As leaks from the highly-anticipated The Batman emerge, speculation has risen about what this could mean for Robert Pattinson’s iteration of the iconic vigilante.

More promotional pictures for ‘The Batman’ from a 2022 calendar. pic.twitter.com/vCYgxDZi8h

— DCEU Updates (@DCEU_Updates) May 18, 2021

A leak that has caused the most speculation and fan reaction is, without a doubt, a The Batman themed calendar that includes 12 completely new images. In addition to new images of Batman himself, the calendar shines a light on The Riddler, who is being set up as the villain of Matt Reeves’s first installment in the Robert Pattinson-centered trilogy.

The Riddler’s outfit takes a sharp turn from former iterations of the character, evading the corniness of the classic green suit and cane, replacing it with a sinister black mask and glasses. This new outfit, as many fans have pointed out, is eerily reminiscent of the Zodiac Killer, the infamous serial killer was known to wear a very similar disguise. This shift in costume could signal a much darker journey for Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, hunting down a villain more in line with a serial killer than a flamboyant puzzle-master. This costume shift could also imply something much deeper than a tonal change for the classic villain, possibly something much more important to Bruce Wayne’s past as well as the Riddler’s future.

In past iterations of Batman, most notably Batman: Hush, The Riddler uses the title of Hush as an alter ego in which he can psychologically torment Batman without drawing attention to himself or putting a target on his head. A similar situation could be happening in Matt Reeves’s film, given the resemblance Paul Dano’s Riddler costume has to that of previous designs of Hush and the direct connection the two characters have had in the past.

It seems as if fans of Batman are in for a very psychological thriller in 2022 and could expect to see the caped-crusader tackle a villain who tests him mentally rather than physically.

A New Look at the Batsuit and the possible Court of Owls connection:

Just a feeling that #TheBatman is going to be ART. Reeves is one of the finest filmmakers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b1xhD3TbA2

— 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗻𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 (@Itssan17) June 3, 2021

One of the most talked about aspects of The Batman leaks is the new batsuit. The suit is beautifully designed by Glyn Dillon (known for his work in Rogue One and Solo: a Star Wars Story). So what can we take away from a more detailed look at the new suit?

Right off the bat, you can tell that this batsuit is far from polished, going for a more protective, utilitarian approach than Ben Affleck or Michael Keaton’s more stylized batsuits. This is clearly a younger Bruce Wayne with less experience, making that armor seem more like a necessity than an aesthetic choice. However, that metallic, utilitarian approach is contrasted by the cape and cowl, more reminiscent of classic batman designs that prioritize style over realism and fabric and leather over armor and steel. In addition, that collared part of the cape is an excellent touch that seems like it was inspired by Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, playing into the more mysterious noir elements of the Batman mythos.

A growing theory on the events of The Batman is the potential inclusion of the Court of Owls, a secret society of Gotham elites that control the city through any means necessary. Fans are starting to make this connection through the trailer that dropped last year and specific details on the batsuit. Most notably the arm gauntlets, which share a resemblance to the gauntlets of Talon, a villain in Batman’s rogues gallery and leading member of the Court of Owls, highlighted in Batman vs Robin.

Perhaps a connection is going to be made between Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne and the Court of Owls. Whether it be a connection made in the past or potential foreshadowing about the role the secret society could play in future installments of the trilogy.

If this is really a court of owls member then I really hope they are going to be the big bad‘s of the trilogy pic.twitter.com/TOd4oxu7tR

— Noel🏳️‍🌈 (@NoelSch139) May 7, 2021

Are there any other leaks that got you excited for The Batman next year? Let us know in the comments!