A new action movie once titled The Dark Knight starring Armie Hammer has officially been renamed after Warner Bros. stepped in to prevent confusion with their iconic Batman franchise.
From ‘The Dark Knight’ to ‘Citizen Vigilante’
German director Uwe Boll was developing an action film starring Hammer under the title The Dark Knight. But the project hit a legal and branding snag when Warner Bros. reportedly contacted the filmmakers, asking them to change the title.
“We had a very friendly conversation with Warner Bros. and decided to change our title to Citizen Vigilante to avoid any confusion with Warners’ famous character,” Boll told Variety.
Executive producer Michael Roesch confirmed: “It was a very amicable discussion.”
Fan Feedback Also Pushed for a Title Change
Beyond Warner Bros.’ request, Roesch said the team also received strong fan feedback, with many viewers pointing out how similar the title was to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). The filmmakers agreed it was best to rebrand the movie to avoid controversy.
What is ‘Citizen Vigilante’ About?
According to its official synopsis, Hammer stars as Sanders, a man who becomes a social media hero after taking justice into his own hands and hunting down criminals. The film is being presented as a sales title at the 2025 Cannes Film Market, with a promo reel planned.
Hammer’s Complicated Hollywood Return
Hammer was once rumored to be in the running to replace Ben Affleck as Batman in The Batman before Robert Pattinson got the role. But Hammer later clarified he was never officially in talks.
After facing sexual assault allegations in 2021, which were investigated but did not lead to charges, Hammer stepped back from Hollywood. He resurfaced in 2024 with a role in Frontier Crucible and is reportedly working on a semi-autobiographical script he hopes to produce himself.
Citizen Vigilante may not be the Batman movie people thought it was, but it’s still set to make noise at Cannes next year, with Armie Hammer taking on the role of a vigilante antihero in a post-scandal career chapter
