Riddle me this: what is the best way to celebrate the 85th anniversary of a certain caped crusader? Well, a trip to the new upcoming exhibition Batman Unmasked might do just the trick. It is set to swoop into Manchester’s Depot Mayfield on July 16, treating fans of the iconic DC superhero to a treasure trove of original props, costumes, vehicles, weapons and much more. You’ll be able to indulge in your love of all things Batman as you journey through themed rooms, channel your inner Bruce Wayne in the gaming area and even add to your collection with exclusive merchandise.
What can you expect at Batman Unmasked?
The self-guided exhibition started life as a pop-up experience in 2023 and now it’s back and bigger than ever with a never-before-seen collection that spans all the Batman films from 2022 back to 1989. You’ll be plunged into the world of Gotham’s Guardian as you explore a series of themed rooms that include the Batcave, Joker’s Room, The Wayne Library and Arkham Maze. Inside, you’ll get to relive iconic moments from cinema as you take in the variety of original props, costumes and even vehicles.
There’s everything from the intimidating Batsuits once donned by Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson to the Super-villain suits worn by their chaos-dealing enemies – think Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze suit, Heath Ledger’s unhinged nurses uniform and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn costume, among many more.
If you’re hoping for something a little more along the lines of a high-octane, cannon-firing, speed machine then we’re happy to report that The Batcycle from The Batman (2022) and The Tumbler from The Dark Knight Trilogy will both be on display at the Manchester exhibition. Make sure to charge your phone beforehand, with these sleek Batman gems and plenty of photo ops throughout you’ll no doubt be digging it out of your pocket every five seconds to capture it all on camera.
Batman Unmasked will delight fans young and old, whether it’s enjoying some childhood nostalgia, indulging your inner film fan or getting your hands on some exclusive merchandise to deck out a DC-themed bedroom. There’s even a designated comic book and gaming area where you can button-bash your heart out (or I guess use tactical skills) and thumb through some editions of Batman’s Escapades. It’s the ideal way to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Batman.