You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t think that Ben Affleck’s portrayal of the Dark Knight wasn’t one of the best parts of the recent Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice movie. Affleck nailed the role of an older, more bloodthirsty Batman and so folks were excited when they heard that plans were in the works for a solo feature for Gotham’s sole protector. Rumors have spread aplenty but Comicbook.com fan, “ArkHAM”, has brought to our attention that rumor that specifically deals with the first Batfleck solo film taking place in Arkham Asylum, and that this may be pulling directly from the Arkham series of games for its inspiration. Will the first Batman film in the DC Cinematic Universe take a page from the wildly successful video games? Let’s look at the facts!
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A prevailing rumor for the upcoming Batman film that has been hitting the web is that the movie will be chock full of Gotham’s villains. While the previous Batman entries have delved into several villains, there is still a cavalcade of infamy that has yet to be explored (I mean I’m still waiting for the Ventriloquist and Scarface to hit the silver screen!). The Arkham video game series has done an exceptional job of weaving an intricate story using nearly all the villains of the Dark Knight in some form or fashion. From having to combat Mr. Freeze in a frozen crime lab to fighting Man Bat atop Gotham’s roofs to tangling with the hallucinogenic fear toxin of the Scarecrow, the series has managed to pull off quite the balancing act with making sure each of Batman’s great villains has the chance to shine. Taking a cue from this series would be the best way to fill up the latest Bat installment.
Well you may be wondering why don’t they use Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum graphic novel as a springboard and while it is a tour de force of comic book genius, it’s also extremely cerebral. I’d find it hard to believe that a big summer blockbuster would try to introduce concepts like the Joker’s ever evolving “super personality” or the “ghost of Arkham Asylum”. Granted, the movie could take several cues from this story, but a shot for shot adaptation would be nigh impossible. Also, some of the DC Cinematic Universe “Bat designs” is clearly influenced by the Arkham games. Harley Quinn’s design seems to be ripped right from the consoles while Batman’s movement during the fight scenes of Dawn of Justice harkens back to his fighting style from the Arkham series as well.
Finally, the Arkham game series covers a lot of Batman’s history, even touching upon the death of Jason Todd which was hinted at in Dawn of Justice. To have a storyline that took elements from both Arkham Asylum and Arkham Knight for the movie would seem like a slam dunk. Also, considering that the Arkham series has been the biggest Batman storyline in recent memory certainly helps its chances. What do you all think?
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