Robert Pattinson impressed the DC fans with his Bruce Wayne/Batman portrayal in The Batman. Challenging him in the movie was the Caped Crusader’s old rival, The Riddler, which Paul Dano portrayed. Given that it garnered positive acclaim amid a time when many were going through superhero fatigue, the latter seems to have a definite answer.
In a new interview, he talked about how the 2022 movie became a critical and commercial success, unlike the recent Marvel films.
Paul Dano Commented on Why The Batman Was Successful
Paul Dano has already cemented a great legacy in Hollywood with his acclaimed projects like Prisoners (2013) and Love & Mercy (2014). He also took serious roles like a convicted murderer in Escape at Dannemora miniseries and The Riddler opposite Robert Pattinson in The Batman.
Given that The Batman movie was a huge success in the superhero category at a time when others were struggling to break even, the actor commented on how it managed to surge past that crisis.
Talking to the Independent, he stated,
“There are enough comic book movies where you just know what you’re gonna get. Reading the script for The Batman, you knew it was a real film. Every sentence… that’s just [writer/director] Matt Reeves.”
The 39-year-old actor has high regard for the movie even though Pattinson’s character is more street-level, existing outside a cinematic universe. However, the Caped Crusader remained true to its iconic comic character. While it garnered a little criticism for its runtime, it can be overshadowed by the praise the project received from critics and moviegoers. Dano also threw light on the recent superhero fatigue that affected the project’s quality.
Paul Dano Expressed His Views on What Went Wrong With Superhero Genre!
Superhero franchises like Marvel Studios have continued to face criticism due to their poor quality of projects. Whether it be Eternals (2021) or the recently underperformed movie, The Marvels (2023), it has continued to disappoint its fans. The studio has continued to bring new stories and characters leaving little gap to develop a character properly.
In the case of Eternals, several new characters were introduced however, many would agree that the project lacked many elements including the story of their characters. Superhero fatigue has affected many fans, leaving less opportunity for a project to get its desired exposure. Dano reflected on the topic, claiming how it is affected by an erratic film industry.
“It’s an interesting moment where everybody has to go like, ‘OK – what now?’ Hopefully from that, somebody either breathes new life into [comic book movies], or something else blossoms which is not superheroes. I’m sure there will still be some good ones yet to come, but I think it’s kind of a welcome moment.”
He continued,
“It’s a larger thing, too. As soon as the word ‘content’ came into what we do – meaning making movies or TV – it meant quantity over quality, which I think was a big misstep. And I certainly don’t need that as a viewer or as an artist.”
Even Dano knows how better content can solve the issues the genre is currently facing. Quality over quantity should always be preferred when it comes to content.
Meanwhile, Matt Reeves’ The Batman is available on Max.
