In 2014, DC produced a Batman movie in the style of Guy Ritchie, proving that this approach would be ideal for a live-action Batman project. Many animated Batman movies have been produced in the DCU timeline, triumphantly exploring classic and new stories in a diverse range of styles. As the DCU plans its future, it would be wise to consider this legacy, particularly as the timing is perfect for live-action Batman in Guy Ritchie’s style.

Guy Ritchie is an acclaimed director known for his gritty gangster movies and heist narratives that frequently feature an idiosyncratic tone and energy. DC’s Batman: Assault on Arkham was greatly influenced by Ritchie’s tone, which fit perfectly with the Gotham locale. The movie was a loose prequel to the Batman: Arkham video game series and depicted the Suicide Squad tasked with breaking into Arkham Asylum, encountering the Dark Knight in the process. Assault on Arkham deftly demonstrated why a live-action Batman movie in this style would flourish.

How DC’s Batman: Assault On Arkham Movie Is Intentionally Made To Be “Like A Guy Ritchie Movie”

In a preview for Batman: Assault on Arkham, director Jay Oliva shared insights into his approach to the film (via ComingSoon). Oliva remarked that the script lent itself well to Guy Ritchie’s typical tone. Oliva explained:

“For this film, when I read the script, it was very different than what I was used to, because I started prepping for this film, I thought to myself ‘Well you know what, if I directed this a little differently… what if I directed this like a Guy Ritchie film.'”

The narrative in Batman: Assault on Arkham does recall several of Ritchie’s movies, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. The plot concerned a complex, high-stakes robbery orchestrated by Gotham’s notorious rogues. This echoes numerous Ritchie movies and the wider British crime genre. Indeed, Oliva described it as a “very heist, kind of Italian Job film,” referencing the iconic gold theft movie starring Michael Caine. Assault on Arkham also mirrored the pacing of Ritchie’s movies, with quick cuts and rapid dialogue that established an engaging rhythmic flow.

Assault on Arkham‘s plot intricately incorporated the plans and personalities of multiple characters. Each member of the Suicide Squad had a nuanced complexity reminiscent of Ritchie’s ensemble casts. Like many of Ritchie’s movies, such as The Gentlemen, Assault on Arkham’s main characters were morally ambiguous, with motives and backstories that contributed significantly to the overall narrative. This heist-themed plot in Assault on Arkham deviated from the traditional Batman narratives yet produced one of the best animated Batman movies, offering an incredibly fresh rendition of the classic franchise.

Why A Guy Ritchie Batman Movie Is Perfect For The Franchise

A Guy Ritchie-style Batman movie would be a phenomenal addition to the DCU. Ritchie is widely acclaimed, so repeating his style can only benefit any movie in the DCU. However, more importantly, the approach would work well in a grittier version of Batman. As seen in Assault on Arkham, Ritchie’s fast-paced, dynamic storytelling complements the dark, complex world of Gotham City.

Ritchie’s movies frequently feature morally complex characters, much like many of the main players in Gotham City. With intriguing motivations and a preponderance of self-preservation, many of Batman’s adversaries could be adapted to Ritchie’s tone perfectly. The Suicide Squad movies demonstrated how a more vivid rendition of this can work, while The Batman proved that a grittier tone can succeed. Ritchie’s style could therefore facilitate a more serious live-action DCU movie from a villain’s perspective.

The criminal underbelly in Gotham City has been explored somewhat in the Batman movies but is often overshadowed by more bombastic adversaries. However, in DC Comics, it remains a vital aspect, frequently featuring a slight gangster tone. This was explored in Gotham, which successfully surveyed the complicated criminal network in Batman’s home city. Depicting a comparable circumstance in a live-action movie using Ritchie’s famed style would be immensely effective, which the DCU is in the perfect position to actualize.

DC Has Set Up The Perfect Excuse For A Live-Action Guy Ritchie-Style Batman Movie

The DCU’s Elseworlds initiative provides an ideal platform for a Guy Ritchie-style live-action Batman movie, as it operates independently from the primary DCU timeline. This separation allows filmmakers to explore drastically different styles and narratives without the constraints of preserving continuity with the central storylines. Consequently, a Ritchie-style Batman film could stand alone as a unique and innovative project, separate from the franchise’s Batman, Suicide Squad, and Waller projects.

By leveraging the concept of multiverses and variants, now well-established in the comic book genre, the DCU can justify and explore diverse cinematic approaches. This means that the DCU could experiment with making standalone movies, much like the DC Animated Universe has done for years with immense success. As such, DC has positioned itself perfectly to produce a Ritchie-style movie while still perusing the DCU’s primary Batman movies.

Source: ComingSoon