1269 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

I wonder if BATMAN 3 will end with either Batman/Wayne dying, or, as in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, faking his death. I gather Nolan's really talking about thematic finality, and not the end of the character, but it would be very exciting if BATMAN 3 actually gave us the end of Batman.

[coco1997]

I wonder if BATMAN 3 will end with either Batman/Wayne dying, or, as in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, faking his death. I gather Nolan's really talking about thematic finality, and not the end of the character, but it would be very exciting if BATMAN 3 actually gave us the end of Batman.

Very interesting idea, Harms. Ever since I first saw "TDK" I've always felt that, should "Batman III" truly be the last one, Nolan has GOT to take some inspiration from "TDKR." It's a veritable treasure trove of wonderful ideas and one of the most iconic comic books of all time. Now, I don't know how the general public would react to seeing Batman's death, but some sort of conclusion that brings finality and a sense of closure to the character is a must, in my opinion.

[sharpshooter]

Great comments from Nolan.

I take it this will be his last. If it is, this is the way to do it -and Nolan is the man to finish it off. I wouldn’t really like it if Nolan set up Batman 4 and didn’t get to tell that story himself. Here, he can tie his series off nicely and it will be its own thing, and then the next director’s take does not have the continuity constraints.

However, I don’t want Batman to die. I doubt they will do that. I have no problem at all with him faking his death and going underground, though. I welcome it.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Great comments from Nolan.

I take it this will be his last. If it is, this is the way to do it -and Nolan is the man to finish it off. I wouldn’t really like it if Nolan set up Batman 4 and didn’t get to tell that story himself. Here, he can tie his series off nicely and it will be its own thing, and then the next director’s take does not have the continuity constraints.

However, I don’t want Batman to die. I doubt they will do that. I have no problem at all with him faking his death and going underground, though. I welcome it.

Very Bourne Ultimatum-ish though...but nice to see some enthusiasm from Nolan...

[Vauxhall]

What about Ricky Gervais for Oswald Cobblepot? He's a good actor, and he's definitely fat.

As much as I like the man, I have seen nothing to suggest his acting is anything beyond competent. So far, he has essentially played the same character in his roles. I'm hoping CEMETERY JUNCTION could change this though.

[DR76]

A pity, really, because I thought Superman Returns and Routh were on the right track and that the movie was a good film to restart the series.

I had no problems with Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent. I thought he was pretty good. However, I had a problem with SUPERMAN RETURNS. It seemed if the movie's writers couldn't make up its mind on whether it was a remake of the 1978 Superman movie or a follow-up to the 1981 sequel.

[tdalton]

I wonder if BATMAN 3 will end with either Batman/Wayne dying, or, as in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, faking his death. I gather Nolan's really talking about thematic finality, and not the end of the character, but it would be very exciting if BATMAN 3 actually gave us the end of Batman.

I think Batman being killed off would be a very bad idea for the movie series. Yeah, they can always bring him back, and yeah, he'd only be dead in Nolan's Batman universe, but it's not a good idea to go putting the story and plot into contrived situations that are then too hard to extricate yourself from. We saw this with the way Superman's son was worked into the SUPERMAN RETURNS plot.

I agree that killing off Batman would be a terrible idea, especially in this next film. The only way that I can see it happening would be in a way that is so completely contrived that it would cheapen the entire film. Since Batman is more or less considered something of a villain headed into BATMAN 3 (at least by the general public of Gotham), then having him die in BATMAN 3 would probably result in him sacrificing himself at the last possible moment in order to save Gotham, which would be so cliche and contrived that it just wouldn't work.

[tdalton]

I agree that killing off Batman would be a terrible idea, especially in this next film. The only way that I can see it happening would be in a way that is so completely contrived that it would cheapen the entire film. Since Batman is more or less considered something of a villain headed into BATMAN 3 (at least by the general public of Gotham), then having him die in BATMAN 3 would probably result in him sacrificing himself at the last possible moment in order to save Gotham, which would be so cliche and contrived that it just wouldn't work.

Killing off a beloved character in the heat of the moment usually ends up back-firing on the studio. How long did it take FOX to realize that they'd screwed up the series by killing off Ripley in ALIEN 3? Uh, before the opening weekend was even over. Patrick Duffy wasn't even gone a full season from DALLAS before he got the itch to go back to work on the show, forcing the producers to completely rewrite their own history and cancel out the Duffy-less season as a "dream" of Pam's.

It's a bad idea, and it limits future creative decisions on where to take certain characters.

Agreed.

I do think that they could get away with it in Nolan's universe just simply from the standpoint that I think it's pretty clear that his Batman series is going to be an entity all its own, and when another director comes aboard the franchise, it'll probably be as part of a separate series/storyline. With that said, I don't want to see it happen in the next film (or any film coming up in the near future either), simply because I can't see it happening in any kind of meaningful or non-cliche way.

[Harmsway]

If Nolan gave Batman a DARK KNIGHT RETURNS-style end (he doesn't die in a sacrificial manner; in fact, he doesn't die), it wouldn't be particularly cliche. It would be pretty damn cool.

[sharpshooter]

If Nolan gave Batman a DARK KNIGHT RETURNS-style end (he doesn't die in a sacrificial manner; in fact, he doesn't die), it wouldn't be particularly cliche. It would be pretty damn cool.

Agreed. At the most, have his death implied but hint that he survived. Much like how the Joker 'dies' often. On one side, the street scum is jumping for joy, but on the other they are still nervous and uncertain. The myth of Batman lives on, almost certain to return one day.

You could even put in a final scene much like Batman Returns, where we see Catwoman's shadow. I think it would work. If Batman is flat out dead and the body is on show, Gotham is lost forever and the villains win.

[jwheels]

Batman 3 to be released July 20, 2012.

http://www.eonline.c...=imdb_tv-movies

So at least we get another Batman before the end of the world!!

Edited by jwheels, 01 May 2010 - 01:07 AM.

[Righty007]

Batman 3 to be released July 20, 2012.

http://www.eonline.c...=imdb_tv-movies

So at least we get another Batman before the end of the world!!

Just updated this thread's title.

[Qwerty]

Nice to have a date announced.

[DamnCoffee]

Brilliant! Nice to finally have confirmation on this.

[Tarl_Cabot]

2012? ugh. Why not 2011? No Bond, Bourne, or Rambo...in 2011..'11 is lookin like the cinematic blackhole of what could have beens.

[Captain Tightpants]

Um, because if it had a 2011 release date, they'd have to be filming right now. How long was THE DARK KNIGHT in production? How long was INCEPTION? Nolan likes to take his time to get things right. If that means we have to wait until 2012, so be it.

[sharpshooter]

Roughly 800 days to go. The countdown is on!

[bondrules]

EXCL: Studio Casting Grid Names Riddler as Batman 3 Villain

http://www.firstshow...tman-3-villain/

[DamnCoffee]

I'm not entirely surprised. I think we all knew the Riddler would play a key part in Batman 3. Brilliant to have some kind of confirmation, though.

[tdalton]

EXCL: Studio Casting Grid Names Riddler as Batman 3 Villain

http://www.firstshow...tman-3-villain/

Can't say I'm surprised, as it's been widely talked about for at least a year or two at this point, but nice to have some sort of confirmation on it, though. I was very much hoping that they would cast Casey Affleck in the role, but I would imagine that, although it says rumored in that article, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has already been cast since he's already appeared in Nolan's INCEPTION (and Nolan seems to enjoy bringing actors from his previous films into his new projects).

[DamnCoffee]

Tell you who I wouldn't mind seeing. Olga Kurylenko as Catwoman. I'm sure this was rumored at some point a while back.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Casey Affleck, you have a phone call....

[Messervy]

EXCL: Studio Casting Grid Names Riddler as Batman 3 Villain

http://www.firstshow...tman-3-villain/

Cool!
When proprely managed, Riddler is a fantastic character (see "Hush"). When underperforming artists take on writting his stories, the character is just disastrous.
So, bearing in mind what Nolan did previously (Bat', Memento, Inception), this could turn out to be pretty amazing. While TDK's Joker was all about brilliantly performed lunatic understatement, I'm anticipating a real schizoid freak for this villain.

[Safari Suit]

I think I've asked this a couple of times on here, and no Bat-fans answered but here goes; is it true The Riddler never kills in the comics (as a rule)?

[Messervy]

I think I've asked this a couple of times on here, and no Bat-fans answered but here goes; is it true The Riddler never kills in the comics (as a rule)?

No it's not.
I have at least one instance: I'll have to check the actual issue (can't remeber the # just now), but I do have in mind a story arc where he actually kills someone who helped him recover from his amnesia but whom he doesn't need / like anymore.
And, indirectly, in the Hush story arc, he manipulates Hush with a view to getting rid (i.e., kill) of the Bat and the whole Bat-family. Granted, he doesn't actually delivers the blows, but he is the one pulling the strings.
I have other examples, but I guess those two do answer your question.

[Dustin]

If Nolan gave Batman a DARK KNIGHT RETURNS-style end (he doesn't die in a sacrificial manner; in fact, he doesn't die), it wouldn't be particularly cliche. It would be pretty damn cool.

Agreed. At the most, have his death implied but hint that he survived. Much like how the Joker 'dies' often. On one side, the street scum is jumping for joy, but on the other they are still nervous and uncertain. The myth of Batman lives on, almost certain to return one day.

You could even put in a final scene much like Batman Returns, where we see Catwoman's shadow. I think it would work. If Batman is flat out dead and the body is on show, Gotham is lost forever and the villains win.

I don't think Batman will die in Batman III. I think Nolan will end the storyline with Batman unmasked and his secret identity broken to the public. That would finish this side of his life yet leave a future for Bruce Wayne.

[Safari Suit]

I think I've asked this a couple of times on here, and no Bat-fans answered but here goes; is it true The Riddler never kills in the comics (as a rule)?

No it's not.
I have at least one instance: I'll have to check the actual issue (can't remeber the # just now), but I do have in mind a story arc where he actually kills someone who helped him recover from his amnesia but whom he doesn't need / like anymore.
And, indirectly, in the Hush story arc, he manipulates Hush with a view to getting rid (i.e., kill) of the Bat and the whole Bat-family. Granted, he doesn't actually delivers the blows, but he is the one pulling the strings.
I have other examples, but I guess those two do answer your question.

OK, thanks.
Shame really, I think having a villain who never kills could have been interesting.
Ah well

[DamnCoffee]

I have heard though, that the Riddler has OCD and has to tell Riddles, to keep him remotely sane, even though he's insane. I hope Nolan does something with this idea.

[Harmsway]

I think I've asked this a couple of times on here, and no Bat-fans answered but here goes; is it true The Riddler never kills in the comics (as a rule)?

Well, he rarely actually kills anyone because his plans to murder them are usually stopped. He has no "no murder" principle in the comics and often tries to kill people. At any rate, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a makeover that's more than skin-deep, so the personality of the comic book Riddler isn't too important.

[Mike00spy]

I just hope it doesn't fall into the same trap The Dark Knight did- which was having characters do stupid things in order to keep the Joker around for a sequel. The idea of Batman being the villian (in the public's eyes) does leave some interesting story possibilities, no matter how poorly conceived the idea was in TDK. Call me guarded, but hopeful Batman 3 is good.

Edited by Mike00spy, 21 July 2010 - 08:52 PM.