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Christopher Nolan’s rise to prominence began with the success of “Batman Begins,” but it was his “Dark Knight” trilogy that firmly established his admiration for the iconic superhero. One might assume that 1989’s “Batman” would be Nolan’s most cherished comic book adaptation. However, it’s actually the 1978 film “Superman” that holds a special place in his heart, having set the stage for future superhero blockbusters, including those directed by Nolan himself.
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When “Superman” debuted, it was a cinematic milestone, unmatched in both its storytelling and the excitement it generated. Nolan, who was just eight years old at the time, was captivated by its magic. While “Star Wars: A New Hope” was the film that spurred Nolan’s ambition to become a filmmaker, it was “Superman” that profoundly influenced his approach to adapting comic books for the screen.
In crafting “Batman Begins,” Nolan took inspiration from two classics, neither of which were previous “Batman” films. The tone and visual style were heavily influenced by the sci-fi masterpiece “Blade Runner,” particularly in its cinematography and production design. Meanwhile, 1978’s “Superman” played a crucial role in shaping the narrative structure of “Batman Begins,” offering something that 1989’s “Batman” did not—an origin story for the hero.
While Nolan appreciates Tim Burton’s “Batman” films, he noted a missed opportunity in the character development of Batman. Burton’s version introduced Batman as a fully formed character, skipping over Bruce Wayne’s transformation. Nolan expressed to The Hollywood Reporter that this omission left a gap in pop culture: “You had ‘Superman’ in 1978, but they never did the sort of 1978 ‘Batman,’ where you see the origin story.” Inspired by his childhood favorite, Nolan was eager to create a film that addressed this gap.
Superman 1978 inspired Nolan’s approach to Batman Begins
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Nolan eventually extended his creative reach to the Superman universe as well, serving as one of the original story writers and producers for 2013’s “Man of Steel.” This project was instrumental in launching the DC Extended Universe, allowing Nolan to leave his mark on yet another legendary superhero saga.
While Nolan has nothing but nice things to say about Tim Burton’s “Batman” movies, he lamented the fact that Batman as a character was already fully formed from the start of that film rather than seeing Bruce Wayne’s gradual transformation. As he told The Hollywood Reporter, “it left this interesting gap in pop-culture, which is you know, you had ‘Superman’ in 1978, but they never did the sort of 1978 ‘Batman,’ where you see the origin story.” So Nolan, inspired by the superhero movie he loved so much as a kid, jumped at the chance to fill that gap.
Of course, Nolan would also eventually get his chance to play in the world of Superman as well, as he was one of the original story writers and producers of 2013’s “Man of Steel” — thus helping launch the entire DC Extended Universe.
