Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops in promoting the film, even going so far as to reach out to the Nascar audience. The studio spent $1 million to promote the film at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 19, 2005, for a race called the Batman Begins 400. An actor dressed as Batman gave the signal to start the race, and the new Batmobile acted as pace car.250 Both Mark Martin’s race car and Ricky Craven’s Craftsman Truck Series truck sported the Batman logo. Neither, however, won the race; that honor went to Greg Biffle, though Martin managed to come in third.
As Batman Begins was poised for its theatrical release in China on June 29, the Hong Kong media group Tom Online was preparing to deliver Warner Bros. content into mainland China via internet. Warner Bros. Online’s deal with Tom Online called for the web service to carry trailers, games, ringtones and mobile-formatted video. The Chinese market was expected to greatly expand the customer base of Warner Bros. Online, which already had 60 million registered subscribers.251
Though it had gotten off to a moderate start, Batman Begins picked up steam at the box-office and by mid-August became the third film of 2005 to gross over $200 million, along with George Lucas’s Star War: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith—which could also have been called Darth Vader Begins—and Steven Spielberg’s updating of War of the Worlds.252Batman Begins ended its theatrical run with grosses of $205 million domestically and $166 million overseas.253
In October of 2005, about the same time Batman Begins was set to make its debut on DVD, Warner Home Video released, for the first time, two-disc special editions of the four previous Batman films in a set called Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997. The DVDs included director commentaries, making-of- featurettes, deleted scenes, and music videos for each title.254
Batman Begins helped bring Batman back into the pop culture zeitgeist in the Fall of 2005. On Halloween, even NBC’s The Today Show saluted Batman, with host Matt Lauer and weatherman Al Roker dressing up as Batman and Robin. Featured host Katie Couric, meanwhile, dressed as another icon, Marilyn Monroe.255
In the summer of 2006, a year after the release of Batman Begins, Warner Bros. finally released a new Superman film, Superman Returns. Unlike Batman Begins, which had won over the die-hard comic book fans and was well received by the public at large, Superman Returns was largely seen as a disappointment. This was made especially clear when Batman Begins was honored at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, honoring films released the previous year. When Christian Bale won the Best Hero honor, beating out Jessica Alba of Fantastic Four, Kate Beckinsale of Underworld: Evolution, Ewan McGregor of Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sithand Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, his award was presented to him by Superman Returns stars Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Bale began his acceptance speech by thanking director Christopher Nolan “for getting rid of those bloody nipples” before saying to Routh, “I’m sorry, Superman, but Batman is the badass!”256
In the end, by making a film that revolved around the theme of fear, with a villain who used fear as a weapon, Nolan created a movie that perfectly fit the tenor of the post- 9/11 era, and its success ensured that there would be a sequel. “We were joking on Batman Begins, ‘Hey, if we pull this one off we’ll get to make a big film!’” said Nolan. “But at a certain point you have to acknowledge that this is it—there aren’t any bigger films.”257
_________________________________
1 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 43
2 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xi
3 Goodwin, Christopher, “Batman, Robbin’ and Murder: This is the True Story of the Three Nolan Siblings—Two Make Batman Movies That are the Toast of Hollywood, the Other is In Prison and a Murder Suspect,” The (London) Sunday Times, June 27, 2010
4 Lawrence, Will, “Memories of the Joker: Heath Ledger,” The London Times, July 16, 2008
5 Goodwin, Christopher, “Batman, Robbin’ and Murder: This is the True Story of the Three Nolan Siblings—Two Make Batman Movies That are the Toast of Hollywood, the Other is In Prison and a Murder Suspect,” The (London) Sunday Times, June 27, 2010
6 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xi
7 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 64-65
8 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xii
9 Halbfinger, David M., “Batman’s Burden: A Director Confronts Darkness and Death,” The New York Times, March 9, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/ movies/09halb.html?ref=heathledger, accessed July 3, 2011
10 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 1
11 Ibid., p. 107
12 Ibid., p. 1
13 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xiv
14 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
15 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xiv
16 Ibid., p. xv
17 Ibid., p. xv
18 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 106
19 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
20 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xiv
21 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 107
22 Ibid., p. 107
23 Graser, Marc, “The ‘3 Rings’ of Batman,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 106
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
30 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xvi
31 Dawson, James, “Counterpunch: ‘Batman Begins’: Is His Past Really Such a Mystery?” The Los Angeles Times, May 23, 2005, p. E.3
32 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xix
33 Lorenzen, Dr. Michael, “Did Teddy Roosevelt Help to Inspire Batman?” AmericanPresidents.org, http://www.american-presidents.org/2008/07/did-teddy-roosevelt-help-to- inspire.html, July 26, 2008, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
34 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 5
35 —, “Batman Begins International Production Notes,” © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 6
36 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 5
37 Ibid., p. 6
38 Ibid.
39 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
40 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xiv
41 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
42 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 106
43 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. E
ntertainment, Inc., p. 6
44 Ibid.
45 White, Roland, “Zowie! Nice Wheels, Batman,” The (London) Sunday Times, June 5 2005
46 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 21
47 Ibid., p. 20
48 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xii
49 Ventre, Michael, “Directors Drawn to Graphic Novels,” Daily Variety, Jan. 11, 2006, p. A10
50 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 6
51 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 65
52 Ibid., p. 63-64
53 Lim, Dennis, “Letting His Role Do the Talking,” The New York Times, Dec. 3, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/movies/05bale. html?scp=255&sq=batman&st=nyt, accessed Aug. 17, 2011
54 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xvii-xviii
55 Romanelli, Alex, “The Bat Flies Right,” Daily Variety, June 9, 2005, p. 51
56 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 64
57 Ibid.
58 Dunkley, Cathy & Jonathan Bing, “New Dynamic for WB Duo: Are Franchise Heroes Ready to Fly Again?”, Weekly Variety, Sept. 8-14, 2003, p. 5
59 Murray, Rebecca, “David Goyer and Cillian Murphy Discuss ‘Batman Begins,’” About.com, http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman072304_2.htm, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
60 Nolan, Christopher, and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins, The Screenplay, © 2005 Faber and Faber, London, p. xvii-xviii
61 Dunkley, Cathy & Jonathan Bing, “...WB Casts Next Caped Crusader,” Daily Variety, Sept. 12, 2003, p. 1
62 Canavese, Peter, “Christian Bale WonderCon Batman Begins Panel Transcript,” Groucho Reviews, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/47, May 3, 2005, accessed July 24, 2011
63 Dunkley, Cathy & Jonathan Bing, “...WB Casts Next Caped Crusader,” Daily Variety, Sept. 12, 2003, p. 71
64 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 7
65 —, “’Knight’s’ Bale: Who is That Masked Man?” CNN.com, Jul. 28, 2008, accessed June 22, 2010
66 Brown, David, “Batman Star, Christian Bale, Arrested After ‘Attacking His Mother and Sister in Hotel Suite’” The London Times, July 23 2008
67 —, “’Knight’s’ Bale: Who is That Masked Man?” CNN.com, Jul. 28, 2008, accessed June 22, 2010
68 Brown, David, “Batman Star, Christian Bale, Arrested After ‘Attacking His Mother and Sister in Hotel Suite’” The London Times, July 23 2008
69 —, “’Knight’s’ Bale: Who is That Masked Man?” CNN.com, Jul. 28, 2008, accessed June 22, 2010
70 —, “Profile: Christian Bale—The Brooding Star of Batman Has Shades of His On-Screen Persona; But Last Week He Was Unable to Escape the Spotlight,” The London Times, July 27, 2008
71 —, “’Knight’s’ Bale: Who is That Masked Man?” CNN.com, Jul. 28, 2008, accessed June 22, 2010
72 Dunkley, Cathy & Jonathan Bing, “...WB Casts Next Caped Crusader,” Daily Variety, Sept. 12, 2003, p. 71
73 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 107
74 Ibid.
75 Ibid., p. 106
76 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 10
77 Dunkley, Cathy and Carl DiOrio, “Next ‘Batman’ Raising Caine,” Daily Variety, Nov. 25, 2003, p. 1
78 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 11
79 D’Alessandro, Anthony, “Prestigious and Prolific: For Seasoned Workhorses, Oscar is Merely Frosting on the Cake,” Daily Variety, Oct. 27, 2005, p. A4
80 Canavese, Peter, “Sir Michael Caine & Katie Holmes —Batman Begins—05/03/05,” GrouchoReviews.com, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/94, accessed July 26, 2011
81 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 11
82 Ibid., p. 10-11
83 Ibid., p. 11
84 Canavese, Peter, “Sir Michael Caine & Katie Holmes —Batman Begins—05/03/05,” GrouchoReviews.com, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/94, accessed July 26, 2011
85 Fleming, Michael & Cathy Dunkley, “Helmer Nolan Has Eye on Femme for ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, Dec. 10, 2003, p. 7
86 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 15
87 Ibid.
88 Ibid., p. 14
89 Ibid., p. 13
90 Fleming, Michael & Cathy Dunkley, “Irish Thesp Gets the Call as ‘Batman’ Bags Baddie,” Daily Variety, Dec. 11, 2003, p. 7
91 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 19
92 Dunkley, Cathy & Marc Graser, “Freeman to Boss ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 19, 2004, p. 5
93 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 18
94 Ibid., p. 17
95 Dunkley, Cathy & Marc Graser, “Freeman to Boss ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 19, 2004, p. 5
96 —, “Corrections,” Daily Variety, Feb. 20, 2004, p. 4
97 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 12-13
98 Dunkley, Cathy & Marc Graser, “Watanabe Becoming Villainous in ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, Feb. 24, 2004, p. 4
99 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 12
100 Dunkley, Cathy, “Oldman Joins ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, March 4, 2004, p. 4
101 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 16
102 Ibid., p. 15-16
103 Ibid., p. 16
104 Canavese, Peter, “Morgan Freeman & Gary Oldman—Batman Begins—05/03/05,” GrouchoReviews.com, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/94, accessed July 26, 2011
105 Fleming, Michael, “Hauer Powers Batpic,” Daily Variety, March 25, 2004, p. 5
106 Graser, Marc & Cathy Dunkley, “The Bat and the Beautiful,” Weekly Variety, Feb. 9-15, 2004, p. 106
107 Canavese, Peter, “Christopher Nolan & Emma Thomas—Batman Begins—05/03/05,” GrouchoReviews.com, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/94, accessed July 26, 2011
108 Wimberly, Rachel, “Fantasy Lands Rooted in Reality Checks,” Daily Variety, Jan. 6, 2006, p. A2
109 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 39
110 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 62
111 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 39
112 Palmer, Martyn, “Christopher Nolan Brings the Bat Back,” The London Times, June 11, 2005
113 Canavese, Peter, “Christopher Nolan & Emma Thomas—Batman Begins—05/03/05,” GrouchoReviews.com, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/94, accessed July 26, 2011
114 “Clarkson’s Flunkey,” “Hauer Speaks Again! Designer of ‘The Tumbler’ Revealed,” BatmanOnFilm.com, http://www.batman-on-film.com/b5newsarchives28.html, accessed Aug. 7, 2011
115 Ibid.
116 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 58
117 Ibid., p. 62
118 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 22
119 Ibid., p. 22-23
120 Ibid., p. 22
121 Ibid., p. 23
122 Crowley, Nathan, “Not Your Father’s Batmobile,” The Los Angeles Times, Jun. 12, 2005, p. E.6
123 —, Batman Begins International Production No
tes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 23
124 Ibid., p. 22
125 Patton, Phil, “What Would Batman Drive? These Days, an Assault Vehicle,” The New York Times, Aug 2, 2004, p. D.9
126 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 58
127 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 27
128 Ibid.
129 Ibid.
130 Ibid., p. 27-28
131 Ibid., p. 28
132 Ibid., p. 29-30
133 Ibid., p. 28-29
134 Ibid., p. 29
135 Ibid.
136 Nazzaro, Joe, “Knight Haunts,” Starlog Magazine # 336, July 2005, p. 65
137 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 34
138 Ibid., p. 33
139 Ibid.
140 Ibid.
141 Ibid., p. 33-34
142 Ibid., p. 33
143 Ibid., p. 34
144 Ibid.
145 Ibid., p. 30
146 Canavese, Peter, “Christian Bale Interview,” Groucho Reviews, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/47, Feb. 19, 2005, accessed July 24, 201
147 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 31
148 Canavese, Peter, “Christian Bale Interview,” Groucho Reviews, http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/47, June 3, 2005, accessed July 24, 2011
149 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 30-31
150 Ibid., p. 31
151 Ibid.
152 Graser, Marc, “Fifth ‘Batman’ Gets a Title,” Daily Variety, Feb. 27, 2004, p. 5
153 Dunkley, Cathy, “Oldman Joins ‘Batman,’” Daily Variety, March 4, 2004, p. 4
154 —, Batman Begins International Production Notes, © 2005, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., p. 35
155 Ibid., p. 38
156 Ibid., p. 36
157 Ibid., p. 35
158 Ibid.
159 Ibid.
Billion Dollar Batman Page 66
