Following the release of several previews, there was an expectation that Matt Reeves’ The Batman could receive an R-rating due to the film’s more dark and violent tone.
However, last month it was revealed that the film had received a PG-13 rating for “strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.” And now, in an interview with Den of Geek, Reeves confirmed that The Batman was always intended to be PG-13 but he wanted to push the limits of how far he could take the age rating.
“In my mind, the movie was always going to be a gritty, edgy, noir, thrilling spectacle that was PG-13,” he said. “That was always what it was, but I always knew that we’d be pushing the limits of what that could be, and so we didn’t really have to cut anything…I’m happy we got the rating because I want people to be able to come to see the movie.”
SEE ALSO: The Dark Knight KOs Gordon in clip from The Batman
Matt Reeves’ The Batman will share the same age rating as previous Batman movies including all four pre-2000 Batman films, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, and the theatrical appearances of Ben Affleck’s Batman in the DCEU.
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, 2022.
