Welcome to the Labor Day 2022 BOF Mailbag! No time to waste… let’s get to yall’s questions!
Considering how it feels like much of Hush’s character was integrated into Paul Dano’s Riddler and how different the backstory for what appeared to be Hush’s father in THE BATMAN was from the comics, wouldn’t that mean that if we ever see Tommy Elliot in future projects from Reeves that he’d probably be heavily revamped and reimagined as a character?
JETT SAYS: I would certainly hope so. I’m not a fan of the character personally, so if Matt Reeves can take the character of Tommy Elliot/Hush and drastically improve upon the comic book version, it would be welcomed.
Hello Bill! BOF has been around for over 20 years now. What is the greatest thing you’ve gained from running this site?
JETT SAYS: Yes it has — BOF will be celebrating its 25 anniversary next year in 2023!
I’d say BOF’s biggest accomplishment is creating a community — a family, if you will — made up of the very best Batman fans in the world!
ALSO READ | The August 2022 BOF Mailbag
Hey sir, you ever miss the early 2000s BOF website and would you ever bring back the black background? I miss when spoilery stories had black text that we had to highlight to read! #BOFMailbag
— Jamesy Man (@Jamzarm) September 2, 2022
JETT SAYS: Probably not. Since I don’t post spoilers and bullshit, I don’t think I need to redact anything, you know?
Have you ever thought about doing a BOF monthly cooking article where someone from the site shares a recipe or something like that? I really like listening to those conversations on the Social Hour podcasts when they happen.
JETT SAYS: Great idea and duly noted!
Since it appears that the “connected” universe may continue in some fashion, and JOKER and THE BATMAN are clearly their own things separate from that, what would be a “Black Label” story you would like to see someday? I think an easy one would be BATMAN BEYOND.
JETT SAYS: Definitely BATMAN BEYOND. I’d also love to see a Superman film set in 1938. I think WB should definitely continue and expand with more “Black Label” films like JOKER and THE BATMAN. Disney/Marvel Films would never movies like that with their Marvel properties. It’s an advantage for Warner Bros./DC Films. I’m quite sure that filmmakers would be attracted to those types of DC film projects and not have to adhere to the continuity established by the films that exist in a shared universe.
Do you expect The Batman sequels to also be murder mysteries as in most detective series or to explore a different kind of genre?
I don’t remember if Reeves ever said if he wanted the detective aspect to be the focus of just this movie or the whole trilogy/saga of movies— L_Wayne (@l_wayne2) August 31, 2022
JETT SAYS: I suspect Matt Reeves will include genres that the story dictates. I also believe that the detective aspect of this Batman will be an important part of the character and the films going forward. Remember, Batman was far from being “The World’s Greatest Detective” in THE BATMAN.
Did you ever find out what is in the pouch on the Batman’s side/thigh?
— Jonathan Grant (@thinkofacard) August 31, 2022
JETT SAYS: According to THE ART OF THE BATMAN, it’s a “Sticky Bomb Gun.”
What is Bruce Wayne’s favorite food to BBQ?
JETT SAYS: Brisket…smoked “Texas Style.”
If you were given the offer to create something with Batman what medium would you want to do it in a comic, television, or film?
JETT SAYS: Oh man…I’m not a creative! If I had to, probably a film…as a consultant.
Knowing the difference between the Marvel and DC characters, what do you think about having a “Kevin Feige” figure for DC Films as well? What’s your take on the subject?
JETT SAYS: I think the term “WB/DC’s Kevin Feige” is a dumb term that’s insulting to whoever gets the DC Films gig at WB as well as Kevin Feige. I do think it’s a good idea that there be an executive to lead DC Films at the studio. I mean, they’ve had one in Walter Hamada for a while now, so this isn’t really something new. Whether Dan Lin ultimately gets the gig or someone else, they must understand that DC and Marvel are very different and they should NOT try to copy what Disney/Marvel Films did with the MCU.
Since Momoa announced that there were multiple Batmans in AQUAMAN 2, do you think it’s possible that was not a replacement scene (with Ben Affleck) and still Keaton is in it as well?
JETT SAYS: Honestly, I had not heard that from Jason Momoa, but if he said that I suppose it’s possible. However, I don’t know how Keaton’s Batman/Bruce Wayne will be AQUAMAN now since it will be released before THE FLASH. And Keaton’s Batman doesn’t “exist” until that film. I wish AQUAMAN 2 was just about Aquaman and that world and wouldn’t include any Bat-cameos at all.
Would it have been better for Keaton to be brought back for a solo film under the separate banner of films like THE BATMAN and JOKER…instead of dropping him into the mess of the “DCEU”? Cheers!
JETT SAYS: In hindsight, yes. Perhaps they should’ve done a BATMAN BEYOND movie (and maybe they will one day) with Keaton as the aged Bruce Wayne instead. With that said, the premise of THE FLASH is pretty cool and the film is testing very well, so it may end up being a success for the studio and Keaton’s Batman. We shall see.
Do you think that the BATMAN ’66 series would have been as successful, and had the lasting impact that it has had (saving DETECTIVE COMICS from cancelation, etc.) if the show was played straight, and not campy for laughs? Or would it have petered out after one season similar to the GREEN HORNET? Or, do you think it had the potential for being even more successful if taken seriously?
JETT SAYS: Great question.
I think it was a success due to the fact it was what it was — you know what I’m sayin’? It was just a perfect storm of the times — the mid-1960s — and the product. If they had tried to do a “dark and serious” TV series version of Batman back then, I do not think it would’ve had the success that it did.
In your best estimation, who from Justice League keeps their job or comes back (for something more than a cameo e.g. Affleck in Aquaman 2) in this universe WBD seems to be going for?
JETT SAYS: Hell, I have no idea…and frankly, I couldn’t care less. All I’m really interested in going forward is THE BATMAN UNIVERSE. But if I had to guess, I’d say Momoa and Gal Gadot are “safe.” After that, all bets are off.
So tell me you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight also do you think we will get THE BATMAN 2 by the end of 2025 and who’s your best bet for the villain, I’m thinking Freeze.
JETT SAYS: Yes, I say the sequel to THE BATMAN will be released in 2025 — probably as a Summer tentpole as was originally planned for the first films.
Villain? No idea and I don’t like to make predictions. I’m of the belief that you come up with the story you want to tell first and which villain(s) to include will take care of itself.
Freeze? What makes you think Matt Reeves would go with him? For the record, I do think you could do a version of the character that would fit into the world of THE BATMAN. Victor Fries doesn’t have to be literally frozen to be “Mister Freeze.”
The end of THE BATMAN saw some modifications to the Batcycle. Most noticeably the Bat-motif added to the front. Going forward into THE BATMAN 2 given the world Matt Reeves has built, should they leave the Batmobile as is or do you think it’ll evolve into something a bit more theatrical?
JETT SAYS: I’m sure Batman will continue to make improvements to his tech in the sequels, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Batmobile gets modifications. The key thing, at least for me, is that it’s Bruce Wayne who continues to invent and improve his technology, not Lucius Fox — though I would like to see the character enter this world as the head of Wayne Enterprises, but not as Batman’s “Q.”
Will Michael Keaton appear as Bruce Wayne/Batman in anything after THE FLASH? BATMAN BEYOND? DARK KNIGHT RETURNS? Anything?
JETT SAYS: It now looks as if Keaton’s turn as Batman/Bruce Wayne in THE FLASH will be a one-off. It’s my hope that WB does a “Black Label” film with him — like BEYOND or RETURNS — but I don’t know if that’s likely. Here’s hoping.
Might need a crystal ball for this one! Keaton or Affleck as the main timeline Batman going forward (post-Flash/AM2)?
JETT SAYS: See my answer to the previous question. (It looks as if Affleck might come back and do these extended cameos in DC films — but nothing’s set in stone.)
What is your opinion of the now-dead BATGIRL movie?
JETT SAYS: Give THIS a listen for the answer to that question…
It looks like Cavill’s tenure as superman might be over. What are his odds of landing the 007 role?
JETT SAYS: I say we wait to see how all this DC stuff shakes out at WBD. Maybe Cavill finally gets a proper MAN OF STEEL sequel ala a soft reboot? I just hope he doesn’t return simply for cameos and playing second fiddle to other characters (i.e. Black Adam).
Favorite Elvis song? (Mine is a bit of a deep cut. “Love Me.”)
JETT SAYS: “Heartbreak Hotel.” My favorite musical eras of Elvis are the Sun Records stuff (1954-55) and “From Elvis in Memphis” (1969). The latter is probably his great studio album.
Do we expect to see Battinson cameos In any future TV spin-offs from THE BATMAN?
JETT SAYS: I’m sure that’s possible…even if it’s not Pattinson in the suit.
