The Dark Knight Sequel Coming In 2011?
Jan 26, 2009 by Ross MillerFinally, some news on the next Batman film.
Straight after just about everyone on the planet saw The Dark Knight, we all thought (amongst praising the hell out of the thing) about when the inevitable sequel was going to get made. And there have been rumors abounding ranging from who will play the villain(s) to Christopher Nolan holding out on signing on the dotted line to get a bigger paycheck. But of course these were all rumors, even if some people out there took them as truth.
Well it seems we might have our first real glimpse as to what’s happening with a sequel via an interview with executive producer of The Dark Knight Michael Uslan (who will be back for the sequel):
Uslan will be onboard as executive producer for the “Dark Knight” sequel, which he estimates will be theaters by 2011. As for the identity of the next round of Batman’s supervillains and love interests, Uslan remains tight-lipped. “It’s one of those deals where if I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he says with a chuckle.
Now I wouldn’t think that someone in that position, who’s not only been involved in the revamp of the series but also with Tim Burton’s Batman, would say something like this unless there was at least some truth to it. If he indeed has something to keep “tight-lipped” about: That they’re in talks to see what direction they are going to take with Batman Begins 3 (for lack of a better title at the moment). Which also means Nolan is at least lending his ear as he is after all, the creative force behind the last two films.
2011 isn’t all that far away so my guess would be that you’ll hear more news over the next couple of months about Nolan signing on (it’d be a shame if he didn’t come back for at least this next one), possibly hints at who the villain will be and by this time next year they’ll be in pre-production.
Even if Uslan is just generalizing, this piece of news certainly sounds a lot more legitimate than the likes of Eddie Murphy being cast as The Riddler, now doesn’t it?
Source: CourierPost
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Nolan has two options at this point. Go for a safe choice like Black Mask and make the movie linked to Harvey Dent’s killings or go for something a bit risky like Riddler or even Hush regardless if Hush came after Robin. I just wonder how he will develope Bruce Wayne’s character further .
I would point out the only actual quote from Uslan is the “I might have to Kill you” line
He is not acually quoted as saying 2011
is when we will see the next film.
I hope its true ,
But right now an active Batman 3 production technically doesnt exist .
Nothing is announced so everything is in Limbo.
I hope it isn’t true because without Chris Nolan — which he did NOT mention, this could be the old “throw something together” routine. I’m getting sick already.
What about the title for the sequel of the “Dark Knight Returns”?
This is indeed a tidbit of good news and more reliable than the previous speculative rumors we have been exposed to..
Wrath, Wrath, Wrath!!!
Say it with me..not as a major villain but a sidestory that would intersect with Commissioner Gordon…HE wants to Assasinate Gordon for shooting his parents and killing them…He’s the anti-Batman in everyway…
Cheers
greenknight,
I could just Imagine some WB execs saying the The Wraths costume Is too similar to Batmans and audiences would get confused .
WHy does he need a costume ..make him a extremely skilled assasin, with a great deductive mind who can really test Batman’s limits, establish his background through his girlfriend who wants to keep him from getting killed so she goes to Batman for help to bring him in…In the books he actually figures out who Batman is and beats the bejeepers out of ALfred to send a point to Bruce…I don’t think the character needs a costume…
Just out of interest (and I’m not saying I suspect this of coming to pass, I’m just throwing hypotheticals in the air here), how do you think people would react if Nolan decided he didn’t want to do the next one (or even worse, WB weren’t willing to pay him enough or something and he couldn’t do it because of them).
I’d suspect another X-Men 3 fiasco.
I don’t know what would happen and I could only speculate that the quality of the next film would most probably fall as Nolan had a hand in the story of the first two films…who would/could replace him…I mean John Nolan and David Goyer could it all likelihood do the script but would it be on parr with the first two and then to direct..that would definitely be a challenge to find someone to replace Nolan…
The biggest question I have, has nothing to do with Villians, Nolan or the WB. My question is simply why does Batman/Bruce Wayne need to have a “Love Interest”? CFan’t we just see some good ol Batman kicking ass, without the love interest making things complicated?
@Metallicat79
I totally agree with you, but it’d be a brave studio who left that happen. If WB have as much faith in Nolan as they say they do, they should hopefully let him do whatever he feels is right for the next film, and Nolan’s smart enough to know that not only does he not really need a love interest in these films, but that in the past two films, the love interest wasn’t handled as well as the rest of the film (although in your average superhero movie, it’d be fine, but in Nolan’s Batman, it pales in comparison to the awesomeness of the rest of the movie).
@Gary,
But it DOES say “he expects” so I’m guessing he mentioned that in the person-to-person interview but they just didn’t quote as him saying it when they put it online.
I thought Batman/Bruce Wayne had a love interest in the first two films, didn’t seem to affect those movies anyway…
The original article says Michael Urslan is back as executive producer, but he and his producing partner bought the movie rights to Batman from DC back in 1979 when nobody wanted to make a Batman film, even after the success of the Superman movie. So Warner really can’t make a movie without Urslan. That’s why his name was also on the animated TV series. Urslan really has little direct creative control over the film other than to make it or not make it, but his financial bet decades ago have paid off hugely.
They should go all out and do the Knightfall storyline. Though it may not fit into one movie.
I still think Wrath should be a part of the story for the Dark Knight Returns..
Say it with me Wrath, Wrath, Wrath !! (no I will not let it go and I am hoping subliminally I will plant a seed for WB)
Gordon is due some major storyline and this would be a great character to help that along…
Wrath, WRath, Wrath !!!
I expect to hear Nolan has signed on within next 2-3 months, followed by some casting rumors (new ones of course), followed by some actual casting confirmations maybe by late summer/early fall and they’ll be in pre-production like you said by this time (Jan-Feb) of 2010…good news indeed.
I know WB are likely eager to get the new Batman movie out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nolan decides to do another, smaller movie before doing it, like he did with The Prestige. WB are unlikely to go ahead without Nolan, so they’d probably wait.
Just an idea, Batman 3 may not have as much steam right now as people think/hope.
@ Joshi
The movie made a billion and has been all over the media for well over a year now and with the 8 Oscars noms it will be in the media at least until the Oscars are over, depending on how many it wins if any, regardless of what happens the third movie has plenty of steam…Just from our discussions here at Screen Rant and other sites and from all the internet chat going on there is lots of steam for the film…The third movie will happen with or without Nolan but my money is with Nolan helming the third…Lots of steam on the third film (like a Japanese spa)…Behind the scenes there is probably a lot more going on than we would ever be privy to anyhow…
did I mention lots of steam?
I’m not sure what your definition of steam is. To me, it’s the steam behind actually making the film, not just internet speculation and adoration for TDK. It’s the steam that accumulates when the script is being drafted and people are making casting calls and studios are greenlighting and Directors are chosen. While this may be going on as we speak, none of this has been confirmed yet and I’m saying it’s just as likely that there may be no steam behind it whatsoever and that Batman 3 isn’t as underway as we all hope it is.
Plus, I really do doubt WB would go ahead without Nolan, after TDK came out, when asked about the third film, WB (or likely the Producer) stated that they were respecting Nolans wish to take a small break and do things at his own pace as they wanted to make him as comfortable as possibly to do the next film… WB wants Nolan and they’re not going to give him up simply because Nolan isn’t quite ready to do the next film yet.
Well what your talking about is preproduction which is not happening so I guess from that point very little steam..but the third movie will be made so there is still planty of steam just the simmering low boil variety…
Yes, the movie will likely get made, my point is, there’s a chance it may not be getting made right now.
Of course it’s not being made right now..They are still capitalising on TDK. Wasn’t this post about 2011 with possible preproduction starting next year. What was your point again?..
oh right Batman 3 is not being made “right now”
My point was that there is a chance Nolan might want to do something else first.
@Joshi
It would make perfect sense for him to do something in between, he did with Batman Begins ( The Prestige), If i am not mistaken he is already in the process of developing something like that.
@Greenknight
I believe you are right on, that Batman 3 will move forward with or with out Mr Nolan, but I think WB will wiat for it to accomadate Nolans schedule, simply out of respect for what he did with TDK and BB.
@Greenknight and Joshi
With respect to the Love iNterest bit. It did not affect the films at all, my point was that I would much rather Batman kicking ass, and less time trying to win the affections of a woman. As well, why does every love interest (both in Burton and Nolans Batman) have to know he is Batman, for me it adds a bit of mystery to the Batman charactor. thats all i was trying to get across. Less Woman, more Ass Kicking, less People knowing who he is, more ass kicking.
“for me it adds a bit of mystery to the Batman charactor”…. if less people know who he is
Sorry i forgot to finish my sentance
I agree but the love interest aspect is usually to draw in the female audiences or at least to get wives and girlfriends into theaters as well…I could handle Bats kicking butt for two hours with no love interest too..I like how they did it with Spiderman and Mj in the Spidey movies with MJ not knowing who he was until the end of Spiderman 2…That love interest was done extremely well…
@ Joshi
Point taken
Cheers
Dark Night was already a sequel to Batman Begins, hardly anyone knows that and it pisses me off