The Dark Knight Trilogy | Behind-The-Scenes After the studio rejected a Batman origin story reboot Joss Whedon pitched in December 2002, Warner Bros. hired Christopher Nolan in January 2003 to direct a new film. Nolan and David Goyer began development on the film in early 2003. Aiming for a darker, more realistic tone compared to the previous films, a primary goal for their vision was to engage the audience’s emotional investment in both the Batman and Bruce Wayne identities of the lead characte