The Batman was a refreshing change in the turbulent DC Extended Universe. Taking a different approach from earlier DC and Batman movies, this 2022 flick starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayn is essentially a noir-style mystery that highlights the superhero’s detective abilities in addition to his physical prowess.
Not only did it create a bleak new Gotham City, but it also featured some of the best performances from Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon), Zoë Kravitz (Catwoman), and of course, Pattinson (Batman).
However, the film was met with some skepticism following Christopher Wozniak, a screenwriter and former freelance artist for DC Comics, filing a lawsuit against Warner Bros. for allegedly stealing the story from his script, The Ultimate Riddle.
Well, the plaintiff has not been pleased with the verdict, as the US Judge ruled that Matt Reeves’ helmed flick was not plagiarized.
The Batman: A Legal Victory for Robert Pattinson’s Film
The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves, is now free of several major legal issues. The script was allegedly plagiarized, according to DC Comics writer and freelance artist Christopher Wozniak. Nonetheless, a New York judge decided on Wednesday of this week that Warner Bros. Entertainment could not be held legally accountable for the copying (via Reuters).
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled in a 45-page decision that neither WB nor Reeves had copied Wozniak’s story The Ultimate Riddle, now known as The Blind Man’s Hat. When the lawsuit was made public, R. Terry Parker, Wozniak’s attorney, made the following statements:
“There are so many original expressions from my client’s story found in the defendant’s movie that we believe this is clear case of copyright infringement. The similarities are just too uncanny to be accidental.”
Remarkably, though, the Judge not only disagreed that DC/WB had stolen Wozniak’s ideas for The Batman but also noted that the latter’s original story violated DC’s copyright regulations. As the judge put it in writing:
“The story’s use of the Batman character and the surrounding protected elements is an act of clear and blatant copyright infringement.”
This ruling comes as a relief to The Batman fans. In addition to Robert Pattinson, who played the iconic Caped Crusader, the film featured Zoë Kravitz, John Turturro, Paul Dano, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, and Colin Farrell.
Christopher Wozniak’s Lawyer ‘Respectfully Disagree’ With The Court’s Decision?
Christopher Wozniak was hired by DC Comics as a freelance artist in the 1990s, and when he wrote The Ultimate Riddle, he violated copyrights, according to US District Judge Paul Engelmayer. However, Wozniak’s attorney, Terry Parker, sent an email stating (per Reuters):
“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision and are considering our next steps.”
Meanwhile, Wozniak said he was “stunned” to learn that The Batman was a copy of The Ultimate Riddle. The judge ruled that significant similarities between the works were too commonplace to bolster Wozniak’s copyright claim. Also, Wozniak’s “wholly speculative” explanation for how Warner Bros. might have obtained access to his story, which was dismissed by the judge.
There was no immediate response from Warner Bros. and DC Comics attorney. Warner Bros. was sued by Wozniak in October of 2022 (see NY Post). Two months later, DC Comics sued Wozniak, citing thousands of copyrights for Batman works dating back to 1941.
So Gotham City can rest easy knowing that justice has been served, both in the Batman universe and in the courtroom. In addition, a sequel to The Batman is currently under development, with a release date of October 6, 2026.
Max is currently streaming The Batman.
