batman

Bane. Mad Max. Charles Bronson. Mother Goose?

Tom Hardy is mostly known for playing anti-social, bloodthirsty monsters. With his rich British accent and hulking physique, Hardy is an indomitable and unsuspecting screen presence known for tapping into the rawest parts of the human psyche. His voice synonymous with the eloquent ravings of a madman; his actions, the missing link between the modern and primordial man.

via Wiffle Gif

So it should come as no surprise that Tom Hardy reading a bedtime story about a party that requires guests wear a hat sounds like he’s reading a malevolent riddle to the good people of Gotham City.

Appearing on the BBC’s CBeeBies BedTime Story on New Years Eve, Hardy chilled on a couch — golden retriever on his lap, giant stuffed monkey to his side — to read You Must Bring a Hat, a darling children’s book by Simon Philip and Kate Hindly. The story of a young man who was invited to a party with a very specific set of instructions, You Must Bring a Hat, as read by Tom Hardy, sounds like something Charles Bronson says before he beats someone in prison.

Tell me that, “All penguins accompanying pink-tutu-wearing elephants MUST bring with them a suitcase full of cheese” doesn’t sound like something this guy would say:

via Space Cadet

Or “You think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it.” Ok. That was from The Dark Knight Rises, but the point is because Hardy’s voice is closely connected to these lunatic characters, You Must Bring a Hat sounds like something they would say. Especially considering the book puts such dire emphasis on the whole “you must bring a hat to this party thing.”

Anyway, check out the video, close your eyes, and imagine Mad Max muttering this story under his breath.

via Fox Searchlight

Ben Affleck has announced the new title for his solo film project is "The Batman," and Twitter gave us our only thoughts on the matter:

Yes, @BenAffleck did say the current title of his Bat-flick was #TheBatman. But, he did say he could change it. pic.twitter.com/wXLORgUsF3

— Adam @TwitchCon (@adamhlavac) October 3, 2016

Even though Justice League's only 31 days into the 111 scheduled for production, Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. still managed to show off a clip from the film at last weekend, on set in London.

The scene opens on Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) entering his dark lit apartment, and shortly thereafter all the lights come on to expose Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) sitting there, waiting for him. 

“Barry Allen… Bruce Wayne,” Bruce says addressing a stunned Barry Allen. “You say that is if it’s normal to have a complete stranger sitting in my second favorite chair,” Barry responds to several laughs from a few press members that are around to watch the epic introduction.

Bruce proceeds to whip out a surveillance shot, which was Flash's cameo appearance in Batman v. Superman; and continues to question Barry about what he was doing during the footage. Barry responds saying that sure, it's someone who looks exactly like him, but is probably just an 'attractive Jewish boy.'

Bruce undeterred by Barry's expectant reluctance to reveal his identity, chucks a Batarang at Barry, who easily sidesteps the assault, launching the scene into slow motion and capturing that moment when Barry learns Bruce's true identity (and vice versa).

Time falls back to normal pacing, and Barry says, "You’re the Batman,” to which Bruce responds, “And you’re fast.” Then Barry tells him Bruce he thinks that way of thinking about the matter is an “over-simplification.”

Scene closes with Bruce recruiting a very eager Flash, who says he needs and friends, and also asks to keep the Batarang. 

This Killing Joke covers what's widely accepted as the origin of the Joker and some of the events that lead up to Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) becoming paralyzed (after which she eventually becomes Oracle). There's also a featurette with more explanation on the origin of the story and the people working on this movie: 

And on that night Superman gave zero fu*ks about Batman's toys.

Lenny B. Robinson, known all over as the Route 29 Batman, tragically died Aug. 16.

The 51-year-old businessman was on his way home from a car show when he has some car trouble, pulled over and was then hit by an oncoming vehicle.

According to The Washington Post:

Robinson had just stopped at a gas station, where he met a family whose children were interested in his custom-made car, Maryland state police in Hagerstown said. Robinson gave the kids some superhero paraphernalia before leaving about the same time as his new acquaintances. When they saw him pull over, they did the same and witnessed the 10:30 p.m. accident, state police said.

Robinson was having engine trouble and stopped "partially in the fast lane," according to a state police news release. He was checking the engine when the Batmobile was struck by a Toyota Camry. The Batmobile then hit him. Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had made a name for himself, dressing up as the Caped Crusader and visiting sick children in hospitals, handing out Batman paraphernalia to those who needed some inspiration.

It's the really sad loss of a man who spent much of his own free time and money trying to lift the spirits of children.

Like it or not, Ben Affleck is your new Batman.

But before he put on the iconic cape and cowl to film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," his predecessor, Christian Bale, offered him some advice.

His first tip: beware bathroom breaks.

"Be able to take a piss by yourself," he said, according to the NY Daily News. "I found it to be ridiculously unheroic between takes when I said, 'Excuse me, I need to pee, could somebody undo me please?' "

His second tip: that mask is really heavy.

"I took three people 20 minutes with tools in order to take that cowl off (my) head," says Bale.

Bale also recently admitted his initial reaction to Affleck being cast was jealousy.