BobJM
Uncle Charlie
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THE BATMAN (2018)
dir. Ben Affleck
Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman but without following the same ethical code. And when the Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.
Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ben Affleck, 46
Red Hood: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 28
VILLAINS
Joker: Willem Dafoe, 63
Roman Sionis / Black Mask: Benicio del Toro, 51
SUPPORTING
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Kate Beckinsale, 45
Alfred Pennyworth: Jeremy Irons, 70
Commissioner Jim Gordon: J.K. Simmons, 63
GOTHAM ORGANIZED CRIME
Mickey Sullivan: Brendan Gleeson, 63
Akahara (Whisper Gang Boss): Hiroyuki Sanada, 58
ADDITIONAL
Young Jason Todd / Robin: Ty Simpkins, 17
Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze: Lance Reddick, 56
Ra’s al Ghul: Ben Kingsley, 75
FULL CAST PHOTO GALLERY
STORY NOTES
Concept artist Keith Christensen
dir. Ben Affleck
Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman but without following the same ethical code. And when the Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.
Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ben Affleck, 46
Red Hood: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 28
VILLAINS
Joker: Willem Dafoe, 63
Roman Sionis / Black Mask: Benicio del Toro, 51
SUPPORTING
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Kate Beckinsale, 45
Alfred Pennyworth: Jeremy Irons, 70
Commissioner Jim Gordon: J.K. Simmons, 63
GOTHAM ORGANIZED CRIME
Mickey Sullivan: Brendan Gleeson, 63
Akahara (Whisper Gang Boss): Hiroyuki Sanada, 58
ADDITIONAL
Young Jason Todd / Robin: Ty Simpkins, 17
Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze: Lance Reddick, 56
Ra’s al Ghul: Ben Kingsley, 75
FULL CAST PHOTO GALLERY
Bruce Wayne / Batman: Ben Affleck, 46
Red Hood: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 28
VILLAINS
Joker: Joaquin Phoenix, 44
Roman Sionis / Black Mask: Benicio del Toro, 51
SUPPORTING
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Kate Beckinsale, 45
Alfred Pennyworth: Jeremy Irons, 70
Commissioner Jim Gordon: J.K. Simmons, 63
GOTHAM ORGANIZED CRIME
Mickey Sullivan: Brendan Gleeson, 63
Akahara (Whisper Gang Boss): Hiroyuki Sanada, 58
ADDITIONAL
Young Jason Todd / Robin: Ty Simpkins, 17
Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze: Lance Reddick, 56
Ra’s al Ghul: Ben Kingsley, 75
STORY NOTES
Based on the comic story line and DC original animated film of the same name written by Judd Winnick.
At its core, the film is a mystery — who is Red Hood? But it’s action-packed with Batman facing off against several villains from his Rogues Gallery.
Gotham’s organized crime is comprised of the following families:
- This is an established Batman.
- Sionis Crime Family
- Sullivan Crime Family (Irish)
- Whisper Gang (Yakuza offshoot)
Instead of Amazo, Black Mask’s goons are attempting to steal a canister that is revealed to contain another from the Rogues Gallery — CLAYFACE.
- The inclusion of Clayface into the film further adds to the mystery — is that really Jason Todd, or is it a clay facsimile?
Catwoman replaces Nightwing in this adaptation (Dick Grayson is not mentioned). She and Barman have a long history, and she shows up to the Batcave—in their 20+ year history, they’ve learned each other’s identities.
- Catwoman arrives to assist Batman before he gives chase to Red Hood.
Black Mask orchestrates a trap for Red Hood and hires Mr. Freeze to carry out the task (instead of the Fearsome Four, as in the animated film). Freeze nearly kills Hood until Batman arrives and subdues Freeze by temporarily re-teaming with his former ward.
- It’s eventually revealed that she is after Black Mask too, but for different reasons than Red Hood. She’s seeking revenge after Mask killed her friend (Holly Robinson) in Gotham’s East End.
- She agrees with Hood’s tactics which strains her relationship with Batman until she returns in the third act to help rescue Black Mask and his lieutenants from the Joker on the bridge.
Freeze has a minor role but survives to appear in future DCEU films. During his sequence, Batman questions why Freeze would team up with someone like Sionis; the money he receives from mob will help him cure Nora.
- After the fight, Freeze is about to strike an unsuspecting Batman until Hood shoots his containment suit in an attempt to murder the villain. Batman uses a cryogenic device from his belt to save Freeze and chastises Hood for his methods.
Ra’s al Ghul used up the last of the Lazarus Pit resurrecting Jason Todd and is awaiting death when Batman arrives in the Himalayas to interrogate him. When he tells Batman the truth about Robin’s survival, he admits that he went too far ‘trusting the clown’ and never challenged Batman again in the 10 years since out of respect.
- Freeze is a villain that arrived on the scene after Jason was first killed, so during the fight Hood is asking Batman what his ‘deal’ is. Batman proceeds to explain to him (and the audience) Freeze’s twisted New 52 origin.
The final confrontation is between Batman, Red Hood, and Joker — Hood wants Batman to kill Joker, or he will. The fight results in an explosion with both the Joker and Red Hood’s fates unknown.
Concept artist Keith Christensen
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