The Adam West Reference You Likely Missed In The Batman
Contains mild spoilers for "The Batman."
Robert Pattinson is the most recent thespian to portray the misunderstood, brooding Batman. The "Twilight" alum made his debut as the DC hero in Matt Reeves' "The Batman," which arrived in theaters on Friday, March 4. The critically-acclaimed film has already caused major buzz since its recent release, with Reeves' and Pattinson's work birthing the next generation of Bruce Wayne. Pattinson joins an all-star list of actors who have played Batman before him, including Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. In the latest rendition, Pattinson's hero pays homage to the original comics by giving Batman an investigative edge when it comes to fighting crime.
Alongside Pattinson, "The Batman" features some major supporting talent, including Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Peter Sarsgaard as District Attorney Gil Colson, and more. The film is a true modern-day take on decades of comics canon, so it's no surprise that Reeves paid homage to the "Batman" lore in addition to honoring the on-screen versions of Bruce Wayne that precede his 2022 version.
If you've already seen "The Batman," you know it's riddled with Easter eggs that are easy to miss amidst the spectacle. Not only are there references to the comics and previous film adaptations, but there are even hints that are deeply personal to Pattinson's acting career. The film includes a few nods to Adam West's legendary Batman from the late 1960s that can only be noticed by diehard fans of the Dark Knight. Don't worry if you missed it because fans on Reddit have been quick to fill in all of the gaps.
Batman's home décor pays homage to Adam West
A few eagle-eyed fans on Reddit noticed that the décor in the home of Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne pays homage to Adam West's campy version of the legendary character. Director Matt Reeves totally gave the Bat Cave a fresh look in his 2022 rendition, but that doesn't mean he didn't take time to look back on the past. In a recent post to the r/movie subreddit, Redditor u/Matches_Malone83 pointed out to fellow fans that Bruce Wayne has "a big Shakespeare bust in his home," similar to the one West's Bruce Wayne has in the "Batman" television series that aired from 1966 to 1968.
On the show, the bust of Shakespeare West's Bruce Wayne has is more than just a nice bit of decoration in his library. In addition to standing watch over Batman's red telephone, the bust conceals a button that, when pressed, would open a secret door to reveal the firehouse-style poles Batman and Robin would slide down and into the Batcave. Not to mention, they made for a perfect quick escape, too. It's an image that has been synonymous with the character for decades as it perfectly represents both his tech-savvy ways and high-class taste, rolled into one useful gadget. So, while the bust looks like a cliché bit of library décor, in Bruce Wayne's world, nothing is as it seems.
Reeves previously was interviewed by HeyUGuys and revealed that West's version of the character "began [his] lifelong love of Batman." He was born in 1966 when West began playing the character. With this in mind, the appearance of the Shakespeare bust in "The Batman" is likely not an accident. Instead, it seems like a simple nod to the actor whose portrayal of a beloved superhero made an impact on a young director-to-be.
The Batman also has its own version of Aunt Harriet
Another "The Batman" fan, Redditor u/Linubidix, revealed on Reddit that the film has its own version of Aunt Harriet, a notable character from Adam West's "Batman" TV series. If you're unfamiliar, Harriet Cooper (portrayed by Madge Blake) is the aunt of Dick Grayson/Robin (Burt Ward) in the 1960s series, much like she in the "Batman" comics. On the show, Aunt Harriet is unaware of Bruce and Dick's secret superhero life but still supports their endeavors.
In 2022's "The Batman," there is a character close to Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne named Dory (Sandra Dickinson). Dory is an older woman who works at Wayne Tower as a housekeeper, making her one of three residents at the Gotham location in addition to Bruce and Alfred (Andy Serkis). Much like Aunt Harriet, Dory is seemingly unaware of Bruce's double-life, serving the billionaire as a housekeeper and a secretary. It's not explicit that Dory is supposed to be a modern-day Harriet, but it's hard not to notice the similarities between the two supporting characters. Also, considering once again Reeves' fondness for the '60s series, it's likely that the addition of an older woman living and working under the same roof as Bruce Wayne is not an idea that came out of thin air.