One would need fingers and toes from multiple people to count the number of times that we’ve seen origin stories for superheroes on film, and it could be argued that the origin story detailed most often involves one of the three members of DC’s Trinity: The Dark Knight himself,Batman. Everyone knows it. Babies come into this world knowing it. Thomas and Martha Wayne have been shot so many times on film it’s almost cruel.
What hasn’t made it to film is exactly how Bruce Wayne goes from that orphaned child to Batman, with that snippet of tragedy usually the only reference. TV’sGothamcomes close, but stops just as Bruce dons the cowl.ButChristopher Nolan’sDark Knight Trilogygives the definitive version of Batman’s origin story,showing exactly the steps Bruce took to becoming Batman, and making it plausible, no less. And it’s unlikely to ever be topped.
‘The Dark Knight Trilogy’ Fills In the Gaps
Batman Begins, the film that kicks off the trilogy, doesn’t offer anything new to the story, at least initially. After young Bruce (Gus Lewis) is agitated by performers masquerading as bats at the opera, he, Thomas (Linus Roache), and Martha Wayne (Sara Stewart) leave, only for Bruce’s parents to be murdered in front of his eyes by Joe Chill (Richard Brake). It falls to Alfred (Michael Caine), the family butler, to raise Bruce on his own. Same old story, same old song and dance.
Typically, any Batman story jumps directly from there into the present day, but Nolan does something different. After Bruce (Christian Bale), now older, is denied the opportunity to take revenge on Chill, he spends the next number of years traveling the world, picking up combat skills and familiarizing himself with the dark underbelly of society. Then he undertakes even more intense training with the League of Shadows, at the invitation of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson).It’s something we’ve never seen before, the element that has always been glossed over in the jump from the tragedy that started Bruce’s journey to a Batman that’s already been there and done that. We actually get to witnesshowhe picked up all those skills, and it makes Bale’s Batman all the stronger for it.
It’s Pointless to Even Try Batman’s Origin Story Again After ‘The Dark Knight Trilogy’
Nolan doesn’t stop there. Not only does he show how Batman learned to master the skills of combat, hebuilds a plausible story to explain the other parts of the Batman mythos we take for granted. How he built the Batcave. The functionality of the ears on the cowl. Utilizing prototype defense technologies for theBatmobileBat Tumbler and other assorted “Bat” gadgets, with the help ofMorgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox (no sight of theBat Shark Repellent, sadly). Diverting the funds necessary to keep his vigilante pursuits in operation from (largely) arousing suspicion.
While there is still a degree of suspension of disbelief - this is a man meting out justice dressed as a bat, after all - it makes sense. Furthermore, throughout the trilogy, Nolan shows the real consequences and sacrifices Bruce makes to be Batman. He essentially gives up on any future happiness by committing to his quest. There’s an intense physical toll that years of vigilantism takes. His single-minded drive to the cause pushes the only family he’s truly known, Alfred, away. It is, again, a logical and plausible trajectory for Bruce’s life.
The ‘Batman Begins’ Trailer Is Unforgivable
Nothing says “Dark Knight” like post-grunge pop rock.
That realistic approach that Nolan takes with the Batman story makes it difficult to top,and pointless to even try. An origin story that leans too far into fantasy looks ridiculous in comparison, and it’s just highly unlikely to make an origin story for the character that can be more realistic without playing the same chords or, by trying to be more believable, simply ends up becoming less so. Besides, it’s been done to death.The Batmandidn’t even bother, and didn’t suffer for it. Likewise, the MCUSpider-Manfilms, too, have stayed away from Peter Parker’s origin story without backlash. Batman’s origin story simply can’t be topped afterThe Dark Knighttrilogy, and at this point, it just isn’t needed. Or, for that matter, wanted.
Batman Begins
After witnessing his parents' deaths, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.
