The Batman Director Reveals The One Rule Warner Bros. Had For His Movie

The Batman Director Reveals The One Rule Warner Bros. Had For His Movie

Matt Reeves reveals that the intention to make The Batman a PG-13 was there from the very start, and it was something Warner Bros. were insistent on.

Matt Reeves has said that Warner Bros. asked for The Batman to be PG-13 from the very start, a request the acclaimed director was more than happy to oblige. The film sees Robert Pattinson play a younger Batman, a different version than seen onscreen before, as he takes on his first major villain, Paul Dano's murderous Riddler. Joining Pattinson and Dano is an impressive ensemble, including the likes of Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell in an unrecognizable role as the Penguin.

But although The Batman looks like the grittiest big-screen take on the Dark Knight yet, many fans were disappointed at the movie's surprisingly low PG-13 rating. Fans have begged for a darker take on the DC superhero for years, and Reeves' Batman entry looked to tick all those boxes, but the movie's audience rating may hint that it isn't as bleak as some fans were hoping for. That being said, Dano recently admitted that his time as the Riddler gave him trouble sleeping, reinforcing initial thoughts regarding the The Batman's grim tone. Fans would also do well to remember that arguably the most highly regarded entry in the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight, was also rated a mere PG-13, despite packing plenty of incredibly dark moments.

And while talking about The Batman with Collider, Reeves has revealed the origin of that much-discussed rating. Reeve's stated that, while a PG-13 was his "intention from the beginning",  it was also what Warner Bros. wanted from the start, quoting them as saying "it's important to us that the movie be PG-13. We want to make sure that we can get this ... It's a Batman movie, and we're investing so much in it". Recalling his time on the Planet of the Apes sequels, Reeves continued, saying "I knew that we could push the boundaries of what you could do in a PG-13 movie and still deliver everything I wanted to do." Check out the full quote below:

"One thing they did do, which was my intention from the beginning, was they said, "Look, it's important to us that the movie be PG-13. We want to make sure that we can get this ... It's a Batman movie, and we're investing so much in it." And I was like, "Well, in the Apes movies, I tried to sort of find that balance as well." They were meant to be sort of ... They were obviously spectacle and grand entertainment, but there was a level of intensity. I felt like in that same way, I knew that we could push the boundaries of what you could do in a PG-13 movie and still deliver everything I wanted to do.”"

It's hardly surprising that Warner Bros. wants as many people to see The Batman as possible, after a tough couple of years for cinema and so much invested in Pattinson's outing as Batman. Reeves' comparison to his two Planet of the Apes movies should also help quash any fears surrounding The Batman's age rating. Both films are fine examples of movies that push the boundaries of what makes a good, gritty PG-13, with plenty of incredible action and bleak moments without going too far for the intended audience. Trailers have also already shown how brutal Pattinson's Batman can be, so it seems Reeves is fully committed to delivering both the spectacle and intensity he talks about, but on a scale that the movie can be seen by as many people as possible.

Reeves is perhaps the best person for Warner Bros. tough ask, with a successful back catalogue of bleak PG-13 hits showcasing the director's talent at making a moody blockbuster that appeals to all audiences. Moviegoers hoping for an R-Rated cut of the movie in the future will be disappointed too, as Reeves has recently said one doesn't, and won't, exist. With anticipation for Robert Pattinson's outing as Batman continuing to grow, fans don't have long left to wait to see how Reeves' vision plays out, with The Batman due to release on March 4.