The cops call Batman by beaming a magnified Bat-signal across the night sky, according to legend. That's an apt metaphor for the character's contentious film history, which has thrown an abnormally long shadow thanks to fans who are convinced of how the Dark Knight should be portrayed.
Batman, who first appeared in 1939, is neither the first nor the best superhero. Fans have reacted with fervor to various methods to adapting him for the film, including frenzied knee-jerk reactions. This included the boos that greeted the casting of Michael Keaton (an obviously unusual choice) in the 1980s, and probably most notably Ben Affleck in 2013.
Affleck acknowledged to being "hurt" by an internet petition against his role in "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" in a December interview with Howard Stern. Stern, for one, noted that "no matter who gets the job," Batman fans have a history of grumbling.
Fans of comics who want to stay true to the source material have had reason to be leery of Hollywood over the years.The 1970s were a watershed moment for Batman in comics, signaling a shift away from the lightheartedness and camp of the 1960s "Batman" TV program — with its "Wap! Bam! Pow!" graphics — and toward a darker portrayal of the caped vigilante.
"The Batman," starring Robert Pattinson, is the most recent movie adaptation of the character, and it feels like it was made to appeal to the character's devoted following. The picture is brooding and solemn, catering to those who grew up with Batman as a creature of the night, an image developed by comic-book illustrators Marshall Rogers and Neal Adams in the 1970s, as well as Frank Miller in the seminal graphic novel "The Dark Knight Returns."
Another comic created by Miller, "Batman: Year One," which depicts an early stage in his crimefighting career, has been recognized by director/co-writer Matt Reeves as one of his influences.In 'Zack Snyder's Justice League,' Ben Affleck plays Batman.
These comics shifted Batman's image to a more mature tone, which influenced filmmaker Tim Burton's 1989 film. Despite its success, sequels directed by the late Joel Schumacher, featuring Val Kilmer and subsequently George Clooney, restored the kind of broad camp that many comics aficionados perceived as a throwback to the bad old days.
Christopher Nolan changed that with his "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," and "The Dark Knight Rises" trilogy, which featured Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance as the Joker — a level of prestige rarely seen in superhero movies.
However, Batman's on-screen iterations have always included reinvention. According to Toby Emmerich, chairman of the Warner Bros. Picture Group (which, like CNN, is part of WarnerMedia), Reeves' task was to "create a Batman that is fascinating, dynamic, and thrilling, but unlike anything we've seen before," as reported by the New York Times.
While the film is expected to have a strong opening weekend, its longevity will be determined not only by how dedicated fans react, but also by whether those who are less devoted join them in returning to theaters.
When Affleck was chosen, CNN's Jake Tapper joked that the hot reaction would be "the controversy driving this country apart: Batfleck." The following year, Affleck admitted to Entertainment Weekly that Warner Bros. had warned him about the potential for backlash, quoting studio executives as stating, "Are you certain you want to get involved in this? This is now an inextricable part of these films. There are a lot of active fans with a lot of different viewpoints."
That dynamic has been reinforced by social media, which has created echo chambers where people with "a lot of opinions" may commiserate with like-minded people or dispute with dissenters.
Of course, the loudest voices aren't usually the most represented, especially when it comes to something like Batman. They do, however, illustrate why the Bat-signal has such a particular place in pop culture: because so many people believe they know what's best for the character, believing that he belongs to them, regardless of who wears the outfit.
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