1269 replies to this topic

[Gabe Vieira]

To be honest, I'm quite surprised the Riddler is in this. He was always my favourite villain, but I really thought Nolan would explore paths with less-known or under-used villains.

The Riddler is not confirmed as the villain in "Batman 3" as of yet. People are just speculating that Nolan will go with him because he's one of the only remaining 'top tier' Batman villains (along with Catwoman and Penguin, the latter of whom Nolan has gone on record saying he has no interest bringing back to the big screen) and his pathos and MO make sense in the gritty, down to earth Nolanverse.

it's not even that The Riddler is one of the few remaining well-known Batman villains, it's that he's one of the few that would be easy to translate into the Nolanverse. Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, The Penguin, Killer Crock, The Ventriloquist, and Clayface aren't going to be showing up any time soon. And Ras al'Ghul wasn't even that well known to the general non-comic-reading public. Catwoman is easy in a sense that she can be portrayed as a female version of Batman, one to take up his mantel of responsibility since the public believes he went back on his morals; but really she has her own agenda against the mob (go read Batman: Dark Victory, which I believe the next film should draw heavily from).




I mean come on!

[Harmsway]

I'd be impressed if Nolan didn't go for the Riddler. I'm all for avoiding the obvious route. But odds are he will, and that casting sheet that connected Joseph Gordon Levitt with the role certainly indicates that will be the case.

I doubt that Catwoman will appear, though.

[coco1997]

Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, The Penguin...aren't going to be showing up any time soon. And Ras al'Ghul wasn't even that well known to the general non-comic-reading public.

Penguin isn't exactly a fantastical villain. In the comics, he was always a short, rotund mobster/businessman with exaggerated features, and it was Tim Burton's idea to literally turn him into a 'penguin' (flippers, beak, communicates with birds, etc.). So yeah, Penguin could definitely work, but I think it's a case of Nolan thinking that Cobblepot just isn't a very interesting character. We've already had two big mob bosses thus far, and if Penguin played any sort of role in "Batman 3", that would probably be it.

I'd be impressed if Nolan didn't go for the Riddler. I'm all for avoiding the obvious route. But odds are he will, and that casting sheet that connected Joseph Gordon Levitt with the role certainly indicates that will be the case.

I agree. I'd love for Nolan to go with a lesser-known villain who would thrive in the universe he's constructed (Black Mask, Hush, Firefly, Reaper) but I'm sure Warner Bros. will demand a more bankable villain (Riddler being a name that the general public more or less recognizes) and Nolan's take on Riddler has the potential to be nothing short of amazing.

[Gabe Vieira]

Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, The Penguin...aren't going to be showing up any time soon. And Ras al'Ghul wasn't even that well known to the general non-comic-reading public.

Penguin isn't exactly a fantastical villain. In the comics, he was always a short, rotund mobster/businessman with exaggerated features, and it was Tim Burton's idea to literally turn him into a 'penguin' (flippers, beak, communicates with birds, etc.). So yeah, Penguin could definitely work, but I think it's a case of Nolan thinking that Cobblepot just isn't a very interesting character. We've already had two big mob bosses thus far, and if Penguin played any sort of role in "Batman 3", that would probably be it.

Yeah, that is true. I was going to argue that his features made him fantastical but then realized, you know, The Joker. Though, after Begins came out, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was rumored to be interested in playing the Penguin who would have been turned into an arms dealer. To be frank, I'll be surprised if the Penguin ever turns up in the Nolanverse.

I'd be impressed if Nolan didn't go for the Riddler. I'm all for avoiding the obvious route. But odds are he will, and that casting sheet that connected Joseph Gordon Levitt with the role certainly indicates that will be the case.

I agree. I'd love for Nolan to go with a lesser-known villain who would thrive in the universe he's constructed (Black Mask, Hush, Firefly, Reaper) but I'm sure Warner Bros. will demand a more bankable villain (Riddler being a name that the general public more or less recognizes) and Nolan's take on Riddler has the potential to be nothing short of amazing.

Again, Ras al'Ghul was not well known to the public, so identifiability should not be much of an issue; Victor Zsasz was in Begins as well, but in a cameo role, so who knows. Maybe more less-known villains can appear in the same way. Both Hush and Black Mask would be interesting, especially Hush. Oh, and Rupert Thorne would be a great addition as well.

Also, on a side note, notice how all the villains and bad guys in the Nolanverse were suits. Let's keep that going.

[Harmsway]

I'm sure Warner Bros. will demand a more bankable villain

Given Nolan's track record at this point, I doubt Warner Bros. will demand much of anything.

[coco1997]

I'm sure Warner Bros. will demand a more bankable villain

Given Nolan's track record at this point, I doubt Warner Bros. will demand much of anything.

I disagree. In the case of "Begins", I'm sure Nolan didn't want to retread old thoughts of the Burton/Schumacher by using one of the classic Batman villains, so he went with two lesser-knowns. Then he went and gave us extraordinary depictions of two of Batman's more popular villains in the sequel. Now the expectation is that we'll get something similar for the third film. I'm all for Nolan giving us one of Batman's second or third tier villains a part in the film but I believe the general public and most likely Warner Bros. are anticipating seeing the Riddler.

[Harmsway]

Maybe so, but Nolan is going to have the clout to fight for whatever he wants. If he doesn't want a "name" villain in BATMAN 3, I'm pretty sure he has the freedom to go that route.

At this point, the general public will show up for BATMAN 3 no matter what.

[Red Barchetta]

I thinking Egghead (a whole backstory can be done on him as he is not well known to the general public) takes over the League of Shadows, and wants to continue on where Ras al'Ghul left off- destoying GC.

Then enter the Riddler at the end of 3, for the setup to 4.

Thoughts?

[Zorin Industries]

Joseph Gordon Levitt as THE RIDDLER. Watch this space.

[SecretAgentFan]

I´d love that.

But the basic "problem" of BATMAN 3 will be: how can they top the BATMAN/JOKER dynamic of THE DARK KNIGHT. I guess: they can´t. The only way out would be to go an entirely different route. Since Batman now is considered the bad guy on the run, maybe they will capitalize on that. A kind of "THE FUGITIVE"-element, taking its toll on Bruce Wayne private life, leading to him being exposed.

[Loomis]

Joseph Gordon Levitt as THE RIDDLER. Watch this space.

I hope not. I'd like to be surprised. Too similar to casting Ledger as the Joker.

[Harmsway]

Joseph Gordon Levitt as THE RIDDLER. Watch this space.

I hope not. I'd like to be surprised. Too similar to casting Ledger as the Joker.

Perhaps, though I imagine Nolan's Riddler--if he does indeed use the Riddler--will be quite a different character than the Joker.

Levitt as the Riddler has been rumored. We'll see. He could do well, though he's not my first choice.

[Vauxhall]

Levitt as the Riddler has been rumored. We'll see. He could do well, though he's not my first choice.

Who would your first choice be, Harms?

[DamnCoffee]

So Nolan is in!

Oh, spot the mistake...

Michael Caine has revealed that the next Batman movie is likely to begin production next autumn.

....

Speaking to Radio 1's Chris Moyles on Wednesday, Caine said that he expects filming to start on the Dark Knight follow-up "probably in May next year".

[Matt_13]

Casting news: Tom Hardy in Batman

http://www.deadline....olan-on-batman/

[coco1997]

Casting news: Tom Hardy in Batman

http://www.deadline....olan-on-batman/

This is great news. Not surprising, given Nolan's track record of collaborating with the same actors on multiple occasions. I can see him playing a fantastic Riddler, but it's all conjecture at this point given we don't even know if he's playing the villain.

I have a feeling we're going to be getting a lot of exciting 'Batman III' tidbits from here on out...

[Harmsway]

I'm glad to see Hardy on board. Hopefully Nolan will give him more to do here than he gave him in INCEPTION.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Interesting...he's certainly more intimidating than Gordon-Levitt. Excellent news...

[MattofSteel]

http://herocomplex.l...be-the-riddler/

I'd been hoping for something more original, title-wise. But I suppose that's no worse than using Batman/Returns/Forever/& Robin.

[sharpshooter]

I'm not a fan of this title at all. I find it clunky, and would've preferred something totally different, like comparing BB to TDK. Just adding "Rises" to the old title is lazy and disappointing to tell you the truth.

[DamnCoffee]

Couldn't agree more. Such a let down. No Riddler either, double blow.

[Zorin Industries]

It's maybe a grower. I was never a great fan of THE DARK KNIGHT. It felt too graphic novel, too knowing spin off. I don't care what it's called as long as the film has a bit more soul, heart and clarity than Nolan's INCEPTION and parts of KNIGHT.

And you don't want to go listening to the "no Riddler" comments too much. Maybe this one will have a CATWOMAN dynamic (and why not) but I'm sure there will be a question mark hanging over at least some of this film.

[tdalton]

I'm not a fan of this title at all. I find it clunky, and would've preferred something totally different, like comparing BB to TDK. Just adding "Rises" to the old title is lazy and disappointing to tell you the truth.

Agreed. Just an awful title.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I don't care what it's called as long as the film has a bit more soul, heart and clarity than Nolan's INCEPTION

I completely agree.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Maybe Nolan is a Hemingway fan...or...a Cıalıs user.


The title...could be a reference to the villian? Either way, it's nice to hear some real news.

[Loomis]

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES? Horrible, horrible, horrible title. It just looks as though they're trying to cash in on the success of THE DARK KNIGHT (which they are, of course, but no need to rub our faces in it). Are all future Batman flicks going to be called THE DARK KNIGHT SOMETHING from now on?

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Nolan and co. would come up with such a rotten title. Much better just to call it BATMAN.

Very poor.

[Tarl_Cabot]

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES? Horrible, horrible, horrible title. It just looks as though they're trying to cash in on the success of THE DARK KNIGHT (which they are, of course, but no need to rub our faces in it). Are all future Batman flicks going to be called THE DARK KNIGHT SOMETHING from now on?

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Nolan and co. would come up with such a rotten title. Much better just to call it BATMAN.

Very poor.

well it is better than TDK RETURNS. But...I agree a simple BATMAN or THE BATMAN as he is refered to in both films would be better...I still think The Caped Crusader is the best title, albiet campier than the established tone.

[Aris007]

Silly title. It's like they thought of it 5 minutes before talking to the reporter.

[sharpshooter]

If they were adamant "Rises" had to be in the title, why not just Batman Rises?

By using The Dark Knight Rises, it's like they have effectively resigned B3 to being The Dark Knight's appendage rather than a film of its own. Like TDK and TDKR are Part 1 and Part 2 of the same story, and Batman Begins is something separate. The titles don't make it feel like a trilogy.

[SecretAgentFan]

Um, how reliable is this by the way? As long as there is no official statement I don´t believe any of this. Directors/writers/actors often get carried away or misquoted if a journalist tries to coax them into giving an exclusive statement.

Remember the Clive Owen "I´m going to be very busy"-statement and lots of outlets claimed that this was meant to be his acknowledgement of being cast as 007?

Nolan might have said something about "The Dark Knight Rises" and meant it more ironic. Same goes for the Riddler statement. Also, it could have been just a throwaway line to get the reporter off his back.