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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@Mattali
You didnt misread but everyone has a good feeling he will sign back on since TDK was such a great hit. Besides if you read the top we have alreasy been told this was a rumor we just like to speculate and come up wth some ideas of what the next movie might be about:)
You still impress me Fred
@mattali i get back to ya on that one, i dont remember who interviewed him but ill eventually think of it.
@fred again i liked your story but if i may add on change, instead of E.Nigma being surprise when Batman answers “yes”, have Batman answer “no”. that way when the lie detecter doesnt go off, E.Nigma will be epicly confused and will have riddled himself…lol. and Gordon would never break off his allience with Batman. Plus no flashbacks, it kindy camps movies up. And when E.Nigma asks what his real name is then, hev Batman say, “I am…The Batman” without the lie detecter even hinting at it being a lie causing E.Nigma to mentaly break down. Please no villain introduction at the end, i hate when they do that because then we never get to guess whos in the next film. Like all story outlines yours is a diamond in the rough (and i might of just roughed it up more…sry)
Ohhh.. a lot of speculations. Love it.
Why do people like origin stories so much? Maybe its the idea of seeing the characters suit up and stuff (thanks Spiderman, for that one).
But, no big origin story. Scarecrow didn’t get any, and it great. Besides, i’m kinda reading the Batman installments as a Greek tragedy–its highly focused on Batman, and the villains are simply the unknowable, mysterious elements that crash into the story (Joker).
Again, Black Mask, Bane, Riddler…all safe choices. But i would like to see if they employ or use FireFly. It makes Alfred’s advice more telling: “burning down the forest, etc….”. It would be awesome to see Gotham burn.
What about Mr. Freeze, his wife is dying from a rare ovarian cancer that the only cure is a organ transpant from a woman who has type B- blood. Due to the rarity of this blood type and the unwilliness of any potential doners he must take action into his own hands. He crynogenicly freezes his wife and goes in search of a woman with the right blood type and health qualifications, who just happens to be Vicki Vale. His weapons (freeze guns and freeze bombs) are filled with a condensed gaseous form of NaCH3COO + H2O which in turn becomes a liquid when expelled from the weapon and is then made a solid when touching another object. With Vicki kidnapped Batman must save her from this ill fate. Add the GCPD chasing the Caped Crusader with Deadshot and a new crime boss named Black Mask and we have a Batman movie.
What do you think?
Like this story michael, just not the end. Adding Black Mask and Deadshot is too much for this film. I really like the idea of Vicki Vale being the new girl but Bruce wouldn’t be interested in her, but she would like him for saving her.
I think while Mr. Freeze is on his search for the type-B blood for his wife, Batman can be occupied with the Zsasz story and Alfred getting hurt. As soon as Bruce takes care of Zsasz, Freeze would have made the news and he would be Batman’s next problem.
With Batman focussed on Zsasz and then Freeze, he has no time to even think about the Joker in Arkham who is building a meaningful relationship with Harleen Quinzel.
This movie doesn’t need Deadshot cause he is similar to Freeze who shoots people with a gun.
Black Mask needs a lot of air time if he is going to be taken seriously, so maybe next film.
So, first half of the movie…
Zsasz stabs Alfred and tries to kill him in the hospital but Bruce Wayne stops him.
Mr. Freeze is introduced as is trying to find a cure for his now frizen wife.
The Joker meets Harleen Quinzel and they grow close.
Climax. Zsasz VS Wayne in Alfred’s hospital room.
Second half of the movie…
Batman tries to save Vicki Vale from Mr. Freeze who needs Vicki’s blood.
The Joker and Harley Quinn break out of Arkham.
Climax. Batman VS Mr. Freeze with Vicki Vale and Freeze’s frozen wife in the room.
With a hint of Nolan, it could work, maybe.
I forgot to put the cast
Mr Freeze-Sir Ben Kingsly
Deadshot-Rupert Everret
Black Mask-Jake Gyllenhaal
Vicki Vale-Angie Everhart
Well with or without Black Mask you need a new crime boss and the only other good one not used so far is Rupert Thorne. I added deadshot because the police wont beable to even find bats without a trained assassin and he is one of the few in the batman mythology.
The police will use their own men to find out more on Batman. They already had people investigating Batman before the “Harvey Dent murder”. The police aren’t going to kill Batman, but Deadshot will so they would never work with someone like that.
I don’t know if Gotham always needs a mob all the time, but if a mob boss needs to be present, I would prefer Thorne over Black Mask just because he is more normal. Black Mask taking over the mob business is too much like what the Joker did to the mob in the Dark Knight. At least Thorne would just kind of be there and not make a big comotion like Black Mask would.
Black Mask wouldnt have to take over the mob buissness right away. He could just be rising up in the ranks and then eventually takeing it over in the next movie or something.
Wow, you guys have fertile imaginations!!! To heck with a new movie, I’m enthralled by all the action here! Poor Batman…he’s gonna be one busy dude with all you people around!
@michael
Point taken, but I did make it up on the spot and I felt that I had to make Batman 3 a tragedy. And I was hoping to do some more focus on a frictional relationshp between Gordon and Batman. But yes, I do like the idea about Batman saying no to the last question since I did mention the bit about the faulty lie detector. I should not have introduced the bit about the next villians. But then again , It is still a tragedy more for Gordon that Batman, because his wife and colleagues are dead. Oh by the way liked your idea about Black Mask played by Jake Gyllenhaal. He could actually pull it off. A flashback can can still be used to depict Eddy’s harsh life and how cruel his parents were to highlight the magnitude of his mental state- Nolan useda flashback at the start of Batman Begins, and that worked just fine. And thanks for commenting about my idea.
The thing about Mr. Freeze is that the freeze guns might seem a bit unrealistic or strange . Some people might be saying to themselve that he could just use norman guns . Now Mr. Freeze can work pretty well with Hush as they are both doctors and can BAtman can be busy with Hush while Mr. Freeze can work at finding a cure for his wife. The story can end in tragedy for Freeze when Mr. Freeze loses his wife somehow breaking or blow up by the police or the cryogenect chamber is shut of by Batman. But I just think that The focus should be on Batman more instead of Mr. Freeze. And no way are you going to find a joker better that Heath Ledger.
But if Nolan does not want to do Catwoman, then no way will he do Mr. Freeze. The Nolan batman series should give a crime drame feel. So Riddler or Black mask will work. Bane to some extent. Thorne better than Black Mask as he can be a behind the scences villian.
Deadshot can go both ways, but not for the thrid movie.With Zsaas I can see him working surprisingly well to touch on Bruce Wayne’s mental streght.
Overall, Riddler is the shoe in my opinion as he can ties into the fourth movie. The side villian should be Zsaas perhaps due to the fact that he will bring up Bruce Wayne on the news reports and will let Eddy make deduction about Wayne and Batman.
Nice stories everyone, I am liking reading it.
@mattali
LOL, Nolan should hire us and ditch David Goyer-LOL
@fred
freeze guns are possible, i cant make one, but Freeze is smart enough and has the resources so im sure he could…lol
Wow, you guys are all about tossing in as many characters as possible. I only wanna see 3-the classics that Batman has always faced, and I want to see them given the justice that Nolan gave the Joker. Wonderful character re-imagining, and he could do the same with Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman. I don’t think you should have to toss all three in the same film, but given that this would be the third in this film series, and Nolan’s dodging whether or not he’ll even make another one, I’d be content if they tossed em all in this one. Black Mask? Cool comic concept, don’t wanna see him in a movie. Deadshot’s a lackey not worth film treatment. Umm…Hush was short-lived graphic novel. Let’s keep it that way. I suggested using elements of it(Batman and Catwoman hooking up, and the plot against Batman masterminded by Riddler) not actually do a Hush movie. The character is way too forced. Love Loeb’s stuff though. Very imaginite.
I rather Nolan use a lesser known villan simply for the reason that that villan could finally have their spotlight time. We have seen the major villans all done before and Nolan did the Joker justice in TDK so why not try on a smaller villan? Mr. Freeze was one of my favorites and michael is right, if they can make it fit well enough in Batman/Nolan’s world then it is possible to have the old freeze gun again. Instead of it freezing people however, it shoots ice bullets or something along thoose lines.
My orginal opinion still stands on the Riddler but if he has to be done so be it. I dont think the Batman world is ready for the Penguin or Catwoman. If they are going to use thoose two, they really need to build up their characters.
I would really like to see Zsaz in the next film since he is still at large when the league of shadows broke him out of the Asylum. I found a really good pic of him from Batman Begins that even shows his scars. check it out:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9676/zsasz3kf.jpg
@Huntthejest
if nolan puts all three in we will have another Spider-Man 3…im still getting over that one. Penguin is one of the worst comic book villains of all time (no offence), i would even put him behind that one humpty dumpty guy. As for your idea that Black Mask is a “cool comic concept, (but I) don’t wanna see him in a movie” is ridiculous. Some may feel the same way about Catwoman or Riddler, or even Batman. And how is catwoman and bats hooking up[ an element of hush at all.
@Jess
not exactly ice bullets, but more like ice napalm that freezes on contact and can freeze your arm to the wall or suffacate you by enclosing your head in ice.
Fred, I’m afraid if Nolan replaced Goyer with all you guys, he’d have to rent the whole cafe for breakfast meetings instead of the low profile ones he used to have with Goyer while they brain-stormed.:D
@mattali
LOL, no one or gruop could compare to the brain storming power of those two.
Me, I’m okay with the Penguin as described earlier in this post…but please, don’t make him the tubby ninja master with the 2 kabuki assassin twins from the most recent cartoon…please?
Fred, I believe you are correct!!! I am so impressed with the story Nolan and Goyer have developed so far. They fleshed out the plot from the original comic book story beautifully while being careful to keep the original key elements intact, and I’m really looking forward to its continuation. (I have complete confidence that there will be a continuation!)
Penguin used as a mob boss like Maroni or Falcone would work great, and he’s referred to Penguin only as a nickname for his boss persona, rather than a campy alias. Riddler is the real villain. Batman has to stop his murders on the way to discovering his identity. As far as Spider-man three, I get the analogy, but this formula worked in a little movie called “The Dark Knight”! Um…so if only we could get the people that made that one to make this-oh wait! Anyway, the one element that changes it up is the introduction of the high-profile “cat” burglar that becomes Batman’s love interest. And I gotta say, I think Goyer is slightly overrated(some of the other films he’s done, outside the Batman franchise.) That being said, definitely appreciate his work on these films.
Wow, you guys are good! But I don’t know if I would want you all to write the next Batman…knowing the Screen Rant crowd, you would probably have some hottie baring all.
Wait a minute; I said that like it was a bad thing.
No the equation is
Lead Villain
+
Secondary Villain
+
Mob Boss
Batman Begins
Ra’s Al Gaul
+
Scarecrow
+
Falcone
The Dark Knight
Joker
+
Two-Face
+
Maroni
Batman Three
Riddler
+
Catwoman
+
Cobblepot
The equation from this movie has to be a little different since the GCPD are after Bats as well.
Thats why my could work better
Mr. Freeze
+
Deadshot (who is working for the police)
+
Thorne
@michael
like I said something along thoose lines.
I am praying alot that thier is no penguin.
Valid equation, Michael, and a solid premise!
michael
That’s a legitimate equation that has been working, but it does depend on who is playing what part. I mean the first two movies worked because…
Begins
Ra’s Al Ghul is a Lead Villain
Scarecrow is a Secondary Villain
Falcone is a Mob Boss
Dark Knight
The Joker is Lead Villain
Two Face is also a Lead Villain, BUT because he spends most of the movie as a good guy, his Lead Villain value gets dimished to Secondary, so it works
Maroni is a Mob Boss
Now the two ideas you have won’t work because…
The Riddler is a Lead Villain, like you said
Catwoman is a Lead Villain and arduably a bigger villain than The Riddler, UNLESS, she goes through the same thing as Two Face and spends most of the movie as a good guy OR if the Riddler spends most of the film as a good guy, one or the other
The Penguin is a Lead Villain too. People see him as a big villain. Peopl don’t see Maroni or Falcone as big villains. In the newspaper of Dark Knight, people say, the next two Batman villains are…. The Joker and Two Face, in this movie, guarenteed, the papers would say, “In this next film we have … The Riddler, Catwoman AND Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot. That is just how it is.
The equation works, but the characters you chose to play the roles don’t match, they are all Lead Villains in the people’s minds and that will never change.
Your other one is no good either simply because…
Mr. Freeze is a Lead Villain and shoots things at Batman who then dodges them.
Deadshot is a Secondary Villain and shoots things at Batman who then dodges them.
Thorne is a Mob Boss
So what’s wrong with that one? Oh yeah, too many people shooting things at Batman who then dodges them.
The ideas are good, but the combinations just don’t work.
And after all these great ideas, discussion, input and inuendo…
DEPP LANDS THE ROLE…
of Catwoman…lololol!
Jay P wrote: “Catwoman is a Lead Villain and arduably a bigger villain than The Riddler, UNLESS, she goes through the same thing as Two Face and spends most of the movie as a good guy OR if the Riddler spends most of the film as a good guy, one or the other.”
I agree with Michael that Catwoman and Riddler plot lines could work in the same movie especially if it’s true that Batman is rather attracted to Catwoman (but please don’t let her be Jolie!!!). If that is the case, the Riddler would be a hostile villain, but Catwoman, while still being an antagonist, would not be considered as hostile as the Riddler. What do you think?
As for Nowhereman’s suggestion that Depp play the role of Catwoman…I say, “Give him the part and see what he does with it!”
