Originally published June 21, 2017. Updated November 29, 2019.
There’s only one influential figure named Alfred in Bruce Wayne’s world, but if director Matt Reeves has anything to say about it, he may have two. Sitting down with CNET, The Batman director reveals his major inspiration for the upcoming Dark Knight solo film.
“For me, point of view is really important. I want to make sure you are experiencing something from the perspective of the main character in the story. I’m a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan – I like the idea of being immersed in that perspective.”
If there is any character where a Hitchcockian approach would work to maximum effect, it is Bruce Wayne. There is simply no other character in the DC Universe as psychologically complex as Batman. Bruce is a damaged guy, through and through. In many ways, he has never left that moment in Crime Alley. If he has never allowed himself to heal those feelings from his childhood, but actually let them guide his life and ideology: where does that leave him psychologically? Is he still a child underneath that cowl? Seeing the world from Batman’s perspective would be visceral indeed.
There is no official release date for The Batman yet, but we do know that Joe Manganiello is attached to play Deathstroke (although questions have been raised about his continued participation), with The Joker and Scarecrow also rumored to be in the film.
… You can find Jordan on Twitter (@JordJJones), and Facebook.
