1269 replies to this topic

[Red Barchetta]

Johnny Depp as Riddler is an outstanding choice! He would certainly bring his own spin to the role, and raise the game (again).

[Harmsway]

Some BATMAN 3 non-news from USA TODAY:

"I don't know why they're hard to do," Nolan says. "Maybe there's so much expectation to them. But I wouldn't want to do one if it weren't going to be as good as the first or second. That's not respectful to the fans."

[...]

Nolan says he is jotting notes and doing some rough outlines for a third story, but he hasn't yet found anything he's willing to commit to film, despite Warner Bros.' eagerness to get a new film underway.

"It was obvious when the box office was so big ($530 million domestically) that we had underestimated how ready fans were to reboot the franchise," he says. "The worst thing you could do now that you've gotten the plane back in the air is mess up the landing."

[[dark]]

Good quotes, Harms. It's very reassuring to see that Nolan's already "jotting notes and doing some rough outlines" for the Dark Knight follow-up.

[sharpshooter]

I'm not entirely sure if Nolan will do another film, and if he can't think of anything worthy it's probably for the best. Though if he does do another film, we will know he has something amazing up his sleeve.

[Harmsway]

It seems Nolan does want to do BATMAN 3, it's just that after THE DARK KNIGHT he's afraid he'll fail. And that's understandable.

But since he wants to do it, it's likely that he'll ultimately do it. He just has to find a story he can get behind.

[Captain Tightpants]

I'm not entirely sure if Nolan will do another film, and if he can't think of anything worthy it's probably for the best. Though if he does do another film, we will know he has something amazing up his sleeve.

Someone over at the other forums suggested a story invovling the Riddler as the antagonist, but rather than being obsessed with the identity of Batman, he's obsessed with Harvey Dent and the circumstances surrounding his death, forcing Batman to go to extraordinary lengths to cover up the truth. While I seriously doubt Christopher Nolan is lurking on that forum and will run with that particular idea, the point is that there's a story out there that flows on from THE DARK KNIGHT.

That said, Nolan's comments make it pretty clear that any current news of the next film is pretty much just tabloid trash. A quick search of "Batman 3" in Google reveals all manner of stories, most of them suggesting Johnny Depp for the Riddler (apaprently he's the only actor in Hollywood). In truth, whoever is cast in BATMN 3 is probably going to be someone special, like Heath Ledger as the Joker. Everyone seen just what he did that role, and they're going to want to put in a performance of similar ilk. A role in BATMAN 3 is going to be the hottest property in the ilm world when it's being cast, but that said, the actors will get incredible pressure.

However, I think Nolan should shy away from the Riddler, Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy. There's a few people who really want to see them come back properly, but I don't think Nolan should do them just because Joel Schumacher destroyed their credibility. Sure, Nolan used Two-Face, but that was because the story called for it. Would THE DARK KNIGHT have worked with any other character in the palce of Dent? Of course not.

[Eurospy]

Harmsway's title suggestion (Asylum) sounds rather good to me.

Concerning the use of characters, well Joker and Two-Face have been used, so I don't think that a new Riddler or Catwoman would be that far fetched. Ledger's performance has put Nicholson's take in a far obscure corner, so I think that it would be interesting to show the more Detective side of the character, and the Riddler (adapted, rather than trying to be faithful to previous takes) would be the best villain to explore that facet.

[sharpshooter]

BOF is saying Rachel Weisz is being considered for Catwoman, and expect to see Nolan and Bale back together.

[Harmsway]

BOF is saying Rachel Weisz is being considered for Catwoman, and expect to see Nolan and Bale back together.

Well, BOF got the story from E!

Frankly, I think it's a load of nonsense. Especially after all the casting rumors that went into THE DARK KNIGHT. Harvey Dent/The Joker were cast with people who weren't at all among the early nominees, and Nolan settled on Eckhart and Ledger relatively early. If they were able to keep that quiet, I don't expect to hear legitimate information about casting anytime soon.

Especially since there isn't even a story yet.

[Vauxhall]

More tabloid trash from The Sun today, claiming Eddie Murphy as the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf as Robin. The article also states the working title to be GOTHAM. I'll believe it when I see it...

[sharpshooter]

It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic. Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway.

[DamnCoffee]

More tabloid trash from The Sun today, claiming Eddie Murphy as the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf as Robin. The article also states the working title to be GOTHAM. I'll believe it when I see it...

Oh. Dear. God!

[Qwerty]

More tabloid trash from The Sun today, claiming Eddie Murphy as the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf as Robin. The article also states the working title to be GOTHAM. I'll believe it when I see it...

Makes for a fun read at the very least.

[Harmsway]

More tabloid trash from The Sun today, claiming Eddie Murphy as the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf as Robin. The article also states the working title to be GOTHAM. I'll believe it when I see it...

And I thought my jokes were bad...

[Harmsway]

McG to direct BATMAN 3!

You already know that Eddie Murphy will be playing The Riddler in the new Batman movie, but who will be directing him?

totalfilm.com can exclusively reveal that Christopher Nolan is officially off Batman 3: The Darker Knight, and McG has signed on to replace him.

Speaking from the moon, McG said: "I went to Great England to seek Nolan's approval. He said that he knows how tough it is to follow a brilliant film, after his experiences on Memento 2: I Still Can't Remember Where I Put My Keys."

He added: "Christian Bale wanted to sign up for the movie, but I'm a bit bored of working with him after Charlie's Angels: Salvation, so I've cast a horse as Batman. We're working on teaching him to talk at the moment."

McG has also cast an angry bear as Alfred and M Night Shyamalan as Catwoman.

"James Cameron is teaching me how to make 3D movies," McG said. "Because Batman 3D is a really good title for a film."

[Loomis]

Damn, Harms, I nearly had a heart attack when I read that headline. And then I realised it was a joke.

I mean, it is a joke, right? Right?

I hope BB3 will shape up as follows:

WARNER BROS. Presents A Film by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
CHRISTIAN BALE as
THE CAPED CRUSADER
Starring MICHAEL CAINE GARY OLDMAN and SYLVESTER STALLONE as The Penguin
Special Appearance by DANIEL CRAIG as The Riddler
Screenplay by PAUL HAGGIS and WILLIAM GOLDMAN & ROBERT TOWNE and NEAL PURVIS AND ROBERT WADE & CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and JONATHAN NOLAN and SYLVESTER STALLONE
Additional Story Material by ALAN MOORE & QUENTIN TARANTINO and ELI ROTH With ROBERT RODRIGUEZ
Produced by SYLVESTER STALLONE and CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Directed by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN (IMAX Scenes Directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE With LEE TAMAHORI)

[JackWade]

Memento 2: I Still Can't Remember Where I Put My Keys.

[zencat]

There is NO legit news/rumors on a new Batman. At this point, ALL these "reports" are BS. I like how Harry Knowles lays it out here:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39487

[Captain Tightpants]

That much was obvious. I mean, it was The Sun who not only reported that the union riots in Panama on the opposite side of Panama City to the filming of QUANTUM OF SOLACE were not only gang wars, but that they were surrounding the production of the film after EON accidentally started them, and that Daniel Craig was involved in a real-life gunfight. Tabloids publish whatever they want about whatever they want; most of the time, it's slanderous at best, and most people can recognise it as such. But on the odd occasion that they push too far - like with QOS; imagine how the families of those invovled in the shoot would have felt - the maximum they can be fined is limited, so something they think it's worth it for the hype they generate and the readership they get.

I just have to ask about Harry's final comments there ... sure, he'd love to see Rourke in the roll, but who on earth wants Eddie Murphy as the Riddler?

[sharpshooter]

Nolan attended a TDK BD live screening, and somebody asked him who were the five people Dent killed. Nolan's response was ‘I will answer this question. Just not today.’

Will these killings somehow tie into Batman 3?

[Harmsway]

BATMAN 3 TO DEBUT IN 2011

Michael Uslan, producer of the Bat-flicks, has previously remained cautious about stating anything about a future Bat-film, noting how things were still relatively up in the air. Well, in a recent interview with the Courier-Post, Uslan has dropped a release year: 2011 (presumably in the summer, given the releases of BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT).

Uslan refuses to drop any story details ("It's one of those deals where if I told you, I'd have to kill you," he says), but this stands in stark contrast with his previous responses that Nolan had no story in mind as far as he was aware.

I think we can make the inference that Nolan has found a story he thinks is worthy of his time, and while nothing's official yet, Uslan is confident enough to mention a release date. Bring it on, I say.

You can read that interview here.

[Loomis]

I guess The Riddler's the most likely villain, 'coz the others are too silly. Mind you, isn't The Riddler basically just, well, The Joker?

[Harmsway]

I guess The Riddler's the most likely villain, 'coz the others are too silly.

It's actually my guess that the Riddler's not the foe in BATMAN 3, given Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer's statements that in BATMAN 3, they expected to go for more obscure villains who were outside of that top tier.

Mind you, isn't The Riddler basically just, well, The Joker?

Well, he can be a Joker clone, depending on the story (the cinematic incarnations have definitely gone more of that route). But there are other stories where he's very far removed from the Joker. I daresay that if Nolan wanted to use the character, they could make him into a very interesting and distinct foe.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Casey Affleck, you have a woredrobe fitting to attend. Johnny Depp is too established and would be an albatross as the Riddler.

Anjolina Jolie, yes, you're perfect for the Catwoman but you're also too famous so we're going in a different direction. Olga Kurylenko or a new comer will don the tights instead.

[DamnCoffee]

Olga would be indeed brilliant.

[Righty007]

BATMAN 3 TO DEBUT IN 2011

Michael Uslan, producer of the Bat-flicks, has previously remained cautious about stating anything about a future Bat-film, noting how things were still relatively up in the air. Well, in a recent interview with the Courier-Post, Uslan has dropped a release year: 2011 (presumably in the summer, given the releases of BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT).

Uslan refuses to drop any story details ("It's one of those deals where if I told you, I'd have to kill you," he says), but this stands in stark contrast with his previous responses that Nolan had no story in mind as far as he was aware.

I think we can make the inference that Nolan has found a story he thinks is worthy of his time, and while nothing's official yet, Uslan is confident enough to mention a release date. Bring it on, I say.

You can read that interview here.

Uslan spoke at my school on Saturday. He said he had news that he would be announcing very soon. This must be it.

[Loomis]

I guess The Riddler's the most likely villain, 'coz the others are too silly.

It's actually my guess that the Riddler's not the foe in BATMAN 3, given Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer's statements that in BATMAN 3, they expected to go for more obscure villains who were outside of that top tier.

Mind you, isn't The Riddler basically just, well, The Joker?

Well, he can be a Joker clone, depending on the story (the cinematic incarnations have definitely gone more of that route). But there are other stories where he's very far removed from the Joker. I daresay that if Nolan wanted to use the character, they could make him into a very interesting and distinct foe.

Hey, Harms, I'm sure you've been asked this before - and probably in this very thread - but what do you want to see in BATMAN BEGINS III? If you were calling all the shots, I mean.

And what do you expect to see?

[Vauxhall]

Extremely encouraging news if Nolan has found a story he likes, plus kudos to the man for staying on board for BATMAN 3. I feel expectations for the movie will be almost unprecedented - certainly in this genre anyway. Trumping THE DARK KNIGHT is no small task.

[Harmsway]

Hey, Harms, I'm sure you've been asked this before - and probably in this very thread - but what do you want to see in BATMAN BEGINS III? If you were calling all the shots, I mean.

1. No single "major" foe which overshadows the film. It would be a huge mistake to try and set up the next foe as the next Joker. So even if they pick one of Batman's more "high profile" foes, like the Riddler, it would be best to avoid setting him us as the focal point - either in the story or in the advertising campaign.

2. I want to see Batman versus the police really played up, and as a result, see Batman tend less towards confrontation and more towards stealth and espionage. For example, I'd like to see a new vehicle designed for secrecy rather than slam-bang escapes. I'd really like to see BATMAN 3 be the least action-driven of Nolan's Bat-flicks.

3. I want to see Gotham City make its transformation. Organized crime has been more or less decimated (naturally, there will be smaller operations, but they're but a shell of what they once were), and I imagine that in the same way Batman inspired some heroes, the Joker will have inspired a lot of crazies to start their own costumed criminal act. This could just be a background element, but it's an important move to make.

And what do you expect to see?

The unexpected. While THE DARK KNIGHT left things in a specific place, there's no locked-in direction for the sequel like there was at the end of BEGINS. I hope Nolan moves the story into a really unique place, and he's already indicated that he'd only want to do it if he could do it differently enough.

[Qwerty]

Fantastic to have some minor form of confirmation that things are indeed moving forward.