With a new phase of the DCEU stewarded by James Gunn underway, everyone knew that Batman would eventually swoop onto the scene. However, an ancient Mesoamerican version of Batman was, perhaps, not what immediately came to mind.
Aztec Batman was announced in the summer of 2022 and its release date would seem to be quickly on its way. We now know a lot more about the aesthetic of the movie, its story, setting, and Batman himself, who has been described by director Juan Meza-León as “a little less Schwarzenegger, a little more Bruce Lee.”
What We Know About the Aztec Batman Movie
Aztec Batman is being billed as an original character despite the familiar name, with it being an alternate take on the Aztec Empire and the Spanish conquest of the region. Even with it being an original take, the team was reportedly keen to adhere to historical accuracy where possible, as was detailed in the Variety report.
This even came to the character design for the protagonist of the upcoming animated film. It was the Aztec expert who recommended that Batman have a leaner physique. So, the big jaw and big shoulders were dropped in favor of a physique that essentially transformed the typical Schwarzenegger-esque build for one more akin to Bruce Lee.
Naturally, this will impact Aztec Batman’s fighting style and skill for the inevitable action set pieces. It’s set to get off to a hard-hitting start, with Yohualli Coatl witnessing Spanish conquistadors murder his father, with the rise of the Yoka (Aztec Joker) teased as the main antagonist. Hernán Cortés will also enter the film as Two-Face.
Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios is said to be earmarked for a late 2024 release, bringing with it whole new interpretations of Batman, the Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Alfred, and Catwoman. While superhero movies are commonplace, the Aztec setting remains a unique draw in the current entertainment space, making Aztec Batman an intriguing film.
Venturing Back to Ancient Mesoamerica
Despite how iconic and recognizable the ancient Mesoamerican empires are, particularly when it comes to the Aztecs, there aren’t that many entertainment products in the setting. Perhaps the most famous angle for deployment is the hunt for the fabled lost city of gold.
El Dorado has been the basis of a handful of films, but it’s at its most popular in the best live casino Canada has to offer. Gonzo is one of the most popular online slot characters going, and now the little conquistador’s adventures into the jungles have led him to Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live. As you’ll have inferred, it’s a game that’s very much about finding ancient Mesoamerican riches.
The horror angle is another that’s popular for the deployment of ancient Mesoamerica. In another form of gaming, video gaming, Lara Croft most recently encountered Paititi, a lost Inca city. There, the distinctly creepy Yaaxil protect the Silver Box of Ix Chel and make for menacing foes in the red-lit caverns of Paititi.
On the big screen, the most notable modern outing would be Apocalypto, which is a remake of the 1965 flick The Naked Prey. Dafne Keen will soon star in the horror film Whistle, which centers on an Aztec death whistle, slightly growing the collection of films that draw from ancient Mesoamerica.
Modern Batman
Aztec Batman will stand out for this strange blend of its setting being both very popular and recognizable, as well as wildly underutilized in modern entertainment.