CleverThe Dark Knight Risestheory suggests the reason why Bruce Wayne returns safe and sound at the end is because he used a fantastical piece ofDC Comics' Batman lore. Batman appears to make the ultimate sacrifice inThe Dark Knight Rises' ending, where he flies a nuclear bomb out into the sea with the Batwing. Yet, Alfred Pennyworth sees Bruce Wayne dining with Selina Kyle at a restaurant in Italy soon after, seemingly living a peaceful life after putting an end to his Batman persona.
The Dark Knight Rises' emotional ending can be read at least two different ways. In the literal way,Bruce Wayne probably uses the Batwing’s autopilot functionto escape the aircraft before the nuclear bomb explodes, after which he takes part of his wealth to rebuild his life alongside Selina Kyle abroad. A more figurative interpretation ofThe Dark Knight Rises' ending poses that Alfred is simply imagining Bruce Wayne having the happy life the hero always deserved — probably as the final step in Alfred’s grieving process. However, a third possibility introduces the Nolanverse’s adaptation of a famous DC Comics device.
The Dark Knight Rises Theory Has Batman Be Saved By A Lazarus Pit
The Dark Knight Rises Might Have Two Different Versions Of The Legendary Lazarus Pit
The Dark Knight Risesintroduces"the Pit"as the underground prison where Bane and Talia al Ghul were held prisoners. After Bane sends Bruce Wayne to the pit and Wayne manages to climb out of it despite his severe back injuries, the Pit becomes a clear symbol of rebirth. Therefore, it could be said thatThe Dark Knight Rises'“Pit"prisonis theDark Knighttrilogy’s realistic adaptation of the Lazarus Pit — a pool of chemicals that can bring any dead character back to life in DC Comics.
In the comics, Ra’s Al Ghul discovered the Lazarus Pit and used it multiple times. Jason Todd came back from the dead thanks to the Lazarus Pit as well.
However,there’s also the possibility that Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne had either discovered or created a more grounded version of the Lazarus Pit beforeThe Dark Knight Rises' final battle. Bruce Wayne had previously struggled with physical ailments derived from his battles, and his impressively quick return to form after having his back broken by Bane suggests that he employed a state-of-the-art recovery device or technique between his escape from The Pit and his arrival in Gotham.
The Dark Knight Rises' Lazarus Pit Theory Would Explain How Batman Survived The Final Movie
Bruce Wayne Looks Far Too Healthy During The Dark Knight Rises' Ending
Apart from his recently broken back, Batman was stabbed by Talia Al Ghul inThe Dark Knight Rises' final battle, leaving him severely weakened before he hopped on the Batwing and flew the nuclear bomb away from Gotham. Jumping from the Batwing after activating the plane’s autopilot in this state is a difficult task, and it could result in several new injuries that Bruce Wayne doesn’t seem to have when Alfred sees him in Italy.Perhaps Bruce Wayne perfected the Lazarus Pit and healed all his injuries before he abandoned Gotham and started over.
Maybe this Lazarus Pit is a highly-advanced healing pod or a new brand of medicine
Bruce Wayne’s broken back, stab wound, and escape from the nuclear bomb explosion are on a completely different level of severity compared to his injured knee, which required him to seek expert medical help and get a brace implanted on his leg. Shortly after, Bruce Wayne is able to brush off a broken back and seemingly escape from a nuclear explosion. InChristopher Nolan’s ultra-realisticThe Dark Knightuniverse, a realistic version of the Lazarus Pit could explain how Batman was able to heal so quickly. Maybe this Lazarus Pit is a highly-advanced healing pod or a new brand of medicine.
Why The Dark Knight Rises Theory Doesn’t Seem Likely
The Dark Knight Trilogy Doesn’t Have Any Solid Hints To The Lazarus Pit’s Existence
Although some version of the Lazarus Pit would help explain why Bruce Wayne looks so healthy at the end of the Dark Knight Rises,the existence of any kind of Lazarus Pit goes against the trilogy’s ultra-realistic tone. Christian Bale’s Batman is much weaker and more vulnerable than most other live-action Batmen, not because he’s less capable, but because he’s the most realistic iteration of the Dark Knight on the big screen. In theDark Knightuniverse, a healing device or process as fast and efficient as DC Comics' Lazarus Pit is highly unlikely.
I Can’t Believe I’ve Only Just Noticed How The Dark Knight Rises Spoiled Its Own Twist
The Dark Knight Rises cleverly hints at its major villain twist by borrowing a visual trick from 1992’s Batman Returns.
Besides,Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogyhas very little room for a Lazarus Pit set-up.The Dark Knight Risesadded a short moment where Morgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox is told that Bruce Wayne fixed the autopilot feature in the Batwing some time before his sacrifice, suggesting that Wayne actually survived the nuclear explosion. Had Bruce Wayne employed any device similar to the Lazarus Pit, Christopher Nolan would likely have added a hint to its existence.
