BATMAN Solo Film Reportedly Based On A DEATH IN THE FAMILY and UNDER THE HOOD
As you all know, Ben Affleck will not only reprise his role in a solo Batman film, but he is set to co-write the script with comic scribe Geoff Johns and will most likely end up directing it as well. This is a film project that I'm really excited about, and now we have some additional details that might get fans even more excited as well.
Possible SPOILERS Ahead:
JoBlo reports that Warner Bros. is looking to bring the anti-hero The Red Hood to the big screen and they want him to be one of the film’s main antagonists. For those of you not familiar with The Red Hood, he is one of Batman's former Robins, Jason Todd, who was brutally killed by The Joker in 1988's comic book A Death in The Family. He was later resurrected thanks to the Lazarus Pit and took on the identity of The Red Hood, who is an anti-hero/vigilante/crime boss.
The site flat out says that Red Hood will have a major role in the story, and that it will being inspired by both “A Death in the Family” and “Under The Hood” comic book storylines, which see Red Hood framing Batman for his crimes.
"According to our sources, the basic plotline of Affleck’s solo Batfilm is that Jason Todd has returned from the grave as the Red Hood, working in the shadows to make people think he's Batman, while making Batman look like a criminal. At the same time he leaves clues about his identity for Bruce/Batman to ultimately solve, leading to a confrontation that will involve Batman, Red Hood, and yes, The Joker, who will feature as a primary villain alongside Red Hood."
The site's sources go on to tell them that Dick Grayson will also play a role. They say Grayson will be referenced in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but not seen. When we are introduced to him in the solo movie, he is already Nightwing, and he will be "assisting Batman in his battle against Red Hood and The Joker."
So I assume that means Jared Leto will be suiting up as the Joker in that solo movie as well! As we've learned from the Batman v Superman trailer, Joker killed Robin, which I now imagine is Jason Todd, and Wayne is still struggling with that. There's obviously a big story arc that they are going to start in Batman v Superman that will carry on through the solo Batman film and maybe even beyond.
The studio is looking for an unknown actor to take on the role of The Red Hood, and the report says that the character will look "very much like he does in the comics, as well as his Arkham Knight video game series appearances." The site adds, "That could shake out in many different ways for his final incarnation, but you get the idea."
The project is still in the early stages of development so there are a lot of things that can change between now and when it's eventually released. But, regardless of that, it seems like The Red Hood will be a main part of the story they tell.