The Batman Will Make Changes to Alfred and Bruce Wayne’s Relationship, Andy Serkis Says

With the release of The Batman less than a week away, Andy Serkis has offered some insight into the relationship between his iteration of butler Alfred Pennyworth and Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne. Speaking with Digital Spy, Serkis revealed that The Batman will be taking a very different approach to the bond between Alfred and Bruce than audiences are used to, avoiding the more familiar father-son dynamic.

“He is an ex-soldier. He’s worked for the secret service, but one thing he isn’t, is a father or possess the emotional toolbox to be a father. That is really what’s at the core of this telling of the tale of our version of their relationship and I’m thankful that it is a fresh view, really.”

So far on the big screen, Alfred has always been something of a surrogate parent to Bruce, with the likes of Michael Caine and Christian Bale’s takes on the character’s relationship, in particular, solidifying this idea. But it sounds like The Batman director Matt Reeves is aiming to create something different, with Andy Serkis highlighting Alfred’s background as a soldier: Something that will undoubtedly result in more of a teacher/student bond where Bruce’s activities as Batman are concerned.

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Outside of teaching him warfare tactics and how best to beat criminals to a pulp, things that will come in very handy as Bruce Wayne attempts to thwart crime in Gotham City, Serkis suggests that Alfred will struggle and be hugely out of his depth when Bruce Wayne removes the mask and armor and is need of help on any kind of emotional level.

The Batman Will Explore the DC Superhero’s Second Year Under the Cowl

Warner Bros.

The Batman will introduce a version of The Dark Knight two years into his nightlife of stalking the streets and striking fear into the hearts of criminals, which have led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies, Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon among them, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.

When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot AKA the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton AKA the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City. The relationship between Alfred and Bruce Wayne will not be the only change made in The Batman, with the movie acting as an origin story for the villains rather than the titular hero.

Directed by Matt Reeves, who has written the screenplay with Peter Craig, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne AKA Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. The Batman is due to be theatrically released on March 4.

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