(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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You have all input some interesting comments and scenarios! I think the main villian in Batman3 will be Catwoman (I hope they get someone other than Jolie to play her though) just because of the comment made to Bruce Wayne by Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight when asked if the new suit would withstand dogs. Lucius says, “It should do fine against cats.” Hm…I wonder!
It dosent mean that Catwoman is going to in the next film. I think it was just meant to be a joke or at least that is what im hopeing.
@Sang
I get your point, just that, if Nolan makes just a 30 min sequence of the origin of the villian, it may not give him enough time to explore the magnitude of the situation that brought about the villian’s change and motivation . It may not give give him time to explore the phases of the villian’s mental state through his change of resorting to crime. Plus , he has to make the goals of the villian realistic.It’s not Spider-man where you need little focus on the villian’s change-LOL- spider-man is a kid’s movie that adults can watch. Batman, is an adults movie, so Nolan will apply more complexity to his main villian for Batman 3- that is if he signs on to do the next film -LOL. By the way, I know plenty of people that were going to watch The Dark Knight for the first time, and knew nothing about who the Joker is , see not everyone looks up wikipedia or reads comic books, some people just want to watch a great film. That is also why directors of Watchman put up a biography of each character, to market it properly. Making an origin film can be excellent marketing , if Nolan does a great origin film that is.
Begins and TDk did just fine with out releasing an origin movie about the villain. WB likes to make money not waste it so don’t count on that idea coming true. It really dosen’t make much sense.
Yes, Jess, if taken at face value the “cat” comment was meant to be a joke, but perhaps it was also a bit of foreshadowing. I like Catwoman as a character, but quite frankly I’m not creative enough to see how Nolan and Goyer could include her in the story and still maintain the high standard of excellence we’ve seen in the movies so far. But then, that’s why they earn the big bucks and I don’t! We will have to wait and see.
I agree, Daniel F, the story centers on Batman and his fight for the redemption of Gotham City. The villains just make the fight necessary, and we learn only as much about them as needed to make them pertinent to the Batman plot.
The villians should allow us to learn more about batman and be part of his redemtion of Gotham city to make things more interesting. But then again, catwoman can help do just that-but I cannot see that happening very easily. Nolan should make the next film shorter, or longer if he wishes to go on with the origin with his main villian. But, yeah, I agree-that was a lame idea to suggest an origin film for the next main villian to be used.
Well-stated, Fred! You made good points!
@Mattali
I know I think it was kinda meant to be foreshadowing but im hopeing against it
well what about the Catwoman foreshadowing in BB, the big rig that was allegedly carrying the microwave omitter actually had kitty litter, KITTY LITTER.
and i agree, i havent recovered from Halle yet…brrr…
Oh dear, Michael…kitty litter!!! I’ll have to freeze-frame and check it out! I never saw Halle so wasn’t scarred by that performance. I would hate to see Jolie in that role, too.
I know what you mean, Jess, about hoping against the foreshadowing business. I think it could be intriguing but a little frightening at the same time. Chris Nolan did say that if there is a Batman3 it will only be if there is a story they feel is good enough to warrant filming it. He seems to have high standards, so I’m placing my trust in his good taste! I hope he doesn’t disappoint!
I just hope that he reveals a new quality of Batman, because then again, it is all about batman. But I wonder what he will do about that fact that batman is a criminal, seems kind of new, maybe he will be revealing a new attribute of batman inthe next film. But riddler is looking better and better for the next film, as he is relevant to what happened at the end of TDK, but someone like deadshot should maintain a good thrill ride. I don’t want Nolan to choose anyone too famous, but someone with excellent acting ability, but knowing Nolan, he always chooses someone with good acting ability. Nolan should also try to relate Batman 3 to realistis themes that go on in todays life. He could make it so that the stockes of Gotham city are plummeting, and more crime starts up . You know something that relates to real life-because as much as The Nolan film series is dark, it more realistis and less corny and more logical. doing something like that should play upon the real take of Batman. Riddler should be someone like a ‘behind the scences’ villian to make things more of a suspense. I found the suspence a bit lacking in The Dark Knight. My best bet is that if Nolan ever does do a Batman 3, he will be looking at the minor details as to where he did not focus on in The Dark Knight-such as enought suspence, need of better action sequences, movie length, etc.
306 comments,,, and its still going and going and going,,,
Yes, the fact that Batman is a criminal is a rather annoying circumstance! But Bruce Wayne knew that would be the consequence of becoming Batman even if he didn’t anticipate having to take the rap for murders committed by someone else. Taking the law into your own hands is illegal therefore keeping his identity secret is of the utmost importance. Being the hero of the police commissioner doesn’t hurt though, especially now that he’s been branded a murderer by that self-same commissioner. Poor Gordon…the double standard will be tough on him!
That is why it would be smart to focus on how the relationship will change between Gordon and Batman for Batman 3. I mean how often do you have a police commisioner helping a vigilante.
Yeah, I know! It’s an interesting concept and one I’m sure they can develop beautifully! I look forward to seeing what they do with it!
Bane breaking Batmans back anyone?
They should have Brandon Routh aka: Clark Kent/Superman appear at the end of the movie as Superman to help defeat Mr.Freeze and Scar Face. By doing so he gains the friendship of Batman and opens up the begining of a Justice League Movie! Best ending ever.
I want Johnny to play OCD killer on Manhunt for Batman, Edward Nigma, who leaves clues for Batman so, as he deduces the Dark Knight’s Identity, Batman can deduce his. It plays so well to his need to prove himself as more intelligent than everyone else. It fits with escalation, as Joker tried to push Batman to the breaking point by justifying Batman taking his life. Riddler challenges Batman’s intellect. Meanwhile, have a new British mobster brought in who is unfazed by this Bat-man to take over the crime families of Gotham. Like any good mobster, he has a nickname that suits him. Ozzy “The Penguin” Cobblepot. And screw PSH, I want Robert De Niro to play him, with the subtext he gave Capone in Untouchables. And, as a foil to Batman’s depression following Rachel’s death, introduce the attractive Cat-burglar that craves the Batman’s attention, Catwoman, as played by the tiger-tattoed Angelina Jolie.
@Jdawg
Unfortunately, Superman doesn’t fit into Nolan’s Batman universe. Nolan made TDK to be a crime drama, not a superhero film. Superman defies all manner of physics, so Nolan’s universe would be turned upside down. I’m not saying it’s not a good idea to have Superman, I’m just saying that I don’t think Nolan would do it.
Nolan has said recently that in his Batman universe there are no superheroes.
Vic
Yes, Vic, I heard that, too, and am very thankful. The Batman story would be greatly diminished with the introduction of superheroes.
if Nolan wants more powerless heroes (god forbid) i hope he chooses Question, maybe to counter Riddlers intelect, not that Bats cant.
@Huntthejest
OMG, thats genius, let Robert De Niro play the penguin. But Angelina would never work for catwoman. I would prefer Kate Beckinsale because she can be made to look more like Selina Kyle. Plus she can demonstrate catwoman’s vunarability more effectly while being sassy and witty. But it is too early to introduce Catwoman. Riddler seems the most plausible choice that Nolan would be going for in Batman 3 . But Hush meshes surprisingly well with the Riddler story arc. Make it that Edward Nigma( Riddler ) is going insane with the fact that he is having cancer. The police agency have hired him to find out who Batman is-the police don’t know that Eddy has cancer as Eddy is sensitive about it and wishes to keep it secret-also Eddy cannot afford cancer treatment because The Joker blew up the gotham general hospital. Thats when he bumps into a jobless Hush. He makes a deal with Hush that if he helps Hush takes down BAtman- then Hush has to perform cancer surgery on him for free. Without Hush knowing , Eddy makes a deal with a the new mob boss( Penguin or Black Mask ), that he will deliver the true identity of Batman , making the point that it is better to kill the Dark Knight without his armour to the mob boss, and in return, Eddy gets all the explosives and henchmen he needs as well as money. Then Riddler does his thing setting a series of explosions to kill people followed by clues just for Batman to lure him in learn more about him .However , Hush is going on a manhunt for Batman as well due to Batman’s existence bringing on the Joker to cause the eventual explosion of Gotham Hospital, the one place he truly loved working in. The police are happy with Edwards progress, But Comissioner Gordan is suspecting Eddy of being corrupt , and forming a secret alliance with Batman-without any of his colleagues knowing, to investigate Eddy. Hush is also putting Eddy under pressure to hurry up with it. Then the ending , when Eddy truly goes insane in not having found out who Batman is after getting death threats from the mob boss for his slow progress, can be something like Eddy borroing tranquilisers from Hush and knocking batman unconcious, straping him to a lie detector machine after he deduces that Batman and Gordon are working together. Then Eddy can have Gordons trusty fellow officers and Gordons family and Gordon himself all straped to electric chairs. He can say to Batman that he has not bothered unmasking him because it would not be earning all the hours of hard work into finding out who Batman is and says that if you say antthing other that yes or no, then all everyone straped in the electirc chairs with be electricuited. Everytime you lie, one person will be electricuited. then he starts the game of
20 questions to deduce Batman’s identity.Remember-he does this because he does have OCD. This is also a chance to explore the limits of Batman’s mental strenght. Then I will leave the rest up to Nolan as to how he would like it to end. This is similar to the climax the Joker had when he theatened to blow up the people on the two ferries in The Dark Knight.
I know that this angle needs a bit of work, but I feel that Nolan could make it work pretty well. I just don’t know whether Nolan can throw in too many action sequences. I also don’t know how he can make the Riddler truly challenge Batman’s interlect. Let us hope that Nolan actually signs on to Batman 3. LOL.
Great outline, Fred! Your very last sentence says it all!
Okay since no “Superheroes” are welcome for the third movie, if Nolan even makes this one, how about bringing in The Green Arrow to play an enemy at the begining and a friend at the end of the movie. It’s pure genius! Or this whole idea could even work with the Huntress. As for the villian, The Red Claw would be perfect. With introducing Red Claw it gives an opening for Catwomen to make her apperance at the end of the movie to help Batman and Green Arrow (or Huntress) to defeat Red Claw. It can show Catwoman as being good by helping the Batman, but also shows that she is a criminal.
Thats actually genius Fred! Do you write or something? lol
@Fred really great story except Nolan already said no Penguin and no Catwoman.
@Jdawg that makes no sense to bring Huntress in before Catwoman seeing as she is Catwomans daughter and all
@michael
Even if Nolan said not Penguin or Catwoman,
my little story already sets up Black Mask
and/or Hush for Batman 4-so there does not need to be a Catwoman or Penguin . I did put in brackets that the new mobster can be Penguin or Black Mask. But yes your right, I forgot that Nolan said no Pengiun or Catwoman.
By the way, the inspiration came from and episode of CSI Miami. The electric chair
bit came from the comics-except that in the comics , Eddy has only Catwoman straped to an electric chair , and Eddy walks out when he does not figure out who Batman is in the game of twenty questions-pretty lackluster ending and Catwoman is alive .
I was thinking that after the twenty questions was up, Eddy actually asks nervously whether Batman is Bruce Wayne . Now at this point, all of Gordons trusty colleagues as well as Gordon’s wife have all been electricuted to death. Only Gordon and his children remain. Eddy is shocked when the lie detector machine is saying that Batman is telling the truth when Batman says yes to the question – “Are you Bruce Wayne”. Gordon and the children are shocked as well. At this point, A flashback flashes when Bruce sets of a distress signal from one of his gadgets to the SWAT patrol ( something like that, I try to be imaginative ), after regaining conciousness. The SWAT break in and Eddy says-”You think I wanted to get out of this, you were my single greatest case and I solved it, I am free”, (remember, Eddy does have OCD). Eddy is arrested and Gordon give into his rage by taking out a gun from the holster of one of his SWAT men and shooting Eddy 5-6 times in the back, killing Eddy . Then, Gordon approaches the children who are crying over their dead mother and Gordon says that it is all Batman’s fault. Gordon breaks of the alliance with Batman and orders the SWAT team to hunt down Batman , Batman has already escaped.
The children said that this was not Batman’s fault and say that he did what he could . Later during the day, as Bruce Wayne watches the news report, the reporter talks about the incident and says that investigators say that the lie detector machine used by Eddy was faulty, only giving the correct answer 55% of the time. Gordon,also watching the news report, still doesn’t belive that Bruce Wayne is Batman and gets a letter from the Mayor that Gordon has been demoted to lietanant for his vicious act of shooting Edward Nygma in the back. Gordon now gives orders to call of the hunt for Batman. Now at the funeral of all of Gordon’s trusty men and his wife, spots Bruce Wayne there placing flowers and condolenses gifts, and Gordon begins to rethink whether Bruce Wayne really is Batman.
The movie closes with Hush at the morgue doing a storage of the bodies when he sees that one of the bodies is Eddy. Hush then says to himself , ” well I will get something out of you”. Hush then notices that the body is still fresh and cuts out Eddy’s organs and sells them to the Black Market( remember, he is broke ).Black Mask controls Gotham’s Black Market and notices Hush and Hush tells him about where the organs are from. Then Hush find out about the deal that Eddy made with Black Mask and Hush agrees to work for him in taking out Batman, and hires an assassin called Deadshot to kill Batman as well as Gordon
since Gordon has stopped most of Balck Mask’s drug shipments and has less protection due to having being demoted to lietanant .
Well that is my version of an ending and I know that the last bit about Hush is a bit sick and grusome, but Nolan’s Batman films are mostly focuses to an adult audience. Nolan would probably edit out the cutting scences and blood scences and give the audience an idea about what Hush is doing. This also sets up Deadshot and asserts that Black Mask is pulling the strings from behind.
What do you think?
And I hope Nolan is getting inspiration from this and actually signs onto doing Batman 3-LOL.
Where did you all read that Nolan nixed Catwoman and Penguin in the next alleged movie? I must have missed that interview. According to what I’ve read, he focused on the point that there would be no third movie unless he came up with a good story. Maybe I misread it. He seemed pretty cagey on everything except the “good story” part.