The end of the DCEU is fast approaching in 2023, with Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and The Flash being among the last films from the previous universe. However, The Flash may provide some insight into the future direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DCU. Earlier this year, Gunn revealed the initial lineup for the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, which will feature Superman Legacy, a highly anticipated film written and directed by Gunn. The project is currently in pre-production, with casting underway for the next Man of Steel. Other exciting ventures in the works include Creature Commandos, Waller, Swamp Thing, and The Brave and the Bold, which will introduce the DCU's Batman and Bat-Family, inspired by Grant Morrison's Batman comics.
The announcement of a new Batman film earlier this year came as a surprise, but it showcases Gunn and co.'s ambition. The potential for the new Brave and the Bold film is immense, especially if they draw inspiration from popular live-action Batman stories, such as The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan's middle chapter in the trilogy saw the Joker team up with various mob groups in Gotham, creating an intriguing dynamic where the antagonists were united against Batman. Replicating this in The Brave and the Bold would make for an equally captivating storyline.
The Dark Knight showed the mob working with the Joker
The Joker played by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight is often cited as one of the greatest performances in cinema history, let alone the superhero genre. He transformed the character into a force of chaos and anarchy, with no clear motive beyond causing destruction and pushing Batman to his limits. This portrayal was so impactful that it helped legitimize superhero movies as serious, award-worthy films, culminating in Ledger posthumously winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2009. The Joker's actions in the film also carried deeper meaning, with many seeing parallels to the political and social climate of the time.
To achieve his goal, the Joker strategically utilized the mob and their leaders as his allies. Though they were essentially pawns in his grand scheme of destruction, they were unaware of the full extent of his plans as they perceived him to be nothing more than a crazed man dressed in a clown costume. The dynamic between the Joker and the mob added an intriguing layer to the villainous characters in Gotham city, as they reluctantly collaborated to attain their respective desires. This also helped to streamline and focus the film's storyline.
Batman's crime families often team up with supervillains
It would be an interesting direction for The Brave and the Bold to explore the concept of supervillains joining forces with Gotham City's crime families, as seen in the comics and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. This fresh take on a Batman story could provide a unique twist for the film franchise, as previous adaptations have only featured the mob and supervillains in the same story without depicting them as allies.
In The Brave and the Bold, the characters and world of Gotham City will be portrayed in a more fantastical manner, allowing for a less realistic approach to storytelling. This is due in part to the fact that Batman and his allies will exist in the same universe as Superman and other heightened heroes and villains. Consequently, the concept of supervillains teaming up with the mob can be explored without compromising the seriousness of the story.
Moreover, the film will not limit itself to featuring only the Joker as the villain collaborating with the crime lords of Gotham. Other well-known villains such as Two-Face, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, and others may also join forces with the mob at some point. This has been explored in certain comic book storylines in the past, as well as in the TV show Gotham, which ended in 2019. Although not initially popular, Gotham is now proving to be a highly influential project in shaping the future of the DC franchise.
