Darren Aronosfky doing a comic-book version of his Batman script?

[JacksonArcher]

Black Swan director Darren Aronosfky was once attached to reboot the Batman film series back before Batman Begins successfully revitalized the then-fledging franchise. He had written a loose adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel Batman: Year One with Miller and he was developing it as a vehicle that he would direct.

He was also developing The Fountain at the time, and Warner Bros. decided not to move forward with Aronosfky's strikingly different vision for the Caped Crusader (even though, according to Aronosfky, WB told him to go in the complete opposite direction from Batman & Robin, and that's exactly what he and Miller did).

Well, Aronosfky is now in pre-production on The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman, but he recently talked about possibly doing a comic-book version of the Batman: Year One script he was once developing:

CoF: You’ve worked in the comic-book medium before…do you ever feel like realising your vision of something like the Batman story that you were working on as a comic book?

DA: “Well, we’re actually doing one. It hasn’t really been announced, I don’t know if I should give you the scoop! But we’re getting there. We’re doing a comic book of a script that’s really hard to make and we’re going to do a comic version first and see what happens.”

Now, a lot of media outlets are reporting this interview as evidence that Aronosfky will soon take over the Batman franchise after Christopher Nolan, but I honestly think that's incredibly premature speculation at this point, since the article barely suggests that possibility.

However, if we're going to speculate, would you be interested at all in Aronosfky taking over the Batman franchise after Nolan? I would, but I don't think it's ever going to happen. I would be very interested in seeing a comic-book version of the Year One script he was developing with Miller, though. I think that would be interesting to see.

 

[Reverend]

Not that I have a problem with this idea or anything, but isn't DC already supposed to be doing a new "Batman Year One" book as a follow up to JMS's Superman: Earth One? That plus the fact that Miller's original GN isn't going anywhere would seam to make yet another one by Aronosfky more than a little redundant.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I think people need to look again at the question that was asked and the answer he gave:

CoF: You’ve worked in the comic-book medium before…do you ever feel like realising your vision of something like the Batman story that you were working on as a comic book?

DA: “Well, we’re actually doing one. It hasn’t really been announced, I don’t know if I should give you the scoop! But we’re getting there. We’re doing a comic book of a script that’s really hard to make and we’re going to do a comic version first and see what happens.”

Note - the interviewer says 'a script like the Batman one. And Aaronofsky says that he's doing a comic book of a script that's really hard to make. He doesn't say that he's doing a comic adaptation of his Batman script - merely of a script that's hard to make. 'Something like' Batman.

I'd be nearly sure that he's talking about his proposed Robocop script, which he couldn't get off the ground because it was too costly. I think it's much more likely that he's proposing to get that series off the ground via a comic intro, than him opting to fill Nolan's shoes. Given that he's doing The Wolverine, I really don't see him repeating himself with another superhero.

 

[JacksonArcher]

I totally agree, Captaindemotion. I don't think he's mentioning his Batman: Year One script either.

 

[Admiral_Young]

DC is still planning to announce a release date for "Batman:Earth One" from Geoff Johns and Gary Frank sometime this year. It was originally supposed to be considered for late last year and come out with "Superman:Earth One". I guess I could see Aronfosky adapting his version of the Year One script. Maybe DC will have something to announce soon.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Aronosfky doesn't directly mention that there'll be a comic-book adaptation of his "Year One" script, though. The interviewer asks him if he would be revisiting his "Batman" story as a comic-book, but they aren't specific, and neither is Aronosfky. I mean I can definitely understand how that could be read into as "Aronosfky is making a comic-book version of his "Year One" story", but I guess I'm a little cautious.

Also, even if this is remotely true, I sincerely doubt this means that he's being groomed to take over the Batman franchise, as this article and others suggest.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Well either way DC's The Source Blog will be where to check out an announcement.

 

[the G-man]

This script is the infamous "Gordon has a beer and cheets on his wife" script with a black Alfred ("Big Al") who runs a body shop?

Pass.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ You mean 'fail'?!

 

[JacksonArcher]

Aronosfky's script was actually pretty decent. As the re-writes continued, it became closer and closer to the classic mythology, and in any event, it was a really unique take on the character.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I should add that I'd be all for a Darren Aronfosfky Batman comic despite what story he comes up with. It will be interesting to see if CBR or Newsarama pick up this story as well. Seems weird to me.

 

[Saul]

The script wasn't too bad. It was different. But an interesting new take on the character.

 

[the G-man]

^ You mean 'fail'?!

No, I mean I'll pass. I don't need another "elseworlds" take on Batman's origin.

 

[PsychoPere]

Looks like the comic book is a version of Noah.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Interesting.

 

[Set Harth]

This script is the infamous "Gordon has a beer and cheets on his wife" script with a black Alfred ("Big Al") who runs a body shop?

Sounds promising.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ A promise or a threat?!

 

[Lapis Exilis]

The only Batman project I'd want to see Aronofsky on is a film adaptation of Arkham Asylum. Otherwise, I don't think he's much of a match for the material given his taste for surreality.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Nothing surreal about guys who dress up as bats and clowns and fight at night. Nope.

 

[Gepard]

^Which is why, IMO, Batman needs to avoid surreal or bizarre approaches; to make me buy a premise that inherently ridiculous, the material better be handled with as much sobriety as possible. Nolan has it exactly right.