Advertisement

Everything you need to know about the new 'Batman' trailer: Colin Farrell's Penguin is unrecognizable

“What’s black and blue and dead all over? You.”

Played by Paul Dano, the Riddler gives Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader a headache and is the match that could ignite the tinderbox that is Gotham City in the new trailer for director Matt Reeves' "The Batman" (in theaters March 4). The trailer, which debuted Saturday as part of the virtual DC FanDome, gave audiences a fresh glimpse of the newest Dark Knight, the most disturbing on-screen version of the Riddler ever, Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and the Penguin (Colin Farrell).

The newest Batman reboot, which like many films was delayed due to the pandemic, leans into noir detective stories and "Seven"-style cop thrillers, with Pattinson zooming around in a sweet muscle-car Batmobile. Whereas the first trailer used a Nirvana tune to set the mood, the newest teaser utilizes Michael Giacchino’s brass-heavy score that sounds similar to John Williams' "The Imperial March” from “Star Wars.”

Check out the new Batmobile: Robert Pattinson's hot 'Batman' ride revealed

Robert Pattinson takes his turn in the cape and cowl of the Caped Crusader in "The Batman."
Robert Pattinson takes his turn in the cape and cowl of the Caped Crusader in "The Batman."

The new footage opens with Riddler getting arrested at a diner by the GCPD's finest, James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and his men. A question mark carved into the bad guy's cappuccino foam symbolizes the conundrum he presents the city, with the livestreaming serial killer presenting Batman and law enforcement with a murder mystery to solve and clues to hunt.

Pattinson is seen sans cowl in Bruce Wayne mode, with the rich young man early in his crimefighting career, but he's still got a ton of scars to show for it. “Fear is a tool. When that light hits the sky, it’s not just a call. It’s a warning," he says of the Bat Signal. But this Batman's got a brutal streak, beating down goons in clown makeup and wailing on a guy so bad that Catwoman looks on in horror.

Kravitz's character, thief/love interest Selina Kyle, is quite the fighter, too. “I can take care of myself,” she says in a trailer that features Catwoman kicking a guy in the face, racing around on a motorcycle, using disguises and jumping off a building.

Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz) is a Catwoman who can take care of herself in "The Batman."
Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz) is a Catwoman who can take care of herself in "The Batman."

Fans also get their best look yet at Farrell's scarred and rotund gangster Oswald Cobblepot, aka the Penguin. "Whoa, take it easy, sweetheart," he says as Batman steps up to him. "You’re everything they say, ain’tcha?" And in a car chase with Batman, Penguin thinks he's blown up the superhero ("I got you!"), but the Batmobile comes flying out of a fireball to smash the bad guy's vehicle.

Like other Batmen before him, Pattinson's newcomer seems to have major work/life balance issues when it comes to protecting his city. “I don’t care what happens to me,” he says. Catwoman responds, "It’s only going to get worse for you."

It's faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), though, who leaves our hero with the most stark warning: "If this continues, it won’t be long before you have nothing left."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Batman' trailer: Robert Pattinson battles Riddler in dark footage