Matt Reeves eagerly anticipated The Batman has managed to do something that most of his superhero rivals have been unable to in the last 12 months, and that’s secure a cinematic release in the lucrative Chinese market.
Deadline reports that The Batman joins Death on the Nile (out this Saturday) as the only Hollywood release with a date in China. An actual date is yet to be confirmed, but it could be a significant move for a marketplace that hasn’t allowed any of Marvel’s 2021 slate to get a release, including the $1.8B grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The news was announced via the Warner Bros. Weibo account, where Robert Pattinson told fans that “Today, I have good news for you”. He was joined in the video by Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, and Zoë Kravitz, who added “our new movie, The Batman, will be released in China.”
The last Hollywood film to secure a China release was The Matrix: Resurrections, which performed in-line with global box-office receipts by underwhelming to the tune of a $7.5M opening weekend.
Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.
When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.
The Batman sees Robert Pattinson (The Lighthouse) donning the cape and cowl as Bruce Wayne/Batman alongside Zoe Kravitz (Big Little Lies) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Colin Farrell (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora) as Edward Nashton/The Riddler, Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Alfred Pennyworth, John Turturro (The Big Lebowski) as Carmine Falcone, Alex Ferns (Chernobyl) as Commissioner Pete Savage, Con O’Neill (Ordinary Lies) as Chief Mackenzie Bock, Peter Sarsgaard (The Killing) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson and Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as Bella Real.
The Batman is set for release on March 4th.
Originally published February 16, 2022. Updated February 15, 2022.
