Ever since the thrilling first trailer for The Batman hit the internet, fans across the
world have spent countless hours combing through every last shot, hoping to decipher some of
the trailer's fascinating riddles. Here's an in-depth look at this teaser, broken down
moment-by-moment.
Putting aside the usual studio logos and the inevitable revamped version of a classic rock
song, the first teaser for The Batman opens with the unnerving sound of unravelling duct
tape, and a few glimpses of a nearly unrecognizable version of the Riddler. Wrapped in a bottle
green trench coat and clad in a mask and dark goggles, this is a pretty unsettling and a
totally unprecedented interpretation of Batman's puzzle-loving enemy.
In place of the goofy, slapstick character many have come to associate with Edward "Nigma"
Nashton, The Batman's Riddler appears to be a colder, more calculating kind of serial
killer, more akin to the antagonists of Zodiac or Seven than…whatever this was.
"Surf's up, big Kahuna!"
Then there's the Riddler's victim: a dead man in a chair, smothered by duct tape, upon
which the killer has spelt out the words "no more lies" in ominous, blood-red letters.
All signs point to this poor sap being Don Mitchell Jr., Gotham's mayor, whose death
kicks off the movie's plot. But just why is this killer targeting an elite politician,
and what will be the after-effects of Mitchell's death on the city itself? Well, that's one
riddle that has yet to be solved.
After offering up that first glimpse of the Riddler, the trailer cuts to Jim Gordon walking
down an office hallway, flanked by some very worried-looking FBI agents and Gotham police
officers. That's because Batman is on the scene too, and it's clear his relationship
with the police is a tenuous one indeed.
Matt Reeves has pointed to Mike W. Barr's Batman: Year Two as one of the primary comic
book influences for his movie, so unlike many previous Batman films, the story for The Batman
focuses on the early years of his vigilante career. At only a year and a half into his
role as Batman, Bruce Wayne has yet to figure out his place in Gotham or how to implement
the change he envisions for his city, not to mention whether to establish a positive
working relationship with the GCPD.
As it stands, Batman is more of an urban legend at this point than a renowned caped crusader,
and so his appearance strikes fear into the hearts of everyone, including the city's police
force. After all, at this point, he's basically just a violent weirdo in a suit…and not
everyone is going to be happy to see him.
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed a number of clues appearing over the course of the
next few shots, which depict police investigators examining the crime scene — one of the more
notable being the victim's hand shrouded by a brown paper bag, for some unknown reason.
Framed newspaper clippings also line the office walls, all defaced in a manner similar to
the victim's body, with the word "LIES" written in what appears to be blood. You can pretty
much assume that this is the office of Mayor Mitchell, who, according to the clippings,
has recently won an unprecedented third term over an opponent named "Bella Reál", a political
adversary of Mitchell's who, in The Batman, is set to be played by Jayme Lawson.
Bella Reál is most likely a brand new character to the DC universe, but some fans have theorized
that the name could be a cover for someone more recognizable, such as Barbara Gordon,
otherwise known as Batgirl. Considering her name really does sound like a red herring,
and the fact that Barbara Gordon did run for political office in the comics, there's every
chance these fans are right. Or maybe they're not, and Bella Reál is just a new character
after all. Only time will tell.
It's possible to glean a little more information from the other headlines plastered on Mitchell's
walls, most notably the mention of a drug bust involving somebody called Maroni. As
any Batman fan will tell you, Salvatore Maroni is a longtime Batman villain, who, in the
comics, is most famous for being the one who throws acid into Harvey Dent's face, turning
him into the iconic villain known as Two-Face. This newspaper clipping seems to confirm that
Maroni also exists in Reeves' Batman universe, and may even make an appearance in The Batman,
although nobody has been confirmed to play the character just yet. But what role might
he have in the story?
Well, since Reeves has made it clear this murder-mystery will focus on the deep-seated
corruption in Gotham City, it's possible that the so-called "lies" highlighted by the Riddler
could bring to light a connection between the former mayor and the city's local mob
bosses. The Maroni mafia are mortal enemies with their rivals, the Falcone family, which
is headed by Carmine Falcone, and it could be that the mayor made a deal with Falcone
to bust the Maronis and eliminate the gangster's black market competition. Unlike Maroni, Carmine
Falcone is definitely set to appear in The Batman, played by John Turturro, so Gotham's
criminal kingpins certainly have some role to play in the movie's plot.
By far the most important clue left at the Riddler's crime scene is the card planted
on Mayor Mitchell's body. Its vibrant green envelope is a nod to the villain's iconic
outfit from the comics, and provides a reminder of the stark contrast between the character's
colorful origins and Reeves' new noir interpretation.
On the front of the card, there's a colorful Halloween-themed image, complete with a playful
skeleton, bat, and owl. The owl can most likely be interpreted as a pointed reference to the
Court of Owls, a secret organized crime group with deep ties to Gotham's elite, including
the Wayne family.
If the Court is connected to the film's plot, Bruce is likely to discover some disturbing
truths concerning his own family's past, which could find him questioning his parents' own
involvement in Gotham's corruption. The card's holiday theme may also be a reference to another
inspiration for Reeves: Batman: The Long Halloween, a 13-issue comic book series which centers
around a conflict between, you guessed it, Salvatore Maroni and Carmine Falcone.
"Any of this mean anything to you?"
As you might expect, considering who's behind this crime, there's a riddle written inside
the card left on Mitchell's body: "What does a liar do when he's dead?"
Alongside this cryptic question are a series of mysterious glyphs that, according to a
number of internet sleuths, reveal the answer to the card's riddle: "He lies still." This
simple yet dark pun fits perfectly with the Riddler's M.O., and provides a little insight
into the character's own perspective on the world. According to the Riddler, a liar is
perfectly capable of deception long after their death, unless, of course, the living
do something to rectify it. The simplest explanation behind this riddle is that the dead liar in
question is Mayor Mitchell, but who knows? Considering the note is addressed to the Batman,
there's a good chance it has implications reaching far back into the caped crusader's
past, or even Bruce Wayne's.
Moving on from the Riddler's crime scene, the trailer shows a press conference, most
likely concerning Mitchell's death, being held by the Gotham City Police Department.
And the man just off to the left is actually a legacy Batman character, Police Chief Mackenzie
Bock, as played by Chernobyl's Con O'Neill.
This canon character first came to prominence in the DC comic book series "No Man's Land",
in which he's depicted as a rogue anti-hero and Dirty Harry type who goes by the nickname
"Hardback," earned for his voracious reading appetite. In the "No Man's Land" storyline,
Bock splits with the Gotham City Police Department, only to form alliances with criminals like
Oswald Cobblepot, in an effort to aid a post-apocalyptic Gotham. This sets an interesting context for
O'Neill's character, who has never before appeared in a live action Batman movie.
Speaking at the conference is Commissioner Peter Savage, who stands beside a cluster
of GCPD officers, a distraught-looking Gordon, and a crying woman dressed in black, most
likely Mayor Mitchell's grieving wife. Meanwhile, a shadowy Bruce Wayne watches silently from
afar. Is he just keeping tabs on the aftermath of Mitchell's death? Or could he be scoping
out a potential enemy in Chief Bock and his colleague, Commissioner Savage?
After spying on Bock's press conference, Batman departs on a motorcycle, and pulls up to a
cavernous, damp, and poorly lit space littered with various pieces of computer tech and fabrication
equipment. It appears that this is an underground room akin to a proto-Batcave, with the barely
visible words "Wayne Terminal" etched into the overhead stone archway.
This location raises a number of questions. First, just where is it? Is this place some
sort of abandoned subway station, once operated by the Waynes? And does its damp appearance
link it to the "stalled seawall construction" mentioned in one of the newspaper clippings
on Mayor Mitchell's walls?
Bruce would certainly have the power and wealth to halt construction on a project such as
Gotham's seawall, which might have interfered with his secret base of operations. Plus,
an abandoned subway linking to an underground network beneath the city would certainly be
an ideal way to travel throughout Gotham in a stealthy and efficient manner. This might
not be quite as conventional a Batcave as we've seen in other Batman movies, but it
would definitely be a fascinating new take on an iconic comic location.
Arguably the biggest set-piece in the trailer is Mayor Mitchell's funeral, which takes place
in what appears to be Gotham City Cathedral. Bruce Wayne is in attendance, along with dozens
of other mourners, and, inevitably, things go wrong pretty quickly, when a black SUV
crashes through the church doors, almost killing a young boy standing directly in its path.
The car is covered with the letters "DOA" written in spray paint, which seems to be
Riddler's idea of a sick joke, referencing the medical term "dead on arrival." Out of
the vehicle steps an unfortunate hostage with a cell phone taped to one hand, an explosive
device strapped to his neck, and a yellow envelope addressed to Batman duct-taped to
his chest.
Later in the trailer, Batman is seen in the now-evacuated church, attempting to save the
doomed man while a bomb-disarming robot stands by, only for the bomb to explode in a massive
fireball, throwing Batman backwards in the process. Can't win 'em all, Bats.
Catwoman is a quintessential character in any Batman development story, and sure enough,
Selina Kyle will be a pivotal part of this film. Played by Zoë Kravitz, Catwoman is
first glimpsed breaking into a safe at the scene of Mayor Mitchell's death.
Whether she is working independently or in cahoots with other criminal parties is yet
to be revealed, but don't be surprised if Selina prefers to forge her own path, rather
than throwing in with the others. Later in the trailer, Catwoman has a physical altercation
with Batman, which longtime fans will doubtless recognize as the equivalent of flirting for
these particular frenemies.
Reeves has stated that all of the movie's iconic characters will be finding their footing
during The Batman, meaning heroes and villains alike will feel a little unrefined, as they're
still in the midst of discovering their true natures. So, not only will Batman be struggling
to make his mark on Gotham City, but Selina Kyle herself may not have formally ironed
out her Catwoman identity, not just yet, at least.
The teaser for The Batman then leads to a rainy night outside a building bearing the
sign "Gotham Recycling: City of Gotham Sanitation Eastside Depot." Here, Colin Farrell's Oswald
Cobblepot is standing alongside other criminals in an apparent meeting, while Batman watches
from afar. As many fans have pointed out, Farrell's prosthetics and makeup make him
look practically unrecognizable, so much so, in fact, that Jeffrey Wright reportedly once
confused his co-star for a complete stranger.
Cobblepot's meeting at the sanitation depot would imply that he has ties to Carmine Falcone,
since the docks in that area are likely involved with the mobster's businesses. As a result,
you can make a pretty safe bet that the Penguin will be somehow involved in the corruption
that's plaguing Gotham City…which could even make him a target for the Riddler himself.
A little later, the trailer cuts back to a shootout at the Sanitation Depot between two
groups of men, one of which is led by an enraged Cobblepot. What exactly goes down here has
yet to be seen, but let's be honest, it's probably going to be more than a little shady.
In his quest to become Gotham's greatest defender, Bruce Wayne has mastered the art of hand-to-hand
combat, making him quite a mess to tangle with in a corner. This is a lesson a group
of street thugs learn the hard way during the first teaser for The Batman. Interestingly,
these bad guys all have painted faces, which could have any number of implications for
the movie's story.
The obvious connection is that two of these thugs in particular bear more than a passing
resemblance to the Joker and Two-Face, which might suggest they're paying homage to these
iconic Gotham villains. Of course, the similarities here might just be little more than easter
eggs. They also look a little like the Royal Flush Gang, a group of playing card-themed
bad guys who Batman has faced a handful of times in the comics. Most likely, however,
the gang's painted faces are a reference to the Dia de Los Muertos, which would tie in
to The Batman's supposed links to The Long Halloween.
Whatever their origins, one of the thugs squares up to Batman, taunts him, and immediately
has the ever-living bejesus kicked out of him as a response. As the rest of the gang
watches in terror, Batman rises from the ground and delivers that immediately iconic line.
"I'm vengeance."
Reeves' vision for The Batman offers up a unique take on Gotham's heroes and villains
in a number of ways, and this sequence is a good example of how: Such raw displays of
Batman's rage are rarely seen in live-action adaptations, instead mostly remaining restricted
to the comic books or animation. It's honestly not an exaggeration to say that most people
have never before seen a Batman quite like this.
The tension between Batman and Gotham's police force is a repeated theme in DC Comics. In
the canon material, it takes years for Batman to cultivate a sense of trust with Jim Gordon
during the latter's ascension to commissioner of the force, while the majority of the GCPD
remains skeptical at best. Once Batman has his trust, however, Gordon remains a tireless
conduit between Gotham's police and the shadowy vigilante who stands outside the law.
From the looks of it, this aspect of their relationship between Gordon and Batman will
be a key part of The Batman, as the trailer shows Gordon de-escalating a fight between
Batman and a group of officers. And this clearly isn't the only time Bruce has run into trouble
with the law, a later scene shows Batman escaping up a stairwell with his grappling hook, as
gunfire rings around him from police officers below.
Batman's conflict with the Gotham City Police Department may have something to do with his
unveiling layers of corruption within the police department. And this theme will carry
on beyond the movie, too, as it should form the basis for the spinoff prequel series slated
to air on HBO Max. The as-yet unnamed show is inspired by Batman: Year One, and will
expand upon the film's examination of corruption in Gotham City, Gordon's relationship with
his fellow officers, and his blossoming bond with Batman himself.
Of course, a Batman movie couldn't be a Batman movie without the Batmobile, and sure enough,
this trailer delivers a few early glimpses at Reeves' vision for Batman's legendary car.
The Batman's version of the Batmobile features gorgeous body lines reminiscent of classic,
old school Detroit muscle cars, and is powered by a gloriously insane, rear-mounted turbine
engine, which spits white-hot flames from the rear.
The frame has been modified into a race-quality tube chassis, wrapped in a custom, paper-thin,
sheet metal body with a vented front hood. This car is as hot and angry as a young Bruce
Wayne's unbridled wrath, so it's little wonder that it's been such a hit with fans so far.
The latter part of The Batman's teaser trailer poses another question from the Riddler, who
asks: "If you are justice, please do not lie. What is the price for your blind eye?" This
rhyming riddle again suggests that Batman will have to take a long, hard look at some
of the issues that hit close to home, perhaps including his own family's corrupt past.
As the trailer winds down, we hear a brief segment from an interaction between Batman
and the Riddler.
"You're part of this, too."
"How am I part of this?"
"You'll see."
Aside from the obvious plot implications, this moment harkens back to some other influences
from the comic books, including Darwin Cooke's brilliantly insightful Batman: Ego. Here,
just like in the best comics and adaptations, Bruce appears to be genuinely haunted. Smeared
with black eye makeup, his eyes pierce the screen with all the melancholy anger that
fans have come to expect from the World's Greatest Detective.
And that's the end of it. The Batman is still in production, so there's a heck of a lot
more of this movie that has yet to be seen, but there's still an awful lot for fans to
unpack in what little this teaser has shown. For more answers to this movie's many riddles,
you're just going to have to wait it out, until October 1st, 2021. You know what they
say: patience is a virtue.
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