Batman and the Hype Surrounding Each Successor

Attention all superhero movie lovers!

As of March 2016, the long anticipated Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice was released in theatres. This movie is claimed to be a “requel“, which is a combination of a reboot and a sequel. The movie was created in the hopes of reinventing a universe of follow-up movies. This “requel” trend was also seen in 2015 with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Since the release of Batman V. Superman, the movie has generated a large amount of conversation and hype, not to mention revenue, but the conversation started long before the movie was screened.

Who will be the next Batman?
Will he be able to live up to expectations?
Who played it best?

Typically, when new Batman movies are in the works, most of the hype is generated not around the movie itself, but around the actor who will be portraying the handsome and mysterious superhero. Batman started solely as a DC comic book series, but then in 1966 when the television show aired, the character came to life. Viewers saw Adam West act as the first ever Batman, and his name quickly became one that everyone knew. Twenty-three years later, Batman was released on film. Michael Keaton was chosen to play the lead in 1989 to 1992, followed by Val Kilmer in 1995, George Clooney in 1997, Christian Bale from 2005 to 2012, and most recently, Ben Affleck.

What do all of these actors have in common? Well, to begin, they are all handsome young men who are admired in Hollywood. These actors often play large roles in Oscar-nominated movies and have a large fanbase. But that’s not all…

These actors and their teams all know how to get people talking, which is very powerful not only in the film industry, but in any industry for that matter. By generating conversation, people not only become aware of the production, but they often get curious. As soon as the movie is released, the people who have been talking about the movie are lined up outside the theatre.

Looking at this from a public relations perspective, the pattern in which the actors have been selected is very strategic and smart. The casting crew and directors, from the beginning of Batman, have had a clear vision of what they want Batman to represent: handsome, well-built, tall, dark hair, mysterious… and the list goes on. By staying true to this pattern, they have created a brand for themselves. This brand is recognized worldwide; everyone knows Batman and what type of character he is.

Not only does the “brand” of Batman generate conversation among men, but among women as well. For the most part, superhero movies are not typically on the top of a woman’s “must-see” list. Throw in a handsome actor and you have not only convinced her to agree to see the movie, but her and her girlfriends are probably talking about how good-looking Ben Affleck is, right at this moment.  By maintaining a certain image surrounding a character allows the film to expand their outreach leading up to, and upon release.

From a PR point of view, casting is much more than just deciding who will play each role. It can ultimately determine the overall success of a movie and needs to be thought out and executed in a strategic manner. Who are you trying to reach? Which age and gender demographic? These questions may seem irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, but are essential to a movie’s success. The public relations aspects surrounding a movie begin as soon as the movie is in the works. Right off the bat, the movie needs to generate conversation, as previously mentioned. Also, there needs to be positive coverage on the actors involved in the movie. Those aspects are accomplished through the PR team.

Many people do not realize how important public relations is to every day situations. In the film industry, good public relations is crucial to the success of a movie. Coverage and conversation needs to begin as soon as the movie is started, and does not end until far after the movie has been released. As far as the Batman movies are concerned, the public relations surrounding the films have been successful.

Any guesses as to who the next Batman will be?

 

Holly Element