A new synopsis for The Batman has been released and leans into the Year Two aspect of the story, plus new details about characters like James Gordon.
Matt Reeves previously revealed that The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, will be a Year Two story. So while Pattinson’s Batman isn’t just starting out, he’s not quite the veteran yet, either.
This is seen in how James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner. This is is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy where Gordon (Gary Oldman) began as a lieutenant before moving up the ranks to the commissioner as the trilogy progressed.
Check the new synopsis below:
“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of the 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.”
The expanded synopsis also offers new details on the criminal underworld Batman needs to face, including the high-profile victims of a new serial killer.
“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 Kravtiz), 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 brings justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
The hallmarks of a Batman story are all here. Corrupt city bureaucracy, numerous criminal organizations and villains jockeying for power, and Batman. But we haven’t seen a Riddler on-screen since Jim Carrey’s take of the character in Batman Forever.
WB released a new synopsis fairly recently that focused on Batman, describing him as no better than a “serial killer.” But dealing with another serial killer, Batman will probably look like a saint to the people of Gotham.
Check out our full coverage of The Batman here ahead of its 2022 release.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.