David S. Goyer, the writer behind major superhero films likeBladeandBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, is also one of the visionaries behind Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy. While he only contributed to the story inThe Dark KnightandThe Dark Knight Rises, Goyer actually wrote the first film,Batman Begins. The first film in the DC trilogy was released on August 23, 2025, meaning it turns 20 this year. The writer has recalled his experience when writing it, and says it’s among the “top three things” he has worked on.
The screenwriter appeared on the Josh Horowitz podcast,Happy Sad Confused, where he talked abouthis legacy inThe Dark Knighttrilogy and especially,Batman Begins. When asked where the film stands amid other giants in his filmography, Goyer shows nothing but praise for the Nolan film that changed the superhero genre:
“Batman Begins, first of all, it’s, for a variety of reasons, my favorite film in the trilogy. And it’s certainly in the top three things I’ve ever worked on in my career, things that I’m the most proud of. It’s also an instance which is so rare in Hollywood where everything lined up right, and played out the way it should. It almost never happens that way.
“So, the whole thing was very dreamlike and magical. It was an incredibly influential film in terms of the superhero genre, comic book genre. It catapulted Chris and myself and everyone involved into a whole other level.”
‘Batman Begins’ at 20: Christopher Nolan’s DC Blockbuster Remade Hollywood for Better – and Worse
20 years ago, Christopher Nolan created an all-time great superhero movie, and unwittingly influenced Hollywood’s future in the process.
‘Batman Begins’ Was the Beginning of a Revolution in the Genre
In 2005, the superhero genre was under the grip of Marvel.Spider-ManandX-Menwere the main players in a game where unconventional options likeUnbreakabledidn’t find any ground. Warner Bros. Pictures saw an opportunity to tweak the genre tropes and made a gamble that would change the landscape to this day. A high-profile director, a higher budget than usual, and a serious tone that also appealed to mature audiences.Batman Beginswas a superhero film for adults, and it explored more complicated themes than usual.
Every superhero’s story is based on rules. Rules that stem from an origin story thatBatman Beginsdepicts very well. Although it does feature a heavy dose of set pieces and action sequences, Nolan’s introductory film inTheDark Knighttrilogy is also a character study that takes its time to reveal its most valuable feature: Bruce Wayne in the Batman mask. Goyer said the following when addressing the fact that the Dark Knight doesn’t appear until nearly an hour into the film, something that Warner Bros. wasn’t happy about:
“They were not happy about that… As moviegoers, in a lot of these superhero movies, we were always just kind of twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the character to get in the costume, and for the movie to really begin. We knew early on that we needed to have the audience fall in love with Bruce Wayne. That we needed to have an amazing action sequence as amazing as something from Indiana Jones that involved Bruce Wayne and not Batman.”
Source:Happy Sad Confused (via YouTube)
Batman Begins
