Rumor: Warner Bros. To Release Four Batman Movies In One Year
Fans of the DC Comics live-action films have been through a lot lately. There’s plenty of reason [...]
Gotham City Sirens
According to the rumored leak, the first Batman movie of 2019 will be Gotham City Sirens, releasing on Valentine's Day weekend.
Gotham City Sirens was first announced by Warner Bros in December 2016 as a spinoff of Suicide Squad. Based on the DC Comics series of the same name, the film is being fast-tracked and will see Margot Robbie reprise her role as Harley Quinn and serve as an executive producer. Suicide Squad director David Ayer will re-team with Robbie to direct Gotham City Sirens. Geneva Dworet-Robertson will write the screenplay.
Catwoman and Poison Ivy, the other two stars of the Gotham City Sirens comic book series, are expected to join Harley Quinn in the film, though it's unclear if the movie will adapt any particular storyline from the comics. Black Mask, a fixture of organized crime in Gotham City in the DC Comics Universe, is rumored to be the film's main antagonist. Filming is expected to begin this summer, with casting announcements coming soon.
Nightwing
Nightwing is said to be the second film planned for Batman's 80th anniversary, releasing Memorial Day weekend.
The report also suggests that Grant Wilson may be the antagonist of the Nightwing movie. In the DC Comics universe, Grant Wilson is the original Ravager and the older son of Deathstroke, Slade Wilson. In his original incarnation, Wilson was killed while trying to assassinate the Teen Titans, Nightwing's team of young superheroes. Wilson's death was a major motivator for Deathstroke's enmity towards Nightwing and the Titans.
In the DC Comics New 52 Universe, Grant Wilson and his father are too busy trying to kill each other to bother with the Teen Titans.
The movie will supposedly see Wilson hired to take out the organized crime bosses of Bludhaven, the city that Nightwing protects.
The Nightwing movie was first announced in February, with Bill Dubuque writing the script and The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay in negotiations to make his live-action directing debut.
Batgirl
The third Batman movie release of 2016 would be Batgirl, slated for August.
The Batgirl movie was just announced in March 2017. Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the director of Marvel's The Avengers, is expected to write, produce, and direct the film.
The Batgirl movie is said to feature Barbara Gordon as the main protagonist. It is also rumored to use Gail Simone's New 52 run on the Batgirl comic series as an inspirational starting point.
Barbara Gordon is the most iconic version of Batgirl and the most well-known to the non-comics-reading public due to her portrayal by Yvonne Craig on the classic Batman live-action television show and her appearances in Batman: The Animated Series. For a time she was paralyzed and operated as the information and tech hero Oracle, but the transition to the New 52 saw her ability to use her legs return, which led to her to taking up the Batgirl persona once more.
The Batman
And of course, the main event of Batman's 80th anniversary would have to be the first Batman solo movie to take place in the DC Extended Universe, The Batman.
According to rumors, new director Matt Reeves has a different, grander vision for The Batman than was originally planned when Ben Affleck was on board as director (Affleck will still star in the film as Bruce Wayne).
Reeves wants The Batman to feature the Batman family, meaning we should expect at least Nightwing and Batgirl to make appearances. He also wants the movie to feature most of Batman's rogues' gallery, meaning we may get more of Harley Quinn and Jared Leto's Joker. Deathstroke would also be a part of the film, just not as the primary antagonist.
However, Batman will first appear in Justice League later this year.
