Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Batman has survived nearly every major shift in modern pop culture.
Since first appearing in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, the Dark Knight has evolved across comic books, television, animation, video games, and, most prominently, film. Few characters in entertainment history have been reinvented as many times, while remaining instantly recognizable to audiences around the world.
Batman’s History in Film
On the big screen alone, Batman has passed through multiple eras.
Tim Burton introduced mainstream audiences to a darker version of Gotham with 1989’s Batman, starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The franchise later shifted into a more stylized direction under Joel Schumacher with Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997), featuring Val Kilmer and George Clooney beneath the cowl.
Years later, Christopher Nolan redefined superhero cinema with the grounded realism of Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), led by Christian Bale. The character later entered the DC Extended Universe under Zack Snyder, where Ben Affleck portrayed an older, battle-worn Batman in films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2021).
Most recently, Matt Reeves delivered a noir-inspired interpretation with The Batman (2022), starring Robert Pattinson as a younger, more detective-focused Bruce Wayne.
Related: Meet the New Batman Actor in the Upcoming DC Reboot
A New Batman That Celebrates the Character’s Entire History
Now, all of those eras — and many more — are colliding in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (2026). The upcoming third-person open-world title from TT Games and Warner Bros. Games has positioned itself as a celebration of the Caped Crusader’s entire multimedia history, drawing inspiration not only from live-action films, but animated projects, comic books, and modern reinterpretations like DC’s Absolute Batman line.
In a previously released behind-the-scenes featurette, James Gunn says, “One of the many great things about LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is that it manifests all these different elements of Batman that we’ve loved over the years,” and adds that the “game is an absolute celebration of everything Batman.”
That approach is visible throughout the game itself. Players will explore a fully open-world Gotham City featuring iconic locations like Arkham Asylum and Ace Chemicals while switching between members of the game’s Bat-Family, including Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul.
The game also recreates moments inspired by multiple Batman continuities, including sequences reminiscent of Burton’s Batman, Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Reeves’ The Batman, and Schumacher’s Batman Forever.
New Trailer Proves This Is an Official Continuation — Just in Brick Form
Now, with the May 22 release date only weeks away, Warner Bros. Games has officially released the game’s launch trailer — and one particular detail has immediately captured fan attention.
The trailer prominently features “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal, the iconic track famously associated with Batman Forever.
For many longtime fans, the inclusion feels like the perfect final touch for a game already built around Batman nostalgia. The song became inseparable from Schumacher’s 1995 film and remains one of the most recognizable pieces of music ever attached to the franchise.
Its use here also carries additional emotional weight following the death of Val Kilmer in 2025. While the trailer doesn’t explicitly state the inclusion is a tribute, many fans online have already interpreted the moment as a quiet nod to the late actor’s time as Bruce Wayne, in addition to serving as another major Easter egg within the game’s sprawling celebration of Batman history.
The game doesn’t feature any single interpretation of the Dark Knight — he’s more of a melting pot of every version that has come before, and the latest trailer is further proof of that. Bruce Wayne/Batman is voiced by Shai Matheson. As for supporting characters, heroes and villains alike, it includes the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, Danny DeVito’s Penguin, Heath Ledger’s Joker, and Tom Hardy’s Bane (voiced by Matt Berry).
Beyond its cinematic references, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight promises extensive traversal mechanics, character-specific gadgets, Batmobiles, and Batcycles, puzzle-solving systems, and storyline elements inspired by decades of source material.
The official synopsis reads:
“Step into the cowl of the Dark Knight and unite Gotham’s greatest heroes in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. Explore a vast open-world Gotham City, battle iconic villains, and experience a celebration of Batman’s legendary history across film, comics, and animation.”
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight launches May 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version arriving at a later date.
Will you be playing Legacy of the Dark Knight? Who’s your favorite Batman? Let us know in the comments below!
