After pandemic-infused production delays, The Batman is now gearing up for its highly-anticipated release in March 2022.
The film is directed by Matt Reeves, and it will feature a brand new take on the Caped Crusader who will be portrayed by Robert Pattinson. The Batman also boasts a stellar supporting cast that includes the likes of Paul Dano, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, and Andy Serkis.
Marketing for The Batman kicked into high gear during DC FanDome 2021 due to the arrival of its second trailer. The latest set of footage offers more hints about the movie's mysterious narrative while also providing fans with a glimpse at its thrilling action sequences.
Ahead of its release, an important detail about the DCEU solo flick has emerged, giving fans an overview of the project's behind-the-scenes development.
The Batman's Budget Revealed
Deadline shared that The Batman had a $100 million budget.
Among solo films of the Dark Knight, The Batman is tied with the budget of Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever.
- The Dark Knight Rises: $250 million
- The Dark Knight- $185 million
- Batman & Robin - $160 million
- Batman Begins - $150 million
- The Batman - $100 million
- Batman Forever - $100 million
- Batman Returns- $80 million
- Batman - $35 million
Meanwhile, in the DCEU realm, The Batman is at the lower end of the spectrum below Wonder Woman's $150 million and Aquaman's $160 million budget.
- Justice League: $300 million
- Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice: $263 million
- Man of Steel: $225 million
- The Suicide Squad: $185 million
- Suicide Squad: $175 million
- Aquaman: $160 million
- Wonder Woman: $150 million
- The Batman: $100 million
- Shazam!: $85 million
- Birds of Prey: $82 million
The reported budget of the films above came from The Numbers.com.
The Batman's Surprisingly Low Budget Explained
The film's budget plays a significant role in the overall success of the film, and this reported number for The Batman could give fans a preview of what to expect.
It is unknown if the ongoing global pandemic directly affected The Batman's budget, but it seems that it didn't since it appears to be in line with Matt Reeves' vision for the film.
In a special featurette released during DC FanDome 2021, Reeves described The Batman as a "detective story" and an "incredibly personal" journey with hard-hitting action. By tackling an emotional and personal narrative, incorporating a $100 million budget should be reasonable since the story will serve as its primary focus.
It's also worth pointing out that this is the first solo Batman film under the DCEU, so this could mean that the reported budget would likely increase if Warner Bros. decides to push for a sequel down the line.
Given that Gotham's hero has a plethora of weapons and Bat-gadgets, it seems that a good chunk of the budget was used for the Batmobile chase scenes that were featured in the trailer, as well as extensive action moments related to Catwoman and the Riddler. On top of the cast and crew's salaries, the budget could've been used for VFX, CGI, and even improving the ins and outs of Gotham City.
It will be interesting to find out how Reeves will balance Bruce Wayne's journey and the thrilling spectacle of being the Dark Knight in the film.
The Batman is set to premiere in theaters on March 4, 2022.
