Batman, the masked and caped superhero, has made at least 20 appearances on the big screen, from his cinematic debut in 1943’s Batman serial starring Lewis Wilson, the 1966 movie adaptation of the camp Adam West TV series, to Tim Burton’s gothic 1980s and 90s interpretations and Christopher Nolan’s 21st century The Dark Knight trilogy.
The most recent have been DC Universe versions and even Lego adventures.
You might think that’s enough, but fans would disagree, particularly as Matt Reeves’a take on the story, with Twilight heartthrob-turned-indie-darling Robert Pattinson donning the famous cape, promises to bring something entirely new to the table.
Here’s what you need to know of the new Batman movie:
When will 'The Batman' be released?
Following rewrites, changes in director, a recasting of Batman himself, and finally pandemic postponements, The Batman will finally release in UAE cinemas on Wednesday, March 3.
It premiered in the US on March 1, and will hit cinema screens in other countries on March 4.
Who’s involved?
We should perhaps begin with who’s not involved. You may remember, back in the mists of time, Ben Affleck was due to co-write, direct and star in his own Batman film as part of the DC Extended Universe. This isn’t that film, and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see it.
Affleck stepped back from directing in January 2017, initially saying he would still play Batman. War for the Planet of the Apes director Reeves was brought on board but didn’t feel he could work with Affleck’s script and wanted to cast a younger actor as Batman.
In August 2018, Reeves announced his own script was almost complete. With Affleck in rehab and mid-divorce it looked unlikely he’d be reprising the role, and in January 2019, his departure was confirmed, although he will be starring as Batman in The Flash, which is slated for release in November.
Pattinson was unveiled as the new Batman in May 2019 – Reeves claimed he’d written the part with the actor in mind, but was unsure he’d accept after turning his back on blockbusters since his high-profile role in the Twilight saga.
Further casting announcements quickly followed, including Jeffrey Wright (James Bond’s Felix Leiter) as James Gordon, Paul Dano as The Riddler, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Colin Farrell as The Penguin.
Andy Serkis is the latest big name to take on the mantle of Batman/Bruce Wayne’s faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth.
What’s it about?
Ostensibly, Batman is the tale of an orphaned billionaire who deals with the trauma of his parents’ murder by dressing up as a bat and fighting crime with the help of an array of expensive gadgets.
Reeves has promised to bring something different to our screens. The director has cited influences from horror to film noir, the last days of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and the Batman comic Year One. That doesn’t give much away in terms of plot specifics, but does suggest we may be getting the darkest big-screen version of this darkest of superheroes.
Reeves has also confirmed this will not be another origins story. We won’t be seeing the events that led to the creation of Batman, but instead join him in Gotham, where he's already in the early stages of his crime-fighting career.
Pattinson has said his Batman will focus on the character as detective – one of Batman’s many alter-egos is “the world’s greatest detective”, but this is often overlooked in favour of bombast on the big screen.
The new film is set 20 years on from when Wayne's parents were murdered, and while it does away with the well-trodden origin story, the narrative still winds around his own family history in a highly satisfying way.
Pattinson's Batman is dragged into a murder case involving the mayor of Gotham, The Riddler (Dano), The Penguin (Farrell) and Catwoman/Selina Kyle.
Finally, The Batman will not be part of the DC Extended Universe, but a stand-alone film outside it. The last time DC released such a stand-alone film was 2019’s critically acclaimed, audience-adored, Oscar-winning Joker. Let’s hope history repeats itself with The Batman.
MCU 2022: all the Marvel films and shows expected in the new year – in pictures:
The five pillars of Islam
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
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More about Middle East geopolitics
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: AF Senad, Nathan Crosse (jockey), Kareem Ramadan (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ashjaan, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Amirah, Conner Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yaasoob, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.
SPEC%20SHEET
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RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
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