War Games
How does this sound to you: a dark film about a gang war involving all of Gotham’s criminals and Black Mask seizes control of the city’s underworld? Let me make this easy for you by suggesting the appropriate response: TAKE MY MONEY!
If the DCEU wants to introduce a multitude of villains in one go, War Games is a cinematic battlefield waiting to happen. Christopher Nolan showed us that Batman is best done as a crime drama, and this is the one story that ticks every box in that department. It’s practically begging to be the source material for a future Batman movie.
So far, we’ve seen Falcone and Maroni as the major crime bosses on the big screen, but we’re yet to see the true doctor of thuganomics in action. It’s time to change this and introduce Black Mask into DC’s film universe.
Dark Victory
Jeph Loeb’s The Long Halloween is often cited as one of the best Batman storylines of all-time. Yet, so many people forget its equally brilliant sequel, Dark Victory, which should be remembered for its fantastic retelling of the first Robin’s origin.
Considering how old the Batman in the DCEU is and how many Robins he’s been through, this part would need to be changed to someone like Tim Drake. The war between Two-Face and the Falcone family, though, could still be kept intact and central to the tale. Also, there are tantalizing parts for the Joker, Catwoman and even Scarecrow in the story, too. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
2008’s The Dark Knight pinched more than a few ideas from The Long Halloween for its Two-Face. Maybe it’s time that future Bat films do the same with Dark Victory?