‘It Was A Painful Thing’: The Batman Writer Reflects On Not Being Credited, But Returning For The Sequel

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‘It Was A Painful Thing’: The Batman Writer Reflects On Not Being Credited, But Returning For The Sequel

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen more movie credits than I care to remember, I can’t help but feel a twinge of empathy for Mattson Tomlin, the unsung hero of The Batman. Despite his significant contributions going officially uncredited, he took it all in stride, understanding the quirks and complexities of the industry.

In reference to “The Batman Part II,” while there remains much that remains a mystery, we are certain of one detail: the person responsible for its script. Contrasting this with the first film, which was penned by multiple authors, a fact less well-known by many

In the realm of screenwriting, everyone strives to get recognized for their efforts. However, merely doing the work is not enough; there are intricate rules involved in determining who gets acknowledged for what, leading to instances where individuals complete work but do not find themselves listed in the film’s credits. This was exactly what happened to Mattson Tomlin, whose writing contributions to The Batman remained unacknowledged officially, yet it still paved the way for him to secure a position on the sequel

In the case of screen credit for The Batman, it came down to arbitration, with Mattson Uepler (Mattson Tomlin in the film’s original script) striving to establish his contributions to the movie. However, he ultimately lost this battle. Regarding his upcoming project, Terminator: Zero on Netflix’s side, the creator of the anime version of The Terminator acknowledges that there was a high probability he wouldn’t receive credit as director, as Chris Corso (Matt Reeves) had openly discussed this issue beforehand. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mattson Uepler said

It was a challenging turn of events, given the substantial effort and heartfelt investment I put into it. It was truly a delightful experience working with Matt on our first joint project. However, when I was brought in, it was mentioned that due to the advanced stage of the process, it would be unlikely for me to receive any formal credit. I didn’t face any mistreatment or unfair treatment; it was simply a matter of timing

At one stage during the process, it seemed that Tomlin might receive credit for his work, since his contributions to the script appeared to be greater than initially anticipated. Sadly, the credit never came through in the end

In a relaxed and casual manner, Tomlin admits he sought recognition for his work. He accepts that sometimes, getting paid for one’s work is part of how things unfold. While credits can boost one’s career, the work Tomlin did on “The Batman” was instrumental in shaping his future. His contributions were so impressive to director Matt Reeves that when it came time to write the upcoming DC movie, Tomlin was the first person he reached out to for the task. He carried on

On the very day the movie released, Matt Reeves and I had a lengthy chat on the phone, where he shared insights into the movie-making process, probably reflecting on his own experience. In that moment, I was tempted to ask if he was planning the sequel, but decided against it, as it seemed he merely wanted to share his recent experiences. Instead, I chose to act as a supportive friend and appreciate being included in his journey since I was indeed part of it. It wasn’t until about six weeks later that he reached out with an offer for the sequel: “So, are you ready to embark on this journey fully for the sequel?”

As a die-hard gamer, I’ve got some exciting news: Money won’t be a hurdle for “The Batman Part II”. The real question on everyone’s mind is when the script will be finalized. It’s been quite a wait and fans are starting to wonder if “The Batman Part II” will ever see the light of day. Co-star Andy Serkis has hinted that we might be filming the “Batman” sequel as early as 2025. Can’t wait!

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2024-09-05 02:37