‘The Batman’ Production Designer on Building the Batmobile as a ‘Relentless’ Hunter

variety.com:

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorMatt Reeves and production designer James Chinlund have worked together before “The Batman.” The pair’s collaboration has been focused on creating grounded worlds, based in reality.

That approach was no different for building the world of the new DC adaptation.Reeves wanted fans to feel like they were in a complete world in which a viewer could feel like they could get on a bus and go to Gotham. “We wanted this idea that it was somewhere around us,” says Chinlund.With that, Chinlund, onboard from the get-go, was in constant communication about constructing this gritty, crime-ridden city of Gotham and bringing it to life.The BatmobileDespite its many incarnations, the Batmobile’s sleek ride remains iconic.

That led to one of the key decisions by Chinland when approaching this project. Through many conversations with Reeves, the pair knew they wanted it to be a car. “It wasn’t going to be like a tank or a specialized weapon,” Chinlund explains.

Rather, the notion was that Bruce Wayne had built the car himself, turning his back on Wayne Industries. “He was not James Bond, he was a singular vigilante.”Chinlund’s design of the car was motivated by Reeves’ note early on that it was “relentless [and] motivated by a mission.”“Every design choice you see in the car is born out of the function required,” Chinlund shared.