Batman Begins at 15: How Christopher Nolan’s superhero film changed the fate of James Bond
Daniel Craig's 007 would have been very different without it
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Your support makes all the difference.Batman Begins not only ushered in a change for the DC superhero franchise, but for another film series entirely.
Since it’s release in June 2005 – 15 years ago this week – the Christopher Nolan film has been hailed as one of the best superhero origin films in history, and is often cited as the film that kickstarted the wave of much darker comic book adaptations that followed.
But, Nolan not only inspired a change in how Bruce Wayne would go on to be immortalised on screen, but also James Bond.
When Batman Begins was released, the Bond series was in the process of being revamped with new star Daniel Craig.
Nolan’s film – co-written by the director and David S Goyer – was such a success that it inspired the writers of Casino Royale to take a leaf from its book.
“We’re trying to do for Bond what Batman Begins did for Batman,” said Casino Royal co-writer Paul Haggis while offering an update of the film to Canadian site CJAD four months after Nolan’s film came out.
One year later, on 16 November 2006, the new Bond film was released, and received praise for its “tougher” and ”brutal” version of 007.
Reviewing the film for The Times, Wendy Ide wrote: “Casino Royale takes us back to basics. To a leaner production and to a Bond who looks like he can do serious damage.”
It certainly seems the film might not have succeeded so well if it wasn’t for Batman Begins.
Nolan’s new film, Tenet, will be released on 31 July. Delayed Bond film No Time to Die is released on 12 November.
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