Summary
In 2014,DCproduced aBatmanmovie in the style of Guy Ritchie, proving that this approach would be ideal for a live-actionBatmanproject. Many animatedBatmanmovies have been produced inthe DCU timeline, triumphantly exploring classic and new stories in a diverse range of styles. As theDCU plans its future, it would be wise to consider this legacy, particularly as the timing is perfect for live-actionBatmanin 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’sBatman: Assault on Arkhamwas greatly influenced by Ritchie’s tone, which fit perfectly with the Gotham locale. The movie was a loose prequel to theBatman: Arkhamvideo game series and depicted the Suicide Squad tasked with breaking into Arkham Asylum, encountering the Dark Knight in the process.Assault on Arkhamdeftly demonstrated why a live-actionBatmanmovie in this style would flourish.
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How DC’s Batman: Assault On Arkham Movie Is Intentionally Made To Be “Like A Guy Ritchie Movie”
In a preview forBatman: Assault on Arkham, director Jay Oliva shared insights into his approach to the film (viaComingSoon). Oliva remarked that thescript 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 inBatman: Assault on Arkhamdoes recall several of Ritchie’s movies, includingLock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch. The plot concerned a complex, high-stakes robbery orchestrated by Gotham’s notorious rogues. Thisechoes numerous Ritchie moviesand 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 Arkhamalso mirrored the pacing of Ritchie’s movies, with quick cuts and rapid dialogue that established an engaging rhythmic flow.
Assault on Arkham’s plotintricately 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 asThe Gentlemen,Assault on Arkham’smain characters were morally ambiguous,with motives and backstories that contributed significantly to the overall narrative. This heist-themed plot inAssault on Arkhamdeviated from the traditional Batman narratives yet produced one of thebest animatedBatmanmovies, offering an incredibly fresh rendition of the classic franchise.
Jay Oliva directed several animated DC movies, includingBatman: The Dark Knight Part 1 & 2,Batman Vs. Robin, andBatman: Bad Blood.
Why A Guy Ritchie Batman Movie Is Perfect For The Franchise
A Guy Ritchie-styleBatmanmovie 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 approachwould work well in a grittier version of Batman. As seen inAssault 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. TheSuicide Squadmovies demonstrated how a more vivid rendition of this can work, whileThe Batmanproved that a grittier tone can succeed. Ritchie’s style could thereforefacilitate a more serious live-action DCU movie from a villain’s perspective.
The criminal underbelly in Gotham City has been explored somewhat in theBatmanmovies 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 inGotham, which successfullysurveyed 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
TheDCU’s Elseworlds initiativeprovides an ideal platform for a Guy Ritchie-style live-actionBatmanmovie, as it operates independently from the primary DCU timeline. This separation allows filmmakers to explore drastically different styles and narrativeswithout 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’sBatman, Suicide Squad,andWallerprojects.
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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 theDCU 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 primaryBatmanmovies.
Batman: Assault on Arkham
Based on DC Comics’ universe, Batman: Assault on Arkham is an animated film directed by Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding. Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, the story follows the Suicide Squad, a team of criminals assembled by Amanda Waller, as they infiltrate Arkham Asylum to retrieve vital information. Batman becomes involved, posing a significant challenge to both the criminals and their government handlers.
