Chương 112: Pre-Production for Batman pt.2
"Gotham has to feel like a patchwork of different eras, a place that's both modern and decaying. New York and Chicago give us that mix—New York has the density, the grittiness, and Chicago gives us the verticality, the towering skyline," Nolan said as we walked through the corridors of the studio.
We were heading toward the soundstage, where Jensen Ackles was about to do his screen test for Batman.
"I agree," I nodded, thinking about Gotham's atmosphere. "New York has those narrow, gritty streets, perfect for the Narrows and the more rundown parts of Gotham, while Chicago can be used for the modern skyline. But what about the more historic, aristocratic areas? We need something with that old-world, gothic charm."
Nolan tilted his head slightly, already considering the possibilities. "London's on my mind for that. Areas like Westminster and the older parts of the city have that old-money feel."
I grinned, liking the sound of that. "That's perfect for showing Gotham's high society, the wealthier parts of town… But we still need something more atmospheric, something darker for the older parts of Gotham—someplace that feels truly oppressive."
Nolan paused, thinking as we walked. "We could add Glasgow to the mix. It's got that gothic architecture you're looking for, especially in the city center. The dark stone buildings, narrow streets… It'll contrast nicely with the modern skyline shots from Chicago."
I hadn't considered Glasgow, but the way Nolan described it made perfect sense. "I've never been there, so I'll trust your judgment," I said.
He nodded. "Liverpool too—its old industrial sections and the docks could add a nice touch, a sense of decay."
I quickly summed it up, keeping the cities clear in my mind. "So we're splitting Gotham across several cities: New York for the street-level grit, Chicago for the towering modern skyline, London for the old-money areas, Glasgow for the gothic, oppressive parts, and Liverpool for the decayed industrial sections."
"That's about it," Nolan confirmed with a slight grin. "Good thing you mentioned Glasgow—it had slipped my mind."
As we neared the soundstage, I thought back to the casting process. We had narrowed down the choices for Batman to Lee Pace, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jensen Ackles. I had been at Gyllenhaal's screen test and had seen the audition tapes for the others, but this would be the first time seeing Jensen's in person. I had high hopes for him.
I asked Nolan how Jensen's audition had gone as we continued walking.
"It was quite good," Nolan said, nodding in approval. "I was very impressed with his performance. I'll know for sure if he's the best fit after this."
I nodded back, satisfied with the answer. We were heading in the right direction.
As we reached a crossroads in the hallway, Nolan and I separated—he continued on toward the soundstage, while I veered off to grab some much-needed coffee. I'd been up all night working on my new book and was running on fumes.
The employee café downstairs was quiet this time of day. I made my way to the coffee machine, my thoughts bouncing between my book and the DCU plans.
As I poured myself a cup, I noticed a familiar figure walk in—Jensen Ackles. He stood by the door for a moment, looking a bit lost before heading toward the coffee machine.
I recognized him instantly and took the opportunity to introduce myself. "Jensen, right?"
"Yes," he said, turning toward me.
I put my hand out. "Daniel Adler," I said, introducing myself.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Mr. Adler—sir!" he greeted, shaking my hand and straightening up as if I were someone of great authority.
I couldn't help but laugh. "No need to call me 'sir,' I'm way too young for that."
Jensen laughed along, visibly relaxing. "Right, sorry. Just… it's great to finally meet you."
"Likewise," I said. "You're going to do great in the screen test. You know it was my idea to bring you in for the audition."
Jensen's eyes lit up, and he smiled gratefully. "Really? Thank you. This is… well, honestly, this is a huge deal for me. Being Batman? I mean, come on, it's Batman. I've never had a part this big before. Feels like a dream."
I nodded. "I get that. But you've got the chops. You weren't told about what's planned after this, were you?"
"Yeah, I was told it's more than just Batman movies," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
I gave him a nod. "If everything goes well, by the end of this decade, you're going to be one of the most famous actors in the world."
He let out a nervous laugh. "Wow… that's a lot of pressure."
"No pressure," I said, smiling. "In my opinion, you're perfect for Batman. You've got the look, the voice… the looks."
Jensen's expression softened, and he nodded appreciatively. "Thank you. Really. It means a lot that you believe in me."
I grabbed my coffee and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll see you at the screen test. Break a leg, Jensen."
"Thanks," he replied, his confidence visibly growing.
I left the café, sipping my coffee, feeling good about the choice I made for Batman. Jensen had the fire—and now, it was up to him to show the world.
.
.
.
I entered the soundstage. The set was simple—an alleyway that could have been plucked right out of Gotham, a rooftop for Batman, and a set for Wayne Manor to test Bruce Wayne's scenes. Cinematographers were scattered around, ensuring the lighting was just right, casting that gritty, shadowy tone needed to capture Gotham's dark underworld. They adjusted cameras, perfecting the angles to get the best possible visuals.
Costume designers huddled near the far end, where the Batsuit hung on a mannequin. It was sleek, similar to the one I remembered from The Dark Knight—black, segmented armor that looked both functional and intimidating. It was perfect for a Batman who was still starting out, not yet refined into the ultimate version I had in mind. My goal was to improve the suit with each movie, evolving it toward the designs from the Arkham games, but for now, this was a solid starting point.
I walked over to the suit, which was being inspected by Nolan. He ran his hands over the material, checking for any adjustments the designers might need to make after the test.
"This will be enough for the test," Nolan said, his voice confident as he gave the suit a final once-over.
Jensen arrived a few minutes later. After greeting everyone, he went to try on the suit.
I stood back, arms crossed, watching as Jensen was fitted into the Batsuit. The costume designers carefully worked around him, making adjustments, pulling straps tighter, and ensuring every detail was perfect. The suit, sleek and black, hugged his frame in all the right places.
In my opinion, he looked phenomenal in it. With the cowl on, Jensen was Batman. The way the suit fit him, his build, and even his posture—everything screamed Bruce Wayne's alter ego. He had that intense, brooding presence about him.
Nolan, standing beside me, was just as impressed. His sharp eyes scanned Jensen from head to toe as he nodded slowly. "I think we might have our man," Nolan said in a low voice. "Just need to see if he can handle the rest—both Bruce and Batman."
I couldn't help but agree. I watched as Jensen, now fully suited up, walked toward a mirror, his footsteps heavy from the boots. He stopped in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. There was a moment where he seemed genuinely emotional, as if the reality of the moment was hitting him all at once. He was standing there, in the Batsuit—he was Batman.
I approached him, a smile creeping onto my face. "You look great," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet moment.
Jensen nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, this is… this is something else. I can't believe I'm wearing this," he said, still staring at his reflection.
I grinned. "So, you got the Batman voice down?"
Jensen turned to face me, his eyes narrowing, and suddenly it was like a switch had flipped. His entire demeanor changed, his face hardened, and he tilted his head just slightly, as if sinking deeper into the character.
In a low, gravelly voice, he said, "I am vengeance."
That was it. That was the voice. The tone, the intensity—it was perfect.
"Yeah, that's it!" I said, beaming. "That's Batman."
Jensen let out a small breath, the tension easing from his shoulders, and smiled. "Thank you," he said, his voice returning to its normal tone. "This… this feels unreal."
I watched as one of the costume designers made final adjustments to the cape, carefully arranging it to flow just right.
"Jensen, we just want to see how the suit fits and moves with you. We're going to start with some photos and silhouette shots before we get into any movement or dialogue," Nolan said, his voice calm but focused.
Jensen nodded, understanding the task at hand.
I walked over to the monitors set up for viewing. I found a seat next to Nolan, who was already engrossed in the setup. The photographer, camera ready, gave a slight nod.
"Alright, Jensen. Take a few steps forward, slowly. I want to see how the cape drapes, how the suit moves with you," Nolan instructed.
Jensen began walking forward. The cape trailed behind him, gliding smoothly over the ground. The room was so quiet, you could hear the soft rustle of the fabric, only interrupted by the faint clicks of the camera capturing every detail.
"Hold it right there," the photographer called out, stepping closer to get the right angle. "Turn slightly to the left, let me get a profile."
Jensen complied, turning slowly, his gaze intense as he held the pose. His side profile, with the cowl's sharp angles and the way the cape draped across his shoulders, made him look every bit the part. He was no longer Jensen Ackles; he was Batman.
I leaned toward Nolan, intrigued. "Are you doing silhouette shots?"
Nolan gave a quick nod. "Yeah, I want to see how he looks in shadow. Batman's more about what's hidden than what's seen."
The crew began adjusting the lighting, dimming the main lights and setting up a powerful backlight. The room fell into near-darkness, with only the faint glow of the light behind Jensen. The effect was instant—his silhouette became a powerful shadow on the wall, a stark contrast of black against the dim background.
Jensen stood tall, spreading the cape slightly with his arms, just enough to create that iconic Batman outline. The photographer snapped away, capturing the classic figure of the Dark Knight in all his glory.
"He looks like he just stepped out of the comics," I said, my voice low as I watched the screen.
We moved to the lines after taking more photos.
"Alright, Jensen, let's start with the rooftop scene. You're with Gordon, discussing Falcone. It's tense, but you keep it calm and direct. Ready?" Nolan asked, his voice calm but precise.
"Let's go," Jensen responded, his voice already starting to shift into the Batman persona.
The camera panned out, capturing Jensen standing on the rooftop set.
"Trouble?" he asked, his tone sharp yet controlled, more of an observation than a question.
The person standing in as Gordon responded, trying to match the mood of the scene. "Nothing I can't handle."
"He knows who's at the docks," Jensen said.
"He won't talk," the stand-in for Gordon replied.
The camera zoomed in closer, capturing the subtle movements of Jensen's face.
Jensen's next line was calm but laced with quiet menace. "He'll talk to me."
The camera moved in even tighter on Jensen's face, the darkness of the cowl framing his intense gaze.
"Good, good," Nolan said, nodding. "Let's move on to the confrontation scene."
The set was changed. The stand-in for the criminal was positioned against a wall, while Jensen, still fully in character, loomed over him.
"Alright, Jensen, this is the interrogation scene. You've got him by the collar—he's scared, but you're calm, methodical," Nolan instructed, stepping back as the crew adjusted the lighting.
Jensen grabbed the stand-in by the collar, lifting him with ease, his voice coming out as a low, threatening growl.
"Why was Falcone at the docks?" Jensen, as Batman, demanded.
The stand-in, playing the frantic criminal, shouted, "I don't know! I swear to God!"
Without missing a beat, Jensen pulled him in closer, his voice dropping even lower. "Swear to me."
"What in God's name are you?" the criminal stammered, his voice trembling with terror.
Jensen slowly turned to face the camera, as instructed before.
"I'm Batman," he said. The iconic line was delivered perfectly as the camera zoomed in on Jensen's face.
'Yeah, we got our guy,' I thought as I leaned back in my chair, watching Jensen finish the scene.
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