Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns Recreated in Fan Film

Despite spawning a critically acclaimed animated film and influencing live-action blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and Zach Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Frank Miller‘s “The Dark Knight Returns” has left fans of the seminal graphic novel longing for a complete live-action adaptation of its own.

And that’s where this fan-made film comes in.

Filmmaker Wyatt Weed has managed to create the “The Dark Knight Returns” movie we have been waiting for. Shot in the St. Louis area on an extremely lean $2500 budget, Weed’s adaptation finally brings the landmark 1986 story of a post-Batman Gotham to life. Check it out above!

Weed, who wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film, remained loyal to the darkness of Miller’s story of a Gotham gone to hell while balancing the tone, something that Batman v Superman was criticized for not getting quite right.

With vibrant characterizations and almost comedic news reports sprinkled throughout the film, Weed’s film never feels overwhelming, keeping viewers interested and engaged. The over-the-top news anchor prevents things from getting too grim in this near-dystopian world and nails the ominous last moments of the film with the Joker literally breaking his silence and leaves audiences asking what’s next.

Unfortunately, the forty-five-minute film only takes on the first of the four part comic series, but it’s enough to show just how incredible “The Dark Knight Returns” translates to film and we’re left wanting more.

Justice League opens in theaters on November 17th, 2017.

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy. Despite the formation of an unprecedented league of heroes — Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash — it may be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, based on a story by Snyder and Terrio, Justice League stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Adams, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons.