After what could generously be described as a torturous lead-up, The Batman is finally in production. The DC Extended Universe could use a win. Beginning with 2013's Man of Steel, the media franchise has been marked by inconsistency (the most recent entry, Birds of Prey, underperformed at the box office).

And it's led DC, in the last several years, to emphasize artistry over interconnectivity. The Batman is reportedly a noir film, with a hard-boiled approach to its characters and setting. It is also the first in what is being envisioned as a film trilogy, with a single, overarching narrative.