At the start of March 2022, the latest Batman film was released in cinemas around the world. While the return of Gotham City was greatly anticipated, it seems it wasn’t the only place proving popular. In fact, many of the scenes in Batman were filmed in none other than Liverpool. Here, we look at some locations to hit the big screen.
Iconic set-ups
The seventh Batman film was released at the beginning of March and features a stellar line up, including Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader. The film follows Batman as he follows a trail of cryptic clues in his search for a sadistic villain who is terrorising Gotham City.
Along the way, he meets several of his arch enemies, including Riddler and Penguin, who have an interesting backstory and disguise. What’s more, not only does the sorry tale behind some of these characters make us love to hate them, but the Batman series is one of only a few where the villains actually have disguises. This adds to the mystery around whether we’re seeing a regular citizen in a mask or a criminal in street clothes.
While Gotham City may look miles away from any other city we know, Batman’s director Matt Reeves confirmed Liverpool was a primary filming location for the project. Describing it as just as important as the Rogues’ Gallery, he explained that the nature and history of the city was crucial to the overall storyline. He further revealed that he chose Liverpool because the team wanted to create an American city that had never been visited before.
If iconic attractions like Times Square had been used, then people would guess that Gotham City was actually New York. What’s more, the gothic architecture and history of Liverpool added to the overall dark atmosphere.
Wondering which scenes were filmed in Liverpool? We round up the northern filming locations below.
St George’s Hall
Having been used as both a civic hall and law court in the past, the noteworthy and iconic St George’s Hall makes a few appearances in the film. Robert Pattinson and Colin Farrell, who plays Penguin, were seen outside the hall filming a few different scenes. One of which is thought to be a funeral in Gotham City and also features a few other villains. Zoë Kravitz, who plays Catwoman, and John Turturro, who plays Carmine Falcone, the Gotham crime lord, were also pictured coming out of the building.
Liver Building
Batman actually jumps off one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings, the Liver Building. While this scene is actually filmed with a stuntman, the same one is used in the trailer for the film. The building also made it into the comic book series and was used on the cover of a limited edition Batman comic.
Anfield Cemetery
One of the city’s biggest cemeteries was used when Batman’s stunt double rides the Bat Bike around Gotham City. The same scene was also shot with Catwoman’s stunt double. Just up the road, Lime Street makes up a huge part of the Batman film with police officers spotted near a Gotham City barrier.
Liverpool wasn’t the only UK city to be used for the latest Batman film, though, as Glasgow and London made an appearance too. Liverpool is a firm favourite for Hollywood producers. In fact, it’s doubled up as the Big Apple on more than one occasion – including in Captain America: The First Avenger, Florence Foster Jenkins and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.
