Does Alfred Pennyworth Die in ‘The Batman’?

Andy Serkis brings Alfred Pennyworth to life in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, but many are afraid for our favorite butler-turned-father figure for Bruce Wayne in the new movie, and it’s not a fear without merit. Alfred is, for the most part, constantly a target for foes of Bruce and Batman because the minute anyone figures out who he is, they come after those closest to him (i.e. mainly Alfred and Wayne Manor).

So, the question on everyone’s mind is: Does Alfred die in The Batman? And the answer is honestly quite an interesting look into Bruce and Alfred’s dynamic in the movie.

**Spoilers for The Batman lie ahead.**

The quick answer is no, Alfred is fine. He does get hurt in the Riddler’s attempt to kill Bruce Wayne, and it puts Bruce’s perspective with Alfred into perspective. From the start of this movie, Bruce makes it clear that Alfred isn’t his father, which isn’t an untrue thing for Bruce to say to Alfred, but it is harsh given what we all know of their dynamic.

But where The Batman shines for Bruce and Alfred is in the way that Alfred clearly understands Bruce and his pain and constantly puts him above everything else. It’d be so easy for Alfred to be angry with Bruce in this movie because Bruce is mean to him as he’s trying to stop the Riddler. He lashes out and blames Alfred for his pain, and when he learns about the truth of his parents, Alfred isn’t ashamed of lying to protect Bruce—but still tells him the truth.

Their relationship is a constant balance of Bruce Wayne needing Alfred to help him keep his two lives going and Alfred seeing Bruce as his responsibility, even if Bruce is an adult now. He sees him as his child to look out for, and Bruce is so worried about his connection to his parents and his own plans that he often dismisses Alfred’s care, and he does so very obviously in The Batman. Again, he straight-up looks at Alfred and tells him that he’s not his father.

When the Riddler sends a bomb to Wayne Tower to kill Bruce Wayne, labeling the box for Bruce Wayne’s eyes only, it ends up in Alfred’s hands before it ever reaches Bruce, and wrath for the “sins of the father” that the Riddler is taking out on Bruce instead hits Alfred. Luckily, Alfred is still alive and is in the hospital, giving himself and Bruce a chance to actually talk to each other.

So Alfred survives, but his pain plays a crucial part in Bruce’s understanding of his parents and their connection to the riddles that the Riddler is sending out into the world.

(image: Warner Bros.)