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Credit: DC / Warner Bros.While we’re all very excited for the official return of Michael Keaton’s Batman in the upcoming sequel to Tim Burton’s 1989 film, we’re suddenly a bit distracted, as the Batsuit for another Batman project — a live-action horror movie — has now been revealed.
Recently, we reported that a new Batman film, a horror titled Gotham Noir, is in early development. Now, costume/prop maker and movie critic, Chris Stanley, best known for his YouTube channels, Chris Stanley and Cosplay Chris, who’s producing the film and starring as Bruce Wayne/Batman, has revealed the Gotham Noir Batman cowl in a new video.
Stanley has teamed up with Sarah Leiker (director, actor) and Danielo Barcelli (director) of Luxxe Media, and Womp Stomp Films founder, producer, and director Vincent DiSanti to create the first live-action Batman horror film. Stanley says in the announcement video, “We just want to tell a damn good story while adding horror elements.”
Gotham Noir takes place in the early 1900s, in which Batman must hunt down a prolific serial killer. While Stanley takes up the mantle of Batman, the rest of the cast includes Kourosh Karimian (Commissioner Gordon), Richard Cotter (Alfred Pennyworth), and Sarah Leiker as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. The film will also feature “familiar faces from the Rogues Gallery.”
The fan-made project is being crowd-funded via Kickstarter and the goal is $100K. Be sure to visit the campaign to see how you can support this unique and exciting Batman fan film.
Now, watch Chris Stanley’s new video in which he reveals the film’s Batman cowl:
Gotham Noir‘s New Batsuit Reveal
Related: Michael Keaton’s New ‘Batman’ (1989) Series Explained
Stanley goes through the entire process of crafting this beautiful cowl, which, given Gotham Noir‘s early 20th century setting, embodies “homemade” and “crude” qualities with the stitching, and is “very reminiscent of [Robert] Pattinson” from The Batman (2022).
“I love how demonic the ears look,” Stanley says. At the end of the video, the new Bruce Wayne/Batman actor slips into the finished cowl — and he certainly looks the part.
We wonder what nickname Chris Stanley’s Batman will pick up? Ben Affleck’s portrayal is affectionately known as “Batfleck” while Robert Pattinson’s is ingeniously dubbed “Battinson.” Chris “Batmanley”, perhaps?
Either way, how does Stanley’s Batsuit compare to all the previous live-action ones?
Taking any “extra” Batsuits out of the equation (Ben Affleck’s Batman v Superman, Justice League, and The Flash variants, for instance) for the sake of focusing on the main ones, here are all the live-action Batsuits ranked from worst to best.
George Clooney — Batman & Robin
Whatever your thoughts on Joel Schumacher’s 1997 superhero caper Batman & Robin are (we happen to think it has a ton of entertainment value, and the Alfred Pennyworth storyline is surprisingly moving), there’s no defending George Clooney’s Batsuit.
At least the “futuristic” version he dons toward the end of the film, which is adorned with a silver Bat-logo and other such markings, is vaguely memorable. The primary sleek, purple-ish Batsuit, however, is just quite plain — except for the infamous “Bat nipples,” of course.
Adam West — Batman (1966)
We’d be lying if we said Adam West’s Batsuit was bad. We also wouldn’t be doing the late actor’s legacy justice by insulting the very outfit that made him a living legend. But is it more the case that we love the color scheme and design as opposed to the actual Batsuit?
There’s something wonderfully amateur about West’s figure-hugging, blue and purple-grey, outfit (supplemented by the yellow logo and utility belt). And while this scheme is among the fan-favorites when it comes to Batsuits, the suit itself just doesn’t hold up compared to many that followed.
Robert Pattinson — The Batman
Another potentially controversial entry is Robert Pattinson’s Batsuit from Matt Reeves’ The Batman. While there’s nothing particularly wrong with the Battinson’s Dark Knight attire, on the other hand, there’s something far too biker-esque about it.
Perhaps this isn’t a bad thing — after all, the film is trying to go even more grounded than Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy — but to put it bluntly, it feels a bit too amateurish. We get it — it’s Bruce Wayne’s second year as Batman, but this Batsuit is slightly underwhelming. And the helmet-inspired cowl is way too rounded.
Related: Batman: Every Returning Version of the Dark Knight Explained
Christian Bale — The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) share the same Batsuit; a hardened kevlar plate design (made of multiple pieces) with a graphite cowl. Other than the plating and the chest-logo, Christian Bale’s Batsuit is a mostly plain, single-color design.
Still, this is one of the most practical Batsuits in the movies. The “memory-cloth” cape and “sonar-vision” are also excellent additions to a suit that’s essentially a weapon in its own right. The downside is that the whole thing looks a tad too “militarized” for the Dark Knight.
Val Kilmer — Batman Forever
When it comes to Joel Schumacher’s two Batman movies, there’s no escaping those rubber nipples. As such, Val Kilmer’s Batsuit is no exception. Fortunately, the whole thing feels a lot more gothic than George Clooney’s version in Batman & Robin.
We also think it’s the actor’s performance behind the cowl that helps bring the Batsuit to life, and Kilmer, while somewhat wooden in the film, delivers a more brooding Batman than Clooney, which makes his suit feel quite “moody”. Unfortunately, the whole thing is quite plain.
Christian Bale — Batman Begins
While Christian Bale’s Batsuit in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises offer his Bruce Wayne a lot more flexibility and protection, there’s just something about his Batman Begins (2005) outfit that felt so fresh and deeply brooding at the time the film came out.
Kevlar plating is still present, however, this Batsuit looks a lot more believable than the two that follow (its hi-tech features are also less obvious). The cowl, still graphite, is aesthetically pleasing, too, except for the fact poor Bale couldn’t really turn his head in it.
Related: Upcoming ‘Batman’ (1989) Sequel: Every Returning Character Explained
Michael Keaton — Batman (1989), Batman Returns
We’re sure many fans will call us out for lumping both of Michael Keaton’s Batsuits together in one entry, however, his Batman Returns (1992) costume differs only slightly to his original one in Batman (1989). For the most part, they’re essentially the same in one.
In the first Tim Burton film, the black Batsuit has a black-yellow Bat-logo, while the cowl sports long ears. In the 1992 sequel, the suit is mostly the same except the emblem on the chest is narrower than the first one. All in all, Michael Keaton’s Batsuit is among the best.
Ben Affleck — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad
When Ben Affleck was cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), fans were divided. Eight years later, people are still mixed on his iteration, however, that’s largely down to his subsequent DC Universe (DCU) appearances, most of which are wishy-washy at best.
Forget Justice League (both versions) and The Flash (2023) — Ben Affleck’s portrayal in BvS is phenomenal. His hulking “Bat of Gotham” is a true force of nature, and the Batsuit, a call-back to Frank Miller’s 1986 graphic novel, “The Dark Knight Returns” with its muscle-squeezing, black-grey bodysuit and the cowl’s blunted ears, is nothing short of perfection.
How You Can Help Gotham Noir
Gotham Noir is a not-for-profit fan project, so any profit the film makes and what is left over will be given to charities outlined in the Kickstarter campaign.
Visit the campaign now to understand the budget breakdown, backer rewards, crew’s story, and lots more and find out how you can support this exciting Batman project.
Gotham Noir is a fan film; it is not affiliated with Warner Bros., Time Warner, or DC Comics.
What do you think of Chris Stanley’s new Batsuit? And which live-action Batsuit do you think is the best? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!