The Dark Knight Returns is a graphic novel that hardly needs an introduction. It’s one of the most well-known graphic novels, it changed the public perception of the Caped Crusader, and arguably Frank Miller’s magnum opus. Along with Watchmen it was the graphic novel that ushered in the Dark Age of Comics. Elements of graphic novel has been used in other Batman media, like The Dark Knight Rises and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Due to the popularity of the graphic novel, I am going to attempt a pitch for a live-action Dark Knight Returns movie.
The Dark Knight Returns was published in 1986. The graphic novel was set in a dark, dystopian future where a gang called The Mutants terrorise Gotham. Bruce Wayne has been retired as Batman for 10 years and only comes back into action because of the anarchy. Batman’s return also leads to the awakening of some of Batman’s enemies and brings the Bat to a head-on clash with the US government and their superpowered boy scout.
Warner Brothers and the Batman movies have been cribbing from The Dark Knight Returns for a long time, so the studio should make a Dark Knight Returns movie so the franchise can move on. Whilst that’s a negative reason for a Dark Knight Returns movie to be made, there are also positive reasons. It’s an excellent story, offers something different to the superhero movie genre, and many filmmakers would jump at the chance to adapt the story.
The Dark Knight Returns has been adapted to screen once before with a two-part animated movie. It was an extremely faithful adaptation, but it was faithful to a fault. The original comic was released in four parts: the first issue looked at Batman’s returns, the second was about the downfall of the Mutant Leader, the third showed the return of The Joker, and in Part Four Batman had to fight Superman in one final showdown. The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 film wasn’t as strong because of the two-storylines feeling disjointed. The Dark Knight Returns animated films kept the Cold War subplot despite being released in 2012 and 2013 and the satire involving TV talking heads didn’t translate so well for a film.
A live-action Dark Knight Returns movie would need to rejig the story to make it work for a feature film. To streamline the story the subplot involving the US-Soviet conflict would be cut. The talking heads would also be cut. The talking heads spell out the themes of the film and distract from the main plot. The themes and ideas need to be better integrated into the main story. In this version of story superheroes would be outlawed. Superman is only allowed to operate as a saviour if he works for the US government, so he can be shown having to go into war zones and disrupt terrorist camps. As in the graphic novel Superman would be sent by the government to warn Bruce to stop and would have to fight Batman in Gotham during a blackout. Instead of a Soviet nuclear missile causing the blackout that affects America, I would make it the work of the Joker, a final joke that would cause chaos across America.
I love dystopia fiction, that is one of the reasons I love the graphic novel. The world of The Dark Knight Returns was similar to dystopias like A Clockwork Orange, The Warriors, and Akira and I would use these films as influences. These films did an excellent job showing the decline in society with law-and-order being hard to maintain and the young running amok. It would be a hopeless world with unemployment being staggering and Gotham would be crumbling. The Mutants would give some desperate young people a sense of belonging and be mesmerised by a charismatic cult leader. A filmmaker and their creative team could have fun with the design of the city with it being a mix of sci-fi and urban delay.
The conflict between an older Batman and a gang of violent teenagers can tap into a modern theme of generational conflict. The young would have feelings of hopelessness and envy whilst the old would fear the young. This could play into Carrie Kelley’s storyline where her parents fear she could be attacked by the Mutants or join them.
The other theme of the story would be interlinked – the return of Batman’s friends and enemies, and the reappearance of Batman might make things worse. In the graphic novel The Joker was in a listless state and was only awakened when he hears of news about Batman’s return. This led to the Joker breaking out of Arkham Asylum in the most public way possible and enacting one final sadistic scheme. It would be the final battle between two old rivals in their cycle of violence. It would be one final attempt for the Joker to try and break his nemesis. Whilst the Superman half of the story sees two former friends being pitted against each other. Superman would be a shadow of his former self because he would be nothing but a government lackey. But he would be conflicted by Batman’s methods.
In the graphic novel Batman is 55 years old and any film adaptation needs to play on his age. He would not be as agile or as fast as he used to be. A film adaptation can play up that he needs to change his tactics, fighting style, and gadgets. Batman was huge in the graphic novel and the film can show he has gone for a brutal strength approach to fight his opponents. A film should show the torturous training regime Bruce Wayne has to go through to become Batman again. One of the key scenes in the graphic novel and the animated film was when Batman had to fight the Mutant Leader in a pool of mud which took the Mutant Leader’s speed. It made their fight a fairer contest and Batman was able to win due to having a more tactical approach.
If The Dark Knight Returns is ever made into a feature film it should be treated as a standalone Elseworld story, like Joker or The Batman. The film should focus on the dystopia elements and the social and moral complexity. It could and should be as dark and violent with an R-rating. Directors like Duncan Jones or Neill Blomkamp could do a terrific job with the material. A Dark Knight Returns could be a great mix of the superhero genre, dystopian sci-fi, and action and a filmmaker could use films like A Clockwork Orange, The Warriors, Akira, and Dredd as influences.
