takes a huge leap in tone in 'In Darkness Dwells' and introduces Killer Croc, who has been corrupted by Scarecrow's fear toxin. After defeating Killer Croc and Scarecrow, Batman recalls his past after being shot by a normal man in "Working Through Pain", and then finishes a final mission by capturing Deadshot in "Deadshot".

The DC universe can learn a lesson about Batman villains from Gotham Knight

Batman: Gotham Knight Features Villains Never Seen in Live-Action Films

Batman: Gotham Knight includes a brief appearance by the Scarecrow. However, two of Batman's often-forgotten foes finally come to prominence, as Killer Croc and Deadshot are the main antagonists in two of the Batman: Gotham Knightchapters. Although both characters made their live-action debut in 2016's DCEU, Suicide Squad, Neither Killer Croc nor Deadshot appeared in a solo Batman film. Batman: Gotham Knight offers a fresh change of pace with its lesser-known antagonists, compared to all of DC's live-action films that repeatedly focus on big-name villains like the Joker, the Riddler, and the Penguin.

With Matt Reeves' Batman franchise leading the way and the DCU's Batman making his debut in The brave and the bold, The divide between Batman's grounded and fantastical elements has never been clearer. So far, every live-action Batman film has chosen one of the two leads. Even Tim Burton's Batman films, which began Batman's blockbuster story, have remained close to the iconic director "Burtonesque" style that embraces the character's fantastic qualities. While Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy maintained its completely grounded tone, Batman: Gotham Knight added Killer Croc to the mix, despite his monstrous appearance and superhuman strength.

Who should be the DC villain in the DCU Batman movie

Andy Muschietti's The Brave And The Bold Has A Blank Check For Its Villain Choice

Matt Reeves' Batman universe has gained widespread acclaim due in large part to its realistic antagonists. Riddler, by Paul Dano, and Carmine Falcone, by John Turturro, are highlights of Batmanand Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb could be the breakout star of the entire franchise due to his stellar role in The Penguin. As Reeves Batman As the franchise dives deeper into its realistic underworld of Gotham, the DCU's Batman can take advantage of its larger-than-life cinematic universe and explore Batman's more comedic elements. Therefore, over-the-top villains like Man-Bat, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy could be The brave and the boldmain antagonists.

For some time, Clayface and Mister Freeze seemed like strong candidates for Batman - Part IImain villain role. However, The PenguinNavarro's hints about the Court of Owls make the secret society the most likely antagonistic force to Batmansequence. About that, The brave and the bold could adopt Clayface or Mister Freeze and give them a chance to shine in the DCU. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger's over-the-top portrayal of Mister Freeze in Batman and Robin hasn't been challenged in nearly thirty years and Clayface has yet to appear in a DC film. Other villains like Batman: Gotham KnightKiller Croc and Deadshot may also appear in supporting roles.

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