The runtime for the highly anticipated The Batman film was recently revealed, with the film set to be nearly three hours in length. According to a recent report, an earlier cut of the film was even longer.
In a new edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision newsletter, it was reported that some test screenings for The Batman showed off an early, four-hour cut of the film. While it’s unlikely that the film was ever planning on releasing a version of the film that long in theaters, it does go to show that there still seems to be a decent amount of content that director Matt Reeves has at his disposal for a potential director’s cut.
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“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens,” reads the synopsis.
“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
Joining Robert Pattinson are Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as GCPD’s James Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Ferrell as Oswald Cobblepot/ Penguin. It will also feature Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Alex Ferns, and twins Max and Charlie Carver.
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In addition to the upcoming film, Reeves is also currently developing two HBO Max series that will be set within the film’s universe. This includes a Gotham City Police project, and Penguin-centered series starring Colin Farrell.