The Batman is out now. And whatever you make of RPatz as the new caped crusader, the fact is it took a lot longer to arrive on our screens than originally planned – though no points for guessing why. (Although, ironically, some scientists believe it all started with a bat).
Originally set for release on 25th June 2021 until that was moved, before yet another release date on 21st October was rescheduled, The Batman’s release date saw about as much change as the Gotham City Police Department. That left a spate of time between the filming of scenes to it landing on screens.
(To read whynow’s review of the finished product, click here)
Nonetheless, here are the main filming locations used for Matt Reeves’ The Batman – a list which shows the making of the film, along with the lead role, was a very strong British affair.
St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, England, UK
(Gotham city hall)
Used for Gotham Hall City and Gotham Bank, this Neoclassical building in the centre of Liverpool provided all the intricate ornamental detail typically associated with Gotham. Up until last year at least, the location was recognised by UNESCO as part of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site status. That may have been stripped, but at least it can count its role in a major blockbuster as an accolade for this year.
Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
For all its moodiness, much of The Batman sees plentiful gazing of into the distance, as the conflict between justice and revenge weighs heavy on Batman’s conscience. That said, it helps to have a nice view, which the Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow certainly provided – a site which overlooks the city.
Chicago, Illinois, USA
(Exterior motorcycle scenes)
Featured extensively in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, and even some Arrowverse filming, Chicago reprised its role as Batman’s stomping ground – for many of the motorcycle scenes that is, this time round. No sightings of any of the main cast – Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell – were made, but nonetheless Chicagoans still gathered to watch as though summoned by the bat signal.
Hartwood Psychiatric Hospital, Shotts, Scotland, UK
(Gotham orphanage)
Unused since the 90’s, this dilapidated was used as the Gotham Orphanage. A former psychiatric hospital, it was a fitting location to add to some of the doom and mental gloom wrought by Paul Dano’s The Riddler.
St George’s Hall in Liverpool, without looking quite as atmospheric as it does in The Batman.
Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, England, UK
Another rooftop view, this time situated back in Liverpool. Not only did this provide moments of heightened tension (you know the kind) between the bat and the cat but was also the scene of one of the film’s larger stunts, as Batman tries to flee a mob of corrupt police officers.
Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, England, UK
Hopefully the appearance of another cemetery on the list gives you the accurate impression that this is not one of the more cheery in the Batman franchise – in fact, far from it. What’s more, speaking to Radio Times, the film’s production designer James Chinlund said the wintry conditions of Liverpool played a part in the film’s making.
“It certainly provided the atmosphere that we needed,” he said. “I mean, Gotham is a dark and cold place, and at times the UK is as well. So it really was our friend, and we appreciated it. And the long nights were very helpful.”
I suppose that’s a compliment.
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England, UK
(Gotham general hospital)
Without giving any spoilers there’s a rather implausible near-death in The Batman, in amongst all the other death. But nonetheless it gives a chance for Liverpool’s Walker Gallery to be the location for Gotham Hospital. Unlike the iconic explosion of the hospital by Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight, this one stays standing.
Wellington Memorial Statue, Liverpool, England, UK
(Halloween market)
The filming location for the Halloween market, this site was found by Chinlund online, who dubbed the place “an incredible resource”; somewhere that could be transformed into Gotham’s own equivalent of Times Square.
Filming for The Batman taking place on the top of the Liver Building.
County Sessions House, Liverpool, England, UK
(Gotham central courthouse)
Police corruption plays a big part in The Batman, so naturally a courthouse was bound to appear as one of the filming locations. And, given the rest of this list, staying in Liverpool seemed like a convenient course of action – and also once more provided all the Gotham City-esque architecture.
Printworks Nightclub, London, England, UK
(Iceberg lounge)
A night out after this intense showing wouldn’t go amiss. Just make sure you can fit in both given the film’s near three-hour run time. You might decide on London’s Printworks, which incidentally also featured in the film, used as the Penguin’s (Colin Farrell) hangout.
Kingsway Tram Tunnel, Southampton Row, London, England, UK
This long-abandoned grade-II listed building served as the perfect hiding ground for Batman, in a city where he’s largely seen as a vigilante and often chased into hiding. Just near Holborn, the Kingsway Tram Tunnel recently held an exhibition, with the famous Batmobile on display alongside Batman and Catwoman’s luxuriously leather costumes.
Leavesden Studios, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK
(WB studios London)
A straightforward ‘location’ this one – but one that still showed the pulling power of British studio space. Leavesden Studios in fact played an enormous part in the filming of The Batman, with the sites for the Batcave and Wayne Tower being built there.
The long-abandoned Kingsway Tram Tunnel.
Cardington Airship Hangars, Bedfordshire, England, UK
(studio)
As mysterious as The Riddler (well, not quite, but almost) this filming location was kept largely under wraps. Without wishing to give anything away, locals in Bedfordshire were told simply about ‘the production of a new Warner Bros feature film’. Thankfully one aircraft hangar-loving local could crack the case:
Batman filming starting soon, notification to the local populace has begun, with dates LOL #TheBatman #Batman pic.twitter.com/8TqH5IfMgV
— ℂ𝔸ℝ𝔻𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕋𝕆ℕ 𝕊ℍ𝔼𝔻𝕊 (@CardingtonSheds) February 1, 2020
Riddle me that.
Two Temple Place, London, England, UK
Finally, Two Temple Place, first built in 1895 on London’s Embankment, served as yet another Gotham City filming location. The building is used today as a gallery for art. It’s up to you to decide whether you think The Batman is a work of art, or an over-indulgent affair – from today in fact.
