Johnny Depp As The Riddler In The Dark Knight Sequel?
Aug 2, 2008 by Kofi OutlawAnother crazy rumor has been floated regarding the villains for the next Batman movie
(My dear readers, you have permission to treat this rumor as hostile.)
Not two days after wild rumors started circulating that Angelina Jolie was looking to play Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s third chapter of the Batman Begins series, comes an even wilder rumor from out of the UK that Warner Bros. execs have begun eying top-notch actors Johny Depp and Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman for the roles of The Riddler and The Penguin in the next Bat-flick
DON’T DRINK THE KOOL-AID JUST YET. For every new rumor of which villains will be featured in the next Batman film, comes another statement from Dark Knight scribes Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer, saying that they are trying NOT to take the obvious route of throwing the second-most iconic villains from Batman’s rogue gallery into the next film. However, as Spider-Man 3 taught us all, when a franchise reaches a certain $tature, the studio’s wishes quickly begin to trump any creative desires. Don’t be surprised to see The Riddler, The Penguin, or both, show up in the final draft of the script.
However, we won’t really know anything until a script for BB3 is actually done. But that hasn’t stopped fan debates from raging 24/7. Personally, I don’t think Goyer and Nolan should be working too hard to try to pull out obscure villains and/or plotlines for the next installment. If Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight taught us anything, it’s that an actor at the top of his or her game is able to take what is iconic and totally redefine it. (And fanboys, really, is that not the essence of all the best comic books: re-definition of the status quo?)
Which villains do you think should make into BB3?
Source: Comic Book Movie
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Lets just not throw in too many villians. we dont want a relapse of Spiderman 3. But I like the Black Mask as a villan he has always been a favorite of mine.
Thats right. There should not be too much focus on the villians. I should be about developing the key relationships of Bruce Wayne/Batman. I feel that Nolan should work on the relationship between Lt. Gordon and Batman. Since Batman is now a villian, Nolan can focus on a frictional interaction between the two . That would be very interesting, seeing how Gordon works with Batman without being caught. Now Nolan can explore Gordons ethics- a law enforcement officer working with a vigilante. We already know that Gordon disagrees with Batman’s methods of crime solving, but respects these methods. But will Gordon lose respect for Batman and refuse his help ? Then there is the frictional relationship between Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox. We saw hints of this in The Dark Knight-Bruce Wayne hiding information from Fox. I feel that Nolan should focus on this friendship a little bit-what happens id Bruce Wayne/Batman breaks Fox’s ethics. And if Nolan decides to make it so that Fox refuses to let Wayne use any of Fox’s gadgets in the fear of Fox himself being charged of a crime if Batman is caught , then Nolan can explore features of Batman that has not being explored in the two Nolan films so far- Bruce Wayne/Batman is a very skilled escapalogist and very resourceful with almost any object around him. Nolan has, very briefly, touched upon this in The Dark Knight. All this should be done with the Bruce Wayne and Alfred relationship as the key relationship-to focus on Bruce’s mental strength.
I agree Fred push Bruce’s mental limits. The first movie was developing Bruce, TDK was about pushing Batman’s moral codes and this one can push his mental stability. It something new and different and its right in Nolans comfort zone too so he should be able to do a good job.
I think it would be a great idea to bring the BatWing into the next movie with a smaller yet still cool Batmobile! How about the Clock King as the next villan?
Are you serious the Clock King? There are plenty of great villains and a decent amount that Nolan can make work, but the clock king isn’t either.
I just hope that there are more action sequences in the next film as well.
I think Clock king is next to the riddler for the worst choices of a villan in my book. And what are you talking about more action sequences? I thought their was plenty in it to satisfy that need. Its nice to not have the entire movie punch here kick there. You need a breather every once in a while.
Sorry, I forgot to mention, Batman 3 should have as many action sequences as The Dark Knight. I would like to see Deadshot as the villian in the next film simply because he has a complexed life as well. Deadshot should be a side villian.
Action sequences mean nothing without meaningful dialogue. Too much fighting can sometimes be a bad thing.
Like when Batman was freeing all of the hostages that were dressed up as the Joker’s men, I was just sitting there waiting for Batman to make his way up to the Joker and have an in depth conversation with him about life.
If Dark Knight had anymore action scenes, it would have been too much.
Deadshot would be a fantastic villain for Batman to actually have a head to head match against. No lackeys or mobs, just Deadshot and Batman. Nolan could do wonders with that.
I’m with you on the action. Some of my least fave parts of BB and TDK were the actions scenes. Especially the car chases.
I think Deadshot is a good option he is certainly up there with Bain and Black Mask. Bain is my first choice though followed closly by Black mask.
I love deadshot he was one of my favorites he would be good for the part and like Jay P was saying it would just be Batman and Deadshot. No mob and no interference, just Deadshot tearing up Gothom and good old batman trying to stop him it would be perfect.
I’m ok with Dead shot, but one problem for me is that the DVD anime Gotham Knights was suppose to essentially be Batman Begins 1.5. One of the major villains was Dead Shot. So he sort of already has been done. They could get around that, but why when there are plenty of bad guys already out there and ready to go. I think Bain deserves Justice after Batman and Robin. I am also a fan of the two villain story so I would love to see Black Mask in it.
The Riddler, but NOT johnny depp.
Clayface, anyone?
@ Jess, Jay P, Daniel F-Each of you says that (essentially) violence thrown in for the sake of violence/to up the mindlessness factor to that of a bad WCW videogame works against the plot instead of advancing it; in this, I cannot agree more strenuously…likewise, The CLOCK King?
BWAAAAAAAH-hahahahahahaha!
Like I said before I’d rather not have the riddler, but it wouldn’t ruin the film if he was in it. Depp however that’s another story. I don’t know if I could even give the movie my money to watch him.
I love Clayface, but i’m not sure how well he would work in Nolan’s world. If Nolan would have to completely change a character to fit them in I’d rather not see them.
Would would you think if they limited what they showed Clayface do with his power through most of the movie. He either looks away or the camera focuses on a distraction and then a face change occurs. Perhaps they show some of it in shadow on a wall. Then the last minutes of the show, you pull out all the stops! He’s a horrific monster. Set up some creepy music in the first transformation then have that follow him around. Even though you rarely see him transform that way you know his character is in the scene.
If Deadshot is used, then he should be some hitman hired by Black Mask to do Black Masks’ dirty work. BAtman should then seek out Deadshot to find out who he is working for, then try to take down Black Mask. Could work because Deadshot will kill batman without hesitation while batman cannot break his own code. Then what happens when Black Mask tells Deadshot that his next target is Bruce Wayne? I would be nice to see how Bruce Wayne deals without being batman when he is getting killed, because remember-Black Mask has grudge against Bruce Wayne, and Bruce Wayne has the highest chance of survival as being Batman against Deadshot. At the same time, Bruce can be hesitant to be batman because he risks getting caught by the police as batman. So the next Movie should not be so much about mental strenght, but about how Bruce Wayne is torn between staying as Bruce Wayne, or batman. Battle of the alter-egos. This also seems relevant as this nicely carries from the main theme of The Dark Knight-is Bruce Wayne the mask of Batman, or vice-versa?
What do you think?
Nolan can focus on the internal struggle of the alter-egos between Batman and Bruce Wayne as well as the unique battle with Batman and Deadshot. Deadshot will kill Batman while Batman cannot kill Deadshot. A nice change of pace compared to the battle of Batman and the Joker-neither could kill each other.
Oh, and Black Mask can be pulling the strings from behind, putting people under ransom or getting even with business excutives or robbing banks. Nolan can pretty much make Black do what ever he wants as he is the threat lurking in the background.
Has anybody thought of a title?
in the BB game you get alternate batsuits right, the three alternate ones were in this order:Dark Knight, Worlds Greatest Detective, Caped Crusader.
Someone said that in Gotham Knights they already used deadshot, why not use KGBeast or Deathstroke then.
Because most people don’t care about them and they aren’t all that intriguing as villains. Especially KGbeast.
Nolan is probally going to use a less known villan for his next film but I dont know about KGBeast or Deathstroke. Daniel has got a point. Their not well knowen charcters but I think they are so unkown people wont even know who they are (unless you read the comics of course). Nolan likes using villans that push Batmans limits, whether it be physically or mentally. He is also going to want a villan with a backround story that isnt going to put us to sleep.
To make it even worse even some comic book readers wouldn’t know who they were depending on when they read the comics. These guys are not used much in the comics and tend to only come around every few years. Especially KG.
For this reason, I feel that Nolan should make an origin film about the main villian in Batman 3 before making Batman 3. This should be done if Nolan decided to go for the lesser known villian such as Black Mask or Deadshot. It will help the mainstream audience as well as the comic book fans fimiliarise themselves with the villian , especially Nolan’s tone and take on the villian. Nolan has to market the film properly as well to make sure that people know more about the villian and nolan’s take on the villian rather than wanting to watch the film-such as put up an autobiography. Nolan should go fo a low-budget take on this-he is creative to make it work . The film can even be a direct-to-video film, but the word has to spread, so release in the cinemas is need.
…a whole separate movie to explain the origin of the villain? What, a gradual 30 minute sequence won’t cut it? I don’t think so.
I think you’re seriously underestimating the “mainstream” audience. Wikipedia and Google is all that you need to become a short-term “expert” on all things Batman related. Let’s not act patronizing and paternal.
As for pushing Batman’s mental limits… what–you didn’t think Joker corrupting Harvey, causing the demise of Rachel, wreaking havoc on gotham, and testing Batman’s moral code wasn’t pushing it mentally enough…LOL!
And, again Zsasz was just window-dressing. Not really a stand alone character. I expect mid-to high level villains. Bane, Blackmask, or Riddler.
Why dont they use a non insane villain to break Bruces limits like, some one from blackgate…lol.
but sang, zsasz is a mid-high level villain.
if firefly was done really well he could be an amzing villain…but thats a stretch
what about Mr Freeze, one of the most sad, complex, characters who does everything out of pure hope and love for his wife. Sir Ben Kingsly anyone.
Zsasz is not even close to a mid to high lvl villain. Zsasz is pretty far down on the list of Bats villains.
It doesn’t matter how high or low a villain is. What matters is whether or not their story can be involved with what is going on in Gotham. A lot of people who have not read the comics didn’t know about Scarecrow or Raz al Ghul, but now everyone knows them because of what Nolan did to them.
Plus, Nolan likes making the films consist of two villains, not two villains that work together to beat the Bat, but two villains that have a different status and purpose. True Zsasz couldn’t hold a movie up by himself, but he is most certainly a good enough story to incorperate into the third movie along with an other villain.
What about Hugo Strange, hes could be a cool villain if done right, and could lead to the creation of the Venom Drug which leads to bane.